Birth Watch for Kids

[pwmegs]

Hi all. I was thinking about investing in a Birth watch for each of my kids to give them as a graduation/wedding/something big gift.

Son-2003: 14060M Submariner ( no date)

Daughter- 2005: Thinking 16610 Sub or explorer. She will be small so maybe Ladies Date Just but I want something that will keep value and maybe spark a hobby.

Anyone else do this or think about it.

Thanks,

Patrick

[pwmegs]

Sorry, Birth Year Watch!

[JnmEaton]

Cool idea. Sub for son but our girls look great wearing a pepsi GMT! or YM IMHO

[DKSRolex]

Deep Sea for son (get him the beast!). and ditto on the pepsi for the daughter (faded one that is pink and blue)

[cdmorenot]

It is a great idea. I actually have a watch in the safe that has the warranty papers stamped with my son's name on them and dated on his second birthday.

It is as close to "birth year" as I could get but I think having his name on there will be a nice touch when I give him the watch in over a decade. I just have to keep myself from selling it as I work my way into precious metal LOL

[FiftyTwoEighty]

Good idea.

I picked up a 116610LV for my daughter, while my wife was pregnant. The reality, she will have the pick of any of my watches.

[GerardoG]

It is a great idea!

[Anthon]

Or is it just an excuse to buy more Rolex? In that case go ahead!

A colleague of mine showed me her two tone OP last week, blindly gifted to her by her father. She wasn't happy with it, preferred a different color. That's what you get. She didn't even know it was part gold, had no clue about the worth (more than the Sub she was ogling on my wrist).

If I had a lot of spare cash lying around then yes, I might buy my kids something timeless. But I can spend my money only once so if I spend it on a Rolex, then I'm going to wear the hell out of it. If the kids show any interest, I'll gladly hand it over to them in due time.

[Chewbacca]

good idea, but i'd wear them too.

[mtgjr]

Good idea. I did it with a 1998 14270. Giving it to him for HS graduation this year.

[natosub]

Great idea, but wear them so they'll have pictures of you in "their" watch over the years. Also agree with an earlier poster; Submariner (not Sub Date) for your son and Pepsi for your daughter

[pwmegs]

Congrats, I really like the idea.

[Joearch]

My kids would care less about wearing a Rolex let alone the birth year

[MDuke10]

Originally Posted by natosub

Great idea, but wear them so they'll have pictures of you in "their" watch over the years. Also agree with an earlier poster; Submariner (not Sub Date) for your son and Pepsi for your daughter

Definitely wear it around a little. My dad wore my Seamaster all the time while I was growing up. It's really cool to see pictures of us together and with my watch on his wrist.

My mom gave it to him before I was born and I got it when I turned 18. It's not a birth year and the condition is less than stellar but I still enjoy the heck out of it

[rmlovett1]

Yes, love the idea, I did it already!

[Chadridv]

Yeah that is my plan too! 2015

[Gasoil4ever]

I am currently sporting my son's SD4k and my wife's wearing my daughter's Oyster Perpetual 26mm.

So I'd say it's an excellent idea !

[JohnFair]

New someone who bought a Ferrari when his son was born. Sold it to finance his college.

[JnmEaton]

[QUOTE=Chadridv;7315566]Yeah that is my plan too! 2015


Those pics are everything! Love that watch man (the kid is great too)! Really awesome!

[Chadridv]

[QUOTE=JnmEaton;7315883]

Originally Posted by Chadridv

Yeah that is my plan too! 2015


Those pics are everything! Love that watch man (the kid is great too)! Really awesome!

haha yeah the kids alright. The watch is incredible lol!

[Kippers]

Whilst i will leave my watches to my girls, the idea of buying them a watch now so that it will be out dated or possibly not appreciated is not for me. They would appreciate a watch that was worn by me more. To each their own although i do understand the sentiment behind this.

Sent from my SM-T810 using Tapatalk

[jmolsberg]

Get him/her a submariner from your birth year (:

[WAK4]

My wife has tainted my kids...watches are evil things not to be worn (unless they cost less than $100).

[Maiden]

To each their own, but I would want my child to wear the watch associated with me. That is what would (hopefully) make it special, be that a Rolex or a Timex.

[Castiel]

I think my son would prefer a car over a Rolex. To him, I think his iPhone doubles as his watch. Still, I intend to hand down my first Rolex (exp II) when he graduates from college.

[Tools]

Don't kid yourself.. It is a nice gesture, but you are getting it because you want them to like it.

In 20 years it may clash horribly with the time/date implant chips that everybody will have then..


We have a daughter who teaches college.. We gave here a nice Rolex, but she won't wear it because of what her peers might think...

[BillA]

Sorry to throw a wet blanket on the idea. Put the money in their 529 plan or open a 529 plan, they will thank you more often than buying a watch, which they may hate.

[JonnyBCisco]

OK you asked. OP please understand I'm not directing this at you. This really is more of how I see this issue. I'm sure you and the other mean well. And odds are you won't hear anything this direct from the others. Buckle up.

The whole idea of birth year watches is so obviously not about the child or children or what they want. They are babies. Let's face it - you are the one who is into watches. Not the baby. The whole idea is super cheesy. And "investing" in a watch is merely an attempt to make the whole thing seem like there is actual utility in it, putting it on par with something like savings bonds or whatever. We love watches and I'm sure everyone loves their babies. Buy watches because you love watches. No need to go to the trouble of creating a some sort of sappy, magical heirloom story. This type of thing is indicative of someone who takes themselves way too seriously. It makes you look kinda desperate for affection from your son. And finally put yourself in the kids shoes for a moment. Odds are the watch you pick out for this baby is not the same watch not this 18 year old would pick for themselves. When you finally present this watch to them which I'm sure will include some super serious and probably uncomfortable speech that's you've been dreaming about for 18 years or more. The son looks at you and probably stops hating you just long enough to feel sorry for you instead. Now they have to pretend to like this ugly watch you gave him. It's not his style and he doesn't even care about watches but now he feels obligated to like it so as not to disappoint you or send you further into the despair of your mid-life crisis. And there he stands looking at this hopelessly ugly two-toned jubilee day-date you thought looked 'classic' in 2017. And he thinks why didn't anyone tell dad this was a stupid stunt.

Better idea: wait until the kids grows up enough to be able to communicate. Have a relationship with the kid and the memories will create themselves rather than being planned 20 years in advance. Talk about watches, sports, or anything else the kid is interested in. Buy him something that will truly mean something because of your relationship. It will be way better that way.

And buy the watches you want to buy.

[nospam]

When my son was born, I couldn't afford a rolex, told myself once everything tides over, I'll make sure I get one. 6 years on, things are better and i spent 1 year hunting down a rolex that was manufactured on my son's birth year with a serial that contained one of his ID characters. Bought it and engraved our family crest. Wearing it hard now and will hand it over to him when I pass.

Do it, and make history with the watch. Keeping it will give it zero value when handed down.

[sgmgolf]

Great stuff Patrick. I have a 16710 GMT Master II from 1999....son birth year. I also have a 16520 White Dial Daytona from 2000.....daughter birth year.

I bought both used and am certainly wearing/enjoying them. My plan is to send them off for full restoration and movement service and present to each of them on their wedding day.