Heirlooms

Author
Discussion

alfa aficionado

Original Poster:

131 posts

122 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
Thinking of buying a nice watch for new born son to give to him when he's 18 (or 21) but wondered what the opinion is about wearing it yourself in the interim?

Stu R

21,410 posts

214 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
Depends if it's an investment or something to treasure. I'd value the a watch much more highly if it was something my father treasured, rather than something my father stuffed in a safe for a couple of decades.

ecain63

10,588 posts

174 months

Monday 26th January 2015
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I bought my newborn son a blue faced yachtmaster last year. Had all the paperwork done in his name and dated with his DOB. To get around the temptation to wear it myself I bought one for me. His will get worn occasionally to keep it ticking over but I want it to be as new when I give him it.

schmunk

4,399 posts

124 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
If you don't wear it yourself, then it's not an heirloom, just an old watch.

z4RRSchris99

11,221 posts

178 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
wear it!

I have one of dads watches and the marks make it much more special

ecain63

10,588 posts

174 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
z4RRSchris99 said:
wear it!

I have one of dads watches and the marks make it much more special
I agree that it should be worn but the OP's situation is not the same as yours. You inherited your dads watch, the OP is buying his son a watch as a future gift and investment.

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

30,230 posts

234 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
hehe Sounds like a ploy to buy yourself a new watch thumbup

z4RRSchris99

11,221 posts

178 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
I'd still want it worn,

I have a watch he bought when I was born and I got on graduation. He didn't wear it a lot, but it wasn't mint

Matt172

12,415 posts

243 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
I got this for my son as his birth watch, I asked him and he's quite happy for me to wear it until he is old enough for it wink

I've had the back engraved with his name and DOB


alfa aficionado

Original Poster:

131 posts

122 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
hehe Sounds like a ploy to buy yourself a new watch thumbup
Might be easier to get it past the wife! idea

Probably have too many watches as it is, and a few are unworn / lightly worn, with the intention of passing them on but I was thinking it would be nice to get a watch from their birth year.


alfa aficionado

Original Poster:

131 posts

122 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
Matt172 said:
I got this for my son as his birth watch, I asked him and he's quite happy for me to wear it until he is old enough for it wink
How old is your son and when did you purchase it for him?

Matt172

12,415 posts

243 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
alfa aficionado said:
How old is your son and when did you purchase it for him?
he's 28 months now, I placed the order when he was born and the watch came when he was 9 months old

Troubleatmill

10,210 posts

158 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
I love the idea.
Just some practicalities though...

On the assumption it will be a halo type watch. ( Let;s say Rolex )
What are the servicing costs like on a 21 year old rolex?

And when it is is 30 years old, 40 years old etc.


z4RRSchris99

11,221 posts

178 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
quotequote all
same as a 1 year old watch. wouldn't bother servicing it if your not wearing it.


Adrian W

13,848 posts

227 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
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Matt172 said:
I got this for my son as his birth watch, I asked him and he's quite happy for me to wear it until he is old enough for it wink
exactly what i was going to suggest

ruff'n'smov

1,092 posts

148 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
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schmunk said:
If you don't wear it yourself, then it's not an heirloom, just an old watch.
An Heirloom is something that is passed down through the generations.
My most valuable watch is a 9ct Smiths deluxe my Granddad bought in 1948 after a particularly good win on the gee gees.

If you're going to get your boy a watch and put it aside until he is 18, it will need to be a cast iron investment piece.

alfa aficionado

Original Poster:

131 posts

122 months

Wednesday 28th January 2015
quotequote all
Matt172 said:
e's 28 months now, I placed the order when he was born and the watch came when he was 9 months old
Although presumably you told him that you were going to wear it, rather than asking his permission? I have actually done this with some of the watches I already have but with my latest arrival I thought it might be nice to buy one specifically for him (I was thinking about the Rolex blue-black GMT, so would assume that there should be no issues with retained values).

I would then feel bad giving a less expensive watch to my older son though!

hilly10

7,076 posts

227 months

Wednesday 28th January 2015
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Imy sub will be left to my grandson and I hope he loves the thought his granddad wore it with love.

Matt172

12,415 posts

243 months

Wednesday 28th January 2015
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alfa aficionado said:
Although presumably you told him that you were going to wear it, rather than asking his permission? !
Oh no, we sat down and had a conversation about it and he said it was fine wink

gvij

363 posts

123 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
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I would say they are going to be their own man (or should be )and can buy their own watch. Who knows if they will have any interest in say the sea or yachting or anything else for that matter. I can afford a new patek but the omega seamaster bought new and Rolex air king I bought used mean more to me than any . I bought the sea master as was so impressed with build quality like a tank and the air king bought off ebay but just serviced by watch guy.co.uk and a great deal- I bought before completing my private pilots licence (now completed). I would like some day to learn how to swim and possibly go scuba diving with the sea master but I've never really thought too much about it.