Recommendation for a retirement gift

[caiss4]

First time I've ventured here but I'm hoping you fine chaps can give me some advice.

A pillar of our local community is retiring shortly and a collection was organised for some kind of retirement gift. After a good deal of thought the conclusion was that the occasion really deserved a 'proper' memento and the idea of 'serious' watch was put forward.

Now the funds available do run into thousands and as I know next to nothing about watches I thought I'd seek advice. The recipient will be 60 this year, he loves technology and travels extensively but isn't necessarily known to be big on watches. Now aside from the odd Rolex or Breitling I really don't know much at all so I'm hoping for some suggestions.

Over to you guys.....

[DS3R]

An awful lot of choice in the "thousands" range,

Personally I'd seriously think about vouchers for a watch (ie a jewellers) as what you & I like, they may not, and that way they can choose their own.

Or, use part of the total to buy a watch which you could personalise as a gift- I mean, engraving a £100 Rotary does not kill the value, doing so on a new Explorer does, and where value is not all important in a gift, you don't know what the person might want to do with it.

[Ikemi]

caiss4 said:

The recipient will be 60 this year, he loves technology and travels extensively but isn't necessarily known to be big on watches. Now aside from the odd Rolex or Breitling I really don't know much at all so I'm hoping for some suggestions.

Over to you guys.....

I'd just give him the cash with a thank you card ... As he is into technology, he might be hankering after something else, which current funds do not permit. He might get more enjoyment out of a new home cinema system or a 'free' holiday, rather than a serious watch. Just IMHO

[caiss4]

Thanks for the comments. We've been round these issues already. Give him cash/give him vouchers but the concensus was a memento (and cash).

I'm particularly interested in the comment about engraving. I'm not saying that is being proposed but it's quite possible that someone will suggest personalising the watch. Are engraved watches seriously devalued? (we'd hope he'd want to keep it by the way and knowing the guy he probably would)

[Podie]

caiss4 said:

I'm particularly interested in the comment about engraving. I'm not saying that is being proposed but it's quite possible that someone will suggest personalising the watch. Are engraved watches seriously devalued? (we'd hope he'd want to keep it by the way and knowing the guy he probably would)

My parents bought me a watch for my 21st (many moons ago), and had a plaque made and stuck onto the box (being a Breitling it's a rather nice Bakelite job)

[Debaser]

How many thousands?

[PaulHogan]

There are several brands that don't start until you're into tens of thousands! To recommend something we'd need a better idea of your budget. And would you prefer an 'off the shelf' item or a custom made? But for custom you could be looking at a year or so...

[Ikemi]

caiss4 said:

Are engraved watches seriously devalued?

It's possible for an engraved case back to be replaced with a new case back, but that would require additional expense before selling the watch on. However if he didn't do this, the next buyer would expect some hefty discount to cover the costs of sending the watch away for replacement case back ...

Although it depends what is engraved ... Many Dornbluth customers have the date engraved on the movement, to show when the watch was made. However I'm sure there was a Dornbluth for sale on TZ that had a name engraved too, and that failed to sell.

[caiss4]

Debaser said:

How many thousands?

Well we're not in the tens of thousands but the budget could probably stretch to £6k.

[ellroy]

Rolex, brand new sub at that price.

[Skier]

I think that for ~£6k or so the choice is so vast that you HAVE to get some idea of what style/type of watch he likes. If you buy something he won't wear then the whole thing becomes a bit of a waste. Most suggestions here will be what posters would choose themselves i.e. personal choice.

Not very helpful I'm afraid but makes I'd look at:

IWC (Portuguese Chronograph, Portuguese 7-day Power Reserve etc)
Omega (If he likes 'technology' then you could buy a Speedmaster Moonwatch or sapphire sandwich and have a great deal of change from £6k)
Rolex (not my thing but many like them)

If you go for engraving, buy an additional case back at the time of purchase as almost all engraving hurts resale value and appeal to buyers.

Good luck.

Skier

[jonny70]

Ikemi said:

It's possible for an engraved case back to be replaced with a new case back, but that would require additional expense before selling the watch on. However if he didn't do this, the next buyer would expect some hefty discount to cover the costs of sending the watch away for replacement case back ...

Although it depends what is engraved ... Many Dornbluth customers have the date engraved on the movement, to show when the watch was made. However I'm sure there was a Dornbluth for sale on TZ that had a name engraved too, and that failed to sell.

What the hell is it with watch forums and resale value?

Its are retirement gift for someones 60th , why the heck would they flip it or care about resale value?

[Debaser]

caiss4 said:

Debaser said:

How many thousands?

Well we're not in the tens of thousands but the budget could probably stretch to £6k.

I think with that budget, buying a watch for someone who really isn't into watches, it's tough to beat a Rolex Sub as already suggested.

Do you have an idea what style he'd like, or what style you want to get him?

Do you want it to be brand new, or would you consider second hand?

[Ikemi]

jonny70 said:

Ikemi said:

It's possible for an engraved case back to be replaced with a new case back, but that would require additional expense before selling the watch on. However if he didn't do this, the next buyer would expect some hefty discount to cover the costs of sending the watch away for replacement case back ...

Although it depends what is engraved ... Many Dornbluth customers have the date engraved on the movement, to show when the watch was made. However I'm sure there was a Dornbluth for sale on TZ that had a name engraved too, and that failed to sell.

What the hell is it with watch forums and resale value?

Its are retirement gift for someones 60th , why the heck would they flip it or care about resale value?

There are a few reasons to discuss resale value ... No one wants to buy a watch brand new only to find out it's worth 50% of RRP the very next day. That's quite a loss! Hence it's sometimes sensible to buy pre-owned and unused, or second hand, in order to minimize potential losses.

It's also something to take into consideration if you're a serial flipper. Not all watches are keepers and some collectors flip watches within days of purchase.

In the case of the OP, we're taking resale into consideration with regards to engraving, which devalues the watch. Sure, it's a gift for someone's 60th, so he'll most likely keep it. However there is always a chance that he won't like the watch ... Would you leave a £5-6K watch in a drawer unworn, or sell it to fund something else? Maybe even a watch you really like? Watches are really personal items and it's so easy to get it wrong.

For £6K, I'd be looking at a Glashutte Panomatic Lunar ... Stylish, special, in-house movement, and a beautiful display back!

[Podie]

Ikemi said:

. Not all watches are keepers and some collectors flip watches within days of purchase.

Somewhat off topic, but I'd argue that a collector holds on to things...

[Ikemi]

Podie said:

Ikemi said:

. Not all watches are keepers and some collectors flip watches within days of purchase.

Somewhat off topic, but I'd argue that a collector holds on to things...

Well, true ... Perhaps I should've said 'TZ members'

[Podie]

Ikemi said:

Podie said:

Ikemi said:

. Not all watches are keepers and some collectors flip watches within days of purchase.

Somewhat off topic, but I'd argue that a collector holds on to things...

Well, true ... Perhaps I should've said 'TZ members'

[caiss4]

Skier said:

I think that for ~£6k or so the choice is so vast that you HAVE to get some idea of what style/type of watch he likes. If you buy something he won't wear then the whole thing becomes a bit of a waste. Most suggestions here will be what posters would choose themselves i.e. personal choice.

Not very helpful I'm afraid but makes I'd look at:

IWC (Portuguese Chronograph, Portuguese 7-day Power Reserve etc)
Omega (If he likes 'technology' then you could buy a Speedmaster Moonwatch or sapphire sandwich and have a great deal of change from £6k)
Rolex (not my thing but many like them)

If you go for engraving, buy an additional case back at the time of purchase as almost all engraving hurts resale value and appeal to buyers.

Good luck.

Skier

We are trying to establish what style would be most appropriate as we most certainly don't want to give him a watch that disappears in a drawer or ends up on e-bay the next day!

My post was really to get some idea of watches that should be considered so I appreciate all the suggestions so far.

[caiss4]

Ikemi said:

For £6K, I'd be looking at a Glashutte Panomatic Lunar ... Stylish, special, in-house movement, and a beautiful display back!

Wow, now I like that!

[PaulHogan]

Some suggestions:

Longines Flagship Heritage. c£4k
http://www.longines.com/watches/heritage-collectio...

Rolex Submariner. c£6k (will be s/s not gold if that's important to you)
http://www.rolex.com/en#/rolex-watches/submariner/...

JLC Reverso. c£6k (if you haggle hard for a base model)
http://www.jaeger-lecoultre.com/US/en/luxury-watch...

Bremont Alti - C1. c£4k (several faces available)
http://www.bremont.com/chronometers/range/alt1-c/a...

You should surf around the above sites to see is anything else grabs you and perhaps also look at the sites of:
Franck Muller
Bell & Ross
Corum
Girrard Peregeaux (?sp)
Hublot
IWC
Omega