Average Price: $3225.40 Most Expensive: $6,000 Omega speedmaster Co-Axial Automatic Least Expensive: $680 Certina DS-1 Automatic
Here’s a great way to ruin a young man’s perspective of reality: Give him a $5,000 Rolex for doing what’s expected in the 21st century. Graduating. Here’s how Askmen.com introduces this top 10 list:
Traditionally, a men’s watch given to celebrate one’s graduation has had two meanings. First, it symbolizes one’s accomplishments because watches have always been a preferred gift to recognize success and hard work. Second, it’s to be used as a tool for a graduate’s next step in life… A graduation gift watch should look good in job interviews and communicate one’s maturity… Here are 10 solid graduation gift options suited to the occasion, and for most budgets.
Suited for most budgets? Pardon the coarse language, but what f*cking planet are they on? Yes most people give gifts to high school and college grads. They’ve done something that required some work, but in the end will benefit them greatly. Wearing a $6,000 watch isn’t a sign of maturity, it’s tacky. And giving one to an 18 year old who graduated high school is just plain stupid.
If you’re dead set on giving them a watch, try one of these, this (which is still too expensive), or any of these. If you want to give the grad something with a little more flash, consider this sterling silver money clip from Tiffany. It’s timeless, an heirloom… and only $150. Tell them it looks best with money securely in it… so they should spend and save wisely. And dropping a few months pay on one watch won’t help that cause at all.
Comments
Bryansays
While I agree with the sentiment, I think the budget comment is a little off. I live in an upper-middle class town, and where I graduated many of the kids got laptops, and a few got cars (not crazy mercedes or anything, but reliable, new, nice cars). A $680 watch could easily fit into that budget.
However, I see where you are coming from. A watch or car helps prepare a kid for college; a blingy watch is just asking to be stolen, lost, or unappreciated (I didnt even wear a watch my whole life practically, up until a couple years after college). If parents want to give some accessory like that, your suggestion is good. Even better is a laptop (if you can afford it), or something else to prepare them for college.
It’s all relative, but… getting a brand new car for graduation = rich kid.
Chrissays
I got a ’72 mustang for graduation. Very vintage but had to get rid of it since it was falling apart and back when gas was almost $4 it was a little inconvenient to have a car like that. But the gift was appreciated nonetheless. BTW that car was worth less than half of these watches.
Gregsays
I agree that that list is ridiculous, but I do think a good watch makes a great graduation gift. Seven years ago my father bought me a Swiss Army Infantry watch as a high school graduation gift, which iirc was something like $250 on sale at Macy’s or some other department store. It was perfectly casual for a college student with a black fabric band, then once that wore out I dressed it up a bit with black leather. Considering that I’ve worn it practically every day for the past seven years and don’t have any plans to replace it, you could make the argument that it’s actually a better value than anything else I’ve ever worn.
I could easily see a kid from a really wealthy family receiving a nicer watch than mine, because $500 to them is way less than $200 to us. But a $6,000 Omega or $5,000 as a graduation gift? I know the super-rich live in a different world than the rest of us, but still, wouldn’t you feel a little strange as a 22-year-old in a $6,000 watch?
Gregsays
That should say “$5,000 Rolex”
Also, as much as I love my watch, if I was 18 again today and about to graduate, I’d probably pick out that Citizen Black Leather Sport Chrono you linked to. Beautiful.
My mother asked me what watch I wanted for graduation and told her a Tag Heur Link (circa 95) or a Citizen Eco Drive chrono that had similar band in titanium and gold. I still wear that Citizen almost everyday and I remember finding her a deal on it, so it came in under $300. For me that was a very elaborate gift especially for a high school graduation. As far as I can tell they only made that style that year, which makes it even more special, because I have never seen anyone else with a similar watch and I can’t even find a link to one. I now have an Omega and a Vacheron-Constatin, (I personally find all Rolexs to look like Russian tank watches i.e. big, bulky and no style), I still love my Citizen. It isn’t the price tag, but the thought that makes the gift. Especially in my case, where I went shopping with her and I knew that a $3-500 watch was all she could afford.
Paulsays
If you think *that* list is ridiculous, price out a Patek Philippe 5002P. While I love watches (aka: timepieces :)), I’m not even sure who could wear such an item other than royalty.
Hey guys. Glad you are having a nice discussion regarding my article. I did have a feeling the prices might be up there, but let me explain. A lot of these are what I call watch archetypes. Meaning that they are the main model and brand when you think of a particular style. Sure you can get cheaper versions of these styles, but I wanted to do the original one’s justice. People are very familiar with brands such as Citizen, Seiko, Tissot, Hamilton, etc… that have cheaper timepieces. I wanted to give people a good starting point to get ideas. You don’t need to freak out about the prices. I myself can’t afford most of these, and wasn’t trying to offend anyone. My intent was go to for solid styles with designs good for the occasion.
Hey Ariel. Glad you found Dappered. Trust me when I tell you that neither I, nor anyone in their right mind reading the post was offended. There’s nothing in it that’s insulting. It’s just kind of silly (pre-explanation by you) with how outlandish the prices are. Allow me to make an analogy: The flat-earth society doesn’t offend me, but their out-of-touchness can make me go “WTF?!” from time to time 🙂 But now that you’ve explained, I can kinda see what you’re saying. I just didn’t pick up on your strategy. Not sure if many others did either, especially because you wrote: “Here are 10 solid graduation gift options suited to the occasion, and for most budgets.” No freaking out (I tend not to do that much) or offense taken. Well written and fun to take a look at. Keep up the good work. – Joe
I guess a similar concept would give him/her a car when the graduate.
Elisays
I don’t see what the big deal is. I mean it’s a high school graduation and a graduate, especially one who will be going to a prestigious university in the fall, deserves a generous gift.
My parents bought me a Patek Philippe 3940 G when I graduated last June. It’s obviously a generous gift but not in any way ridiculous
While I agree with the sentiment, I think the budget comment is a little off. I live in an upper-middle class town, and where I graduated many of the kids got laptops, and a few got cars (not crazy mercedes or anything, but reliable, new, nice cars). A $680 watch could easily fit into that budget.
However, I see where you are coming from. A watch or car helps prepare a kid for college; a blingy watch is just asking to be stolen, lost, or unappreciated (I didnt even wear a watch my whole life practically, up until a couple years after college). If parents want to give some accessory like that, your suggestion is good. Even better is a laptop (if you can afford it), or something else to prepare them for college.
It’s all relative, but… getting a brand new car for graduation = rich kid.
I got a ’72 mustang for graduation. Very vintage but had to get rid of it since it was falling apart and back when gas was almost $4 it was a little inconvenient to have a car like that. But the gift was appreciated nonetheless. BTW that car was worth less than half of these watches.
I agree that that list is ridiculous, but I do think a good watch makes a great graduation gift. Seven years ago my father bought me a Swiss Army Infantry watch as a high school graduation gift, which iirc was something like $250 on sale at Macy’s or some other department store. It was perfectly casual for a college student with a black fabric band, then once that wore out I dressed it up a bit with black leather. Considering that I’ve worn it practically every day for the past seven years and don’t have any plans to replace it, you could make the argument that it’s actually a better value than anything else I’ve ever worn.
I could easily see a kid from a really wealthy family receiving a nicer watch than mine, because $500 to them is way less than $200 to us. But a $6,000 Omega or $5,000 as a graduation gift? I know the super-rich live in a different world than the rest of us, but still, wouldn’t you feel a little strange as a 22-year-old in a $6,000 watch?
That should say “$5,000 Rolex”
Also, as much as I love my watch, if I was 18 again today and about to graduate, I’d probably pick out that Citizen Black Leather Sport Chrono you linked to. Beautiful.
I’ve always loved Citizen watches, and yes… that sport chrono you mention is one of their best.
My mother asked me what watch I wanted for graduation and told her a Tag Heur Link (circa 95) or a Citizen Eco Drive chrono that had similar band in titanium and gold. I still wear that Citizen almost everyday and I remember finding her a deal on it, so it came in under $300. For me that was a very elaborate gift especially for a high school graduation. As far as I can tell they only made that style that year, which makes it even more special, because I have never seen anyone else with a similar watch and I can’t even find a link to one. I now have an Omega and a Vacheron-Constatin, (I personally find all Rolexs to look like Russian tank watches i.e. big, bulky and no style), I still love my Citizen. It isn’t the price tag, but the thought that makes the gift. Especially in my case, where I went shopping with her and I knew that a $3-500 watch was all she could afford.
If you think *that* list is ridiculous, price out a Patek Philippe 5002P. While I love watches (aka: timepieces :)), I’m not even sure who could wear such an item other than royalty.
Hey guys. Glad you are having a nice discussion regarding my article. I did have a feeling the prices might be up there, but let me explain. A lot of these are what I call watch archetypes. Meaning that they are the main model and brand when you think of a particular style. Sure you can get cheaper versions of these styles, but I wanted to do the original one’s justice. People are very familiar with brands such as Citizen, Seiko, Tissot, Hamilton, etc… that have cheaper timepieces. I wanted to give people a good starting point to get ideas. You don’t need to freak out about the prices. I myself can’t afford most of these, and wasn’t trying to offend anyone. My intent was go to for solid styles with designs good for the occasion.
-Ariel-
aBlogtoRead.com
Hey Ariel. Glad you found Dappered. Trust me when I tell you that neither I, nor anyone in their right mind reading the post was offended. There’s nothing in it that’s insulting. It’s just kind of silly (pre-explanation by you) with how outlandish the prices are. Allow me to make an analogy: The flat-earth society doesn’t offend me, but their out-of-touchness can make me go “WTF?!” from time to time 🙂 But now that you’ve explained, I can kinda see what you’re saying. I just didn’t pick up on your strategy. Not sure if many others did either, especially because you wrote: “Here are 10 solid graduation gift options suited to the occasion, and for most budgets.” No freaking out (I tend not to do that much) or offense taken. Well written and fun to take a look at. Keep up the good work. – Joe
I guess a similar concept would give him/her a car when the graduate.
I don’t see what the big deal is. I mean it’s a high school graduation and a graduate, especially one who will be going to a prestigious university in the fall, deserves a generous gift.
My parents bought me a Patek Philippe 3940 G when I graduated last June. It’s obviously a generous gift but not in any way ridiculous