Is 15 too young for a Rolex?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids attend a private school with billionaire families. Many kids have pricey cars but none wear Rolexes. Most don’t wear watches at all- some wear Apple watches. Anyway, I think this is crazy given the carelessness in how kids generally treat their possessions.

When I was 16, I wanted diamond studs. They were on my Christmas and birthday lists every year. My parents could have bought them easily but they waited until my 21st birthday. There is a lot to be learned in having to wait for something you want. I also feel certain the earrings would have been lost at some point between 16 and 21.

Well my kids attended a private school with billionaire families in the NE and now attend an even wealthier public school in the South and kids at these schools are most definitely wearing watches in the $10-20k range. Not all or even most kids, but common enough. We also have kids driving 911s and G wagons.

My kids would be happy to accept any Rolexes offered—to wear, but also because they increase in value.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get on the list now for a backup. Because when he gets to a college and goes to a bar he will get jumped for it, or when word gets around that he has one someone will find a way to take it from him.

Our oldest is a senior and he has several expensive watches. No way are any of them going off to the college dorms with him.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:About a month ago I stopped into the jeweler our family does business with to put my name on a list for a Rolex. The plan was to give it to my son on his 16th birthday in March of 2027. Friends told me it can take a while to get one. Out of the blue I got a call this weekend. The watch arrived Friday afternoon. Am I crazy to give it to him for his 15th birthday?

Rolex screams parvenu, my dear, but you are free to do whatever you want. Your son probably relies on his phone, but if HE wants a watch, and of the Rolex type, why not? Maybe you should ask him first.

I’m certainly not buying him a Nautilus or Royal Oak. His group of friends have all developed an interest in mechanical watches suddenly.

His friends have the interest but does he have an interest? I’ll play along, on the chance this post is real. My kids wouldn’t want this so I say no. They would want a car.

I’m not opposed to expensive gifts if you can afford them. We bought our oldest a car and will buy our second kid one at 16. We would never spend thousands on a watch.

He’ll get a car when he gets his license. I’m talking about a birthday gift specifically.

You didn’t answer my question. Does he want this? Does he actually want a Rolex? If he does, get it. If he doesn’t and won’t appreciate it, you are wasting your money. We could afford it but my teen would prefer a pizza than a Rolex.

He specifically mentioned a Rolex.

Then there is your answer. Get your child the gift he wanted.

Hmmm. A bit odd as most 15 year old boys would prefer something else.

My 15 year old is a musician and wants a new double bass…but, you’ve helped me see the light…I won’t buy it for him because “most 15 year old boys would prefer something else.”

[Anonymous]

Posting on a forum like DC urban mom (or any forum for that matter) about contemplating buying your 15yo son a Rolex is not the flex you think it is.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:About a month ago I stopped into the jeweler our family does business with to put my name on a list for a Rolex. The plan was to give it to my son on his 16th birthday in March of 2027. Friends told me it can take a while to get one. Out of the blue I got a call this weekend. The watch arrived Friday afternoon. Am I crazy to give it to him for his 15th birthday?

Rolex screams parvenu, my dear, but you are free to do whatever you want. Your son probably relies on his phone, but if HE wants a watch, and of the Rolex type, why not? Maybe you should ask him first.

I’m certainly not buying him a Nautilus or Royal Oak. His group of friends have all developed an interest in mechanical watches suddenly.

His friends have the interest but does he have an interest? I’ll play along, on the chance this post is real. My kids wouldn’t want this so I say no. They would want a car.

I’m not opposed to expensive gifts if you can afford them. We bought our oldest a car and will buy our second kid one at 16. We would never spend thousands on a watch.

He’ll get a car when he gets his license. I’m talking about a birthday gift specifically.

OP, if your 15 year old is given the best of everything, what is there to aim for?

Nothing. Not your child.
Let OP and son EAT

Oh yes, they’re so oppressed.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:About a month ago I stopped into the jeweler our family does business with to put my name on a list for a Rolex. The plan was to give it to my son on his 16th birthday in March of 2027. Friends told me it can take a while to get one. Out of the blue I got a call this weekend. The watch arrived Friday afternoon. Am I crazy to give it to him for his 15th birthday?

This must be a joke. I hope it is.

Well ... you don't have to put your "name on a list for a Rolex." You can walk into Lenkersdorfer at the mall and come out with one. No one is going to tell you "it can take quite a while to get one." It isn't a teal crocodile Birkin or something. So yeah, either a joke or invented for some purpose other than laughs.

Those Rolex watches in the case aren’t for sale. Give it a shot. Let us know how it works out. Maybe they’ll sell you an Explorer, or an Air King, but a Submariner gains about $2,000 in value as soon as you walk out of the store with it.

I don't know how this works but my DH who has an IWC, Blancpain, Panerai and a few others (don't ask me, I am not into watches...) always kind of scorned entry level Rolex but they have to be making something these "watch guys" are now into because I have had to suffer outside multiple stores in NYC where it is basically a watch man convention hoping to get one and seems like you can't unless you have a significant buy history with them previously. So, idk seems stupid as hell to me like the Birkin thing, but there is something beyond the entry level luxury watch thing these "connoisseurs " are looking for. I could ask but I care so little I don't care to hear a watch saga.

Oh, I'd never in a million years buy one for a teen. I regularly remind my kids they are poor. They live at the mercy of our benevolence and have everything one could possibly need and most of what they want. They can fund their Rolex fund but it will be a cold day in hell before we gift something like that for existing.

I used to mock the birkin thing and I thought if a dude walked in there wanting to buy a $20k bag they would just sell him one because only women would play their stupid sales game.

Then I married a watch guy and now I get to hear updates about his waiting lists.

It’s not for me, but whatever. To each their own I guess.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:About a month ago I stopped into the jeweler our family does business with to put my name on a list for a Rolex. The plan was to give it to my son on his 16th birthday in March of 2027. Friends told me it can take a while to get one. Out of the blue I got a call this weekend. The watch arrived Friday afternoon. Am I crazy to give it to him for his 15th birthday?

This must be a joke. I hope it is.

Well ... you don't have to put your "name on a list for a Rolex." You can walk into Lenkersdorfer at the mall and come out with one. No one is going to tell you "it can take quite a while to get one." It isn't a teal crocodile Birkin or something. So yeah, either a joke or invented for some purpose other than laughs.

Those Rolex watches in the case aren’t for sale. Give it a shot. Let us know how it works out. Maybe they’ll sell you an Explorer, or an Air King, but a Submariner gains about $2,000 in value as soon as you walk out of the store with it.

They will definitely sell you a watch that you can walk out of the door with. Which is all a 15 year old needs, if they need a Rolex at all.

[Anonymous]

The more people protest about a Rolex for a teen’s birthday the more it seems like a good idea.

I imagine everyone here being judgey about a Rolex drives a Prius, or a Civic. Anything other than cars like that are crass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The more people protest about a Rolex for a teen’s birthday the more it seems like a good idea.

I imagine everyone here being judgey about a Rolex drives a Prius, or a Civic. Anything other than cars like that are crass.

Sounds right for a teen. I wouldn’t buy my teen a Rolex or anything other than a basic car.

[Anonymous]

wtf. No teens wear watches anymore.

That would be a graduating college gift if you are inclined.

[Anonymous]

Yes. It’s a more significant gift for end of school or end of college. You can give it at 15, but ask not to wear to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The more people protest about a Rolex for a teen’s birthday the more it seems like a good idea.

I imagine everyone here being judgey about a Rolex drives a Prius, or a Civic. Anything other than cars like that are crass.

I have a 20-year old (at an Ivy-lots of Uber wealthy friends) and a 17-year old HS Senior. Not a single one of their friends wears a watch, nor do they.

My kid at 15 wanted a new gaming system or expensive soccer cleats - not a watch. lol

Is it kid, Chance the Rapper? Ice on his wrist?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:wtf. No teens wear watches anymore.

That would be a graduating college gift if you are inclined.

More like graduating neurosurgery residency. That would be a justifiable level or work and achievement that unfortunately does not get monetary compensation.

[Anonymous]

My dad bought a “Rolodex” watch from a street guy in NYC that looked legit. He wore it as a joke, but everyone thought it was real. He got a kick out of it. So many compliments on it. My brother inherited after my dad died. He was a trip!

[Anonymous]

Yes. Get him an Apple Watch instead.