is 19 too young for a Patek?

[jjbrothers]

Originally Posted by directioneng

Hi M,

Welcome to the Forum.

I have 8 kids from 16 to 42.

Each one appreciates different things but will hopefully respect all things.

thats exactly what i think about.

you seem to have a lot of experience with your 8 children and your advise seems very helpful to me

[SkyKing31]

not to young .... will make a great gift

[johnswatch]

Could I suggest that rather than the Gondolo you perhaops consider the 5196?

This has the solid caseback which may not be as pretty but does enable you to add a personalised engraving.

Look at the 'a mon fil' or 'to my son' video on Youtube for inspiration!

A gift like this is truly an heirloom and an engraving would make it even more special. Resale value would never be a consideration in this instance. Besides, the contrast of brushed sides and polished bezel on the 5196 are beautiful and the size is just perfect being neither dinner plate size or vintage small. The thin bezel and plain dial ensure it retains a lot of wrist presence.

[darkom]

Hell no. You're making your son a target. And it's supremely impractical. Sounds like you're living through him, i.e. you at 40-something thinks it would be great idea either because you would love one that young or to brag to your friends? I can only speculate on your motivations, but the bottom line is that it is a horrible idea.

College graduation, maybe. And that's only if he went to a fantastic school. I think such an expensive should only be given for a real accomplishment, e.g. finishing medical school. The longer you wait the more mature they are, the more removed from the college party scene.

[Gary Busey]

no of course not, you should have bough it for him when he was 5

[h999r]

i would rather buy him the fake patek one, nobody knows :)

[dmlkw0102]

i don't think its too young!i turned 19 earlier this year, and got a 5167/1a just last week!=)as long he knows how to appreciate and take care of it, its not too young!

[eric23]

Sounds like a 19 Bday gift to me!

[zhan]

Originally Posted by Newportkrieger

My personal opinion is that giving him a watch that valuable will only make him a target for theft, possibly violently. his friends and freinds of friends WILL know of the watch and its value. Its only a matter of time before a desperate young person tries to take it.

19 year olds travel in different circles and places than people 30 and older. Giving your son a watch like that to wear on a regular basis may very well compromise his physical safety in a violent robbery and his mental well being with the guilt he may have should it be lost or stolen.

Agreed, especially college aged kids who end up passing out at a party with a bunch of unknown 'friends' ... You should just get him a trendy Tag Heuer Carrera automatic or something that level. It is more than enough to show off and brag about in most college level social circles, and it is classy enough to wear with a suit to an interview with.

Unless you are going to hire him... No one will hire a kid for an internship if he shows up to an on campus interview sporting a Patek.

[RotaryRx7]

If you trust your son and his judgement, go for it!

[masterserg]

I'll go against the grain here and say that in my opinion .. 19 is too young for a PP, but that is just me. If it were MY son, I'd like him to have some more time to learn about life in general and the relative value / place / meaning of things like a PP.

I was clueless at 19 ... still kinda am at 43

[Timber Loftis]

Originally Posted by MBEECH

Do you think 19 is too young for a Patek Philippe?

Not if you're Charles Bass.

I don't think 19 is too young to *own* a Patek, but I certainly think it is too old to be *given* high-end luxury toys by your parents, and it is well past the point in life that you should be learning to *earn* things for yourself.

It also, IMHO, disrespects the watch by handing it over to someone who simply doesn't have the capacity to live life in a way that won't damage it. It's like giving a 16 yr-old a new car -- you're de facto deciding that a new car should be wrecked. It's a mistake my parents made that I don't intend to repeat with my kids.

[drtooth73]

Originally Posted by Timber Loftis

Not if you're Charles Bass.

I don't think 19 is too young to *own* a Patek, but I certainly think it is too old to be *given* high-end luxury toys by your parents, and it is well past the point in life that you should be learning to *earn* things for yourself.

It also, IMHO, disrespects the watch by handing it over to someone who simply doesn't have the capacity to live life in a way that won't damage it. It's like giving a 16 yr-old a new car -- you're de facto deciding that a new car should be wrecked. It's a mistake my parents made that I don't intend to repeat with my kids.

Might be true in some cases,
but it depends ultimately on the 19 year old's mindset.
If he is mature enough, and the parent can afford it, why not.

(yes I know its an old thread, and the OP probably made up his mind)

[Feras]

Will you adapt me? I would be more than happy with a sub c. Hahha

[h999r]

Originally Posted by Gary Busey

no of course not, you should have bough it for him when he was 5

[toph]

i think its much better than a rolex, classier, more understated etc. The fact he wants one instead of a rolex speaks volumes IMHO
.P.S will you adopt me, its my 30th in 3 years

[Rags]

Originally Posted by stevarn

you know him, we don't. If you can afford it and he's as mature as you say, why not?

x2

[Rolex Junky]

This thread is 8 months old! I'm sure the OP's son is 20 by now. Your opinions/ advice is falling on deaf ears.

[lowprofile]

hahha. Id give him a timex

[cbusjer]

Originally Posted by numismatist

he wouldn't really be owning it anyway, he'd only be looking after it for the next generation anyway.

lol!!!

[Kayaker52]

HEY Tatooed GQ: what lodge? Im in Tompkins #471 Staten Island.

[KirkWilfred]

Not good too young. Buy him one when he gets married, graduates college, or something else significant; be more meaningful

[Gary Busey]

too young, about 20 years too young

[ROLEXELOR]

Originally Posted by MBEECH

Do you think 19 is too young for a Patek Philippe? I am thinking about giving my son a Patek Gondolo for his 19th birthday. He is a very mature and responsible 19 year old, I should add, and he also has an appreciation for fine watches. I tried to steer him towards Rolex, but he seemed to really like Patek, since they are more non-chalant and of higher quality. So what do you think, 19 is too young? Is there a "right" age for owning a fine timepiece such as Patek?

This is the most important thing.

Patek have a watch in the collection, for when the son reach 20 years old.

[ebxchange]

I agree with newportkrieger.

[mottykytu]

Infact, the gondolo look too old on your son

[Br290e]

no. but lots of people will assume it's fake

[IIIJFRIII]

I think you would be 100% orginal if you got it. I dont know of anyone having a watch like that at your age. I mean a watch like that, you just dont get more top self then Patek. It kinda like get you drivers licence and getting a bentley for you first car.

[tranny]

I'm going different with the general consensus of this thread.

I think the "right age" to own a luxury watch is the age at which one can buy it for himself.

I think the gifts you choose for your children help shape their identity. Lavishing upon your child with gifts can eliminate their appreciation for the rewards of labor, which is a real shame to see.

Withholding from your kids, although certainly not the easy way to go as a parent (as they'll resent you a little for it), will teach them to earn what they want through hard work, which will in turn create respect for money and motivate them to succeed.

It may take your son 20 years to appreciate what you're doing for him by withholding, but in the long run, it will give him a lot more character as a man.

Keep the Patek for him in your estate. He'll appreciate it more then.

When he buys himself his first watch (when he's ready), it will be a much richer and more fulfilling experience than any gift could ever be. It's a great experience.... don't rob him of that.

[FeelingTheBlues]

Originally Posted by transio

I'm going different with the general consensus of this thread.

I think the "right age" to own a luxury watch is the age at which one can buy it for himself.

I think the gifts you choose for your children help shape their identity. Lavishing upon your child with gifts can eliminate their appreciation for the rewards of labor, which is a real shame to see.

Withholding from your kids, although certainly not the easy way to go as a parent (as they'll resent you a little for it), will teach them to earn what they want through hard work, which will in turn create respect for money and motivate them to succeed.

It may take your son 20 years to appreciate what you're doing for him by withholding, but in the long run, it will give him a lot more character as a man.

Keep the Patek for him in your estate. He'll appreciate it more then.

When he buys himself his first watch (when he's ready), it will be a much richer and more fulfilling experience than any gift could ever be. It's a great experience.... don't rob him of that.

I think you have a very good point Steve. I bought all my watches by myself and the feeling you get once you handle it while knowing you paid it with your own money is incredible (not to push it), you know you worked and earned that money in a honest way and you spend it in something you love and have a passion for and I understand the fact that a gift may not make the young man feel the same way. However, I must say I do not fully agree with you when you say that such gifts may be bad (in a certain way) because there is also the sentimental value of the object. I collect watches and some of them are a lot more expensive than others but if my father had to give me one someday I know I would personally love it and cherish it a lot and it wouldn't make me stop wanting to work and save money to buy my own things.

In the end, leaving it as an estate or giving it to him for a very special occasion (should it be a graduation, a wedding or something like that) would be a wonderful idea indeed but I do believe that the gift itself, no matter the reason for it, would be wonderful as well.