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View Poll Results: Rolex as a high school or college graduation present?
Give 36mm blue dial OP to son at high school graduation for him to wear thought college life? 69 16.63%
Wait to give it to him until college graduation to start his professional life? 346 83.37%
Voters: 415. You may not vote on this poll

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Old 1 April 2015, 06:36 AM   #1
elcompa
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Poll: Rolex for high school graduation or wait until College graduation?

Hi ladies and gents,

You see, this is a question that plagues me as my son goes off to college next year. I wanted to get him a 36mm Blue dial OP for his high school graduation and his mom thought it would be over the top, attract too much attention, that he may loose it, have it taken from him or it may get damaged. He is a responsible young man with great grades. Also loves to dress preppy / stylish.

What say you? Moderate Rolex for High School graduation to wear throughout college or wait and make it a college graduation gift to start his new professional life?
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Old 1 April 2015, 06:40 AM   #2
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Wait for sure..Will appreciate it more
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Old 1 April 2015, 06:40 AM   #3
DJ TT 2002
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Sorry, but this doesn't come up with the "poll" option.
Can you edit the post?
FWIW, I would wait until after college. That's what I'm doing for my sons.
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Old 1 April 2015, 06:42 AM   #4
elcompa
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Originally Posted by DJ TT 2002 View Post
Sorry, but this doesn't come up with the "poll" option.
Can you edit the post?
FWIW, I would wait until after college. That's what I'm doing for my sons.

Oops! Sorry. First time ever made a poll. I think I have it fixed now.
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Old 1 April 2015, 06:43 AM   #5
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Oops! Sorry. First time ever made a poll. I think I have it fixed now.
Perfect now. Just voted.
Excellent question, by the way. Lucky kid
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Old 1 April 2015, 06:51 AM   #6
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Perfect now. Just voted.
Excellent question, by the way. Lucky kid
Thanks. We love him so much and are so proud of him. He has epilepsy, mostly under control by the meds. This past year has been a roller coaster of emotions , medication, depression secondary effects, not sleeping etc...

Yet, he is still an honor roll student, a three sport varsity letterman already and an all conference cross country runner. Number nine in the state! Wants to go to an Ivy league school and study pre-med.

I can almost see the joy on his face opening the box at graduation. He has seen, held and even tried it on in my presence with eyes that say...."One day".
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Old 1 April 2015, 07:12 AM   #7
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Thanks. We love him so much and are so proud of him. He has epilepsy, mostly under control by the meds. This past year has been a roller coaster of emotions , medication, depression secondary effects, not sleeping etc...

Yet, he is still an honor roll student, a three sport varsity letterman already and an all conference cross country runner. Number nine in the state! Wants to go to an Ivy league school and study pre-med.

I can almost see the joy on his face opening the box at graduation. He has seen, held and even tried it on in my presence with eyes that say...."One day".

I may have to change my vote because this young man sounds way more responsible than I am now!!!!

Would there be an option for a pre- loved Rolex?
Getting started with a 16610 or even 16233 from TRF might give a safety net that a new Daytona might not offer. A 3K-5K watch that " walks away" might be less traumatic than a 12k watch that "grows legs"
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Old 2 April 2015, 12:52 AM   #8
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Thanks. We love him so much and are so proud of him. He has epilepsy, mostly under control by the meds. This past year has been a roller coaster of emotions , medication, depression secondary effects, not sleeping etc...

Yet, he is still an honor roll student, a three sport varsity letterman already and an all conference cross country runner. Number nine in the state! Wants to go to an Ivy league school and study pre-med.

I can almost see the joy on his face opening the box at graduation. He has seen, held and even tried it on in my presence with eyes that say...."One day".
I'm going to renig my survey choice and say go ahead and give it to him. It seems you have raised a fine boy. If you keep it insured he will be protected against its theft.

Good on him working through the many emotional issues that come with puberty and teenage-hood. May I recommend Brene Brown's book "Daring Greatly" for him? I'm not sure if I would've appreciated it at his age, but it has opened my eyes greatly about self-compassion and things of that nature.
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Old 2 April 2015, 11:18 AM   #9
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Originally Posted by elcompa View Post
Thanks. We love him so much and are so proud of him. He has epilepsy, mostly under control by the meds. This past year has been a roller coaster of emotions , medication, depression secondary effects, not sleeping etc...

Yet, he is still an honor roll student, a three sport varsity letterman already and an all conference cross country runner. Number nine in the state! Wants to go to an Ivy league school and study pre-med.

I can almost see the joy on his face opening the box at graduation. He has seen, held and even tried it on in my presence with eyes that say...."One day".
Sounds like a phenomenal young man. After what he's been through, chances are he's not your average 18 year old. Do what you're heart tells you.
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Old 1 April 2015, 06:41 AM   #10
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Personally, my vote would be to wait for College graduation. That's quite a bit of responsibility on the wrist of an 18 year old lad. I wouldn't be worried about him so much as I would be other kids coming into and out of his dorm/house/frat house. I had a number of items that would turn up "missing" around my dorm from semester to semester. Thankfully, it wasn't anything as valuable as a Rolex.
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Old 1 April 2015, 06:45 AM   #11
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Personally, my vote would be to wait for College graduation. That's quite a bit of responsibility on the wrist of an 18 year old lad. I wouldn't be worried about him so much as I would be other kids coming into and out of his dorm/house/frat house. I had a number of items that would turn up "missing" around my dorm from semester to semester. Thankfully, it wasn't anything as valuable as a Rolex.
My thoughts too. I spent a good amount of time drinking beer in college. My fear is that he may take it off to sleep, even though he doesn't drink and is far more responsible than I ever was, and awake to fine it missing. He would feel terrible for life...then I would feel terrible because he feels terrible...know what I mean?
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Old 1 April 2015, 06:41 AM   #12
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Definitely wait until he graduates college (that may even be too early). As a masters student myself I would say it's no accomplishment graduating highschool or college these days with the way the education system is... graduating with a college degree these days is like finishing highschool 20 years ago.

Graduating highschool only says your boy does infact have a beating pulse. Make him earn the watch.
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Old 1 April 2015, 06:50 AM   #13
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I voted wait until college, anyone can graduate high school. I was given stock in a pharmeceutical company as a high school grad present. Enabled me to set up a small portfolio.

I bought my own Rolex while in highschool. It was $1360 new in 1986. Wore it every day, all the time. No one cared about my watch or knew what it was in college. I went to a very small school outside of Pittsburgh.

Worst thing that happened was my 1973 BMW 2002 was broken into by some neighborhood hoodlums on a crime spree in 1990.

That's my 2 cents.
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Old 1 April 2015, 06:55 AM   #14
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Every college student I have ever known, including myself, has partaken of excessive amounts of alcohol, slept over somewhere strange (with or without hangover), done very foolish things, and not lost much of anything because I did not have a lot to lose.

I know you trust him, it sounds like you should, but, can you trust the people around him?

Besides, a high school graduate would not appreciate it or take care of a Rolex, as a college graduate would. Get him a good watch (like a Hamilton, Tag, etc.) for graduating high school. jmho
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Old 1 April 2015, 06:57 AM   #15
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Every college student I have ever known, including myself, has partaken of excessive amounts of alcohol, slept over somewhere strange (with or without hangover), done very foolish things, and not lost much of anything because I did not have a lot to lose.

Besides, a high school graduate would not appreciate it or take care of a Rolex, as a college graduate would. Get him a good watch (like a Hamilton, Tag, etc.) for graduating high school. jmho
This may be a very good compromise. Get him a good one that can eventually become his second, once he graduates college. And get him a Rolex for achieving college graduation. I know the old lady would be happy with this option.

Man, y'all are working to keep me out of trouble. Thanks!
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Old 1 April 2015, 08:44 AM   #16
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This may be a very good compromise. Get him a good one that can eventually become his second, once he graduates college. And get him a Rolex for achieving college graduation. I know the old lady would be happy with this option.

Man, y'all are working to keep me out of trouble. Thanks!
That sounds like the best of both worlds to me. Your son is a lucky young man and you have every right to be proud of him.
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Old 1 April 2015, 07:02 AM   #17
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Im actually in the same boat. I think its too early for my son to own a rolex. I told him he has to earn it. I got him this instead, though he has to wait till fall. Hehehe



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Old 1 April 2015, 07:03 AM   #18
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Im actually in the same boat. I think its too early for my son to own a rolex. I told him he has to earn it. I got him this instead, though he has to wait till fall. Hehehe



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Fun to spoil them, isn't it? Great watch, BTW!
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Old 1 April 2015, 07:13 AM   #19
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Fun to spoil them, isn't it? Great watch, BTW!
This sounds like it might be a fun thread in June, new High School Graduates and their graduation watches, starting with elcompa's son. Then another one for new College Graduates.
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Old 1 April 2015, 07:20 AM   #20
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I would wait until he gets his first real job after college.
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Old 1 April 2015, 07:27 AM   #21
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Mom's right.
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Old 1 April 2015, 07:31 AM   #22
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Wait until college graduation. Less chance of it getting lost or disappearing.
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Old 1 April 2015, 07:34 AM   #23
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Old 1 April 2015, 07:40 AM   #24
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I've shared this story before but it's applicable to this thread as well.

Family friend of mine lost, not one, but two Rolexes in college.

One was stolen from his room by an alleged roommate's acquaintance during a party and the other was destroyed on his wrist from horseplay. Luckily they had insurance, hence his second one. Dad didn't replace after the second one though.

Wait til college graduation.


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Old 1 April 2015, 07:48 AM   #25
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I've shared this story before but it's applicable to this thread as well.

Family friend of mine lost, not one, but two Rolexes in college.

One was stolen from his room by an alleged roommate's acquaintance during a party and the other was destroyed on his wrist from horseplay. Luckily they had insurance, hence his second one. Dad didn't replace after the second one though.

Wait til college graduation.



I guess it depends on the kid, but for the above reasons I would never give my son a Rolex while in college. Maybe after...but more likely as a wedding gift.
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Old 1 April 2015, 07:45 AM   #26
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I would go with first real job
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Old 1 April 2015, 07:54 AM   #27
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Would make the perfect graduation gift!
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Old 1 April 2015, 07:55 AM   #28
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Give it to him when he graduates HS.
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Old 1 April 2015, 07:56 AM   #29
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Give 36mm blue dial OP to son at high school graduation
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Old 1 April 2015, 08:09 AM   #30
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Initially, I thought college for a Rolex as a gift. But this is a rite of passage into adulthood - for a young man or woman. I cant think of a cooler gift

As an FYI - my brothers and I got the same two presents for our 18th birthdays. A watch and a suitcase - 'time to go', lol. It is a family tradition and symbolizes that passage to adulthood. It was always a lot of fun, and always turned into a family roast.
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