Something special for daughter on 18th birthday from Grandad?

[Travelfairy]

My DS will be getting a rolex on his 18th birthday from his Grandad. He is only 14 but it was bought recently. Inside the gift will also be a letter for my DS to keep up forever.
My DD is only 11 but my FIL wants to do something similar for her. What would be a similar type of gift for my DD? He wants to spend a similar amount, give or take. Rolex was about 7000 euro afaik.
I know we are incredibly fortunate that FIL wants to do this. He is 78 and although reasonably healthy he does have some issues and I think he wants to sort these things in the near future...

Why not a watch for DD too?

A ring perhaps?

Watch also

Definitely a watch. I would also suggest he considers buying it now as it’s an investment piece.

I learnt my lesson when I bought a 21st present then bought the same for their sibling 3 years later. The item was the same but the cost difference was substantial. I now buy two at the same time.

Are you refusing to allow your daughter to learn how to tell the time, @Travelfairy?

(Or is it your FIL who feels such obscure skills are unfeminine enough to potentially wreck her marriage prospects?)

I might personally prefer a Cartier Tank or something from Audemars Piguet - but I have no idea of relative purchase and investment values.

I’d go for a tennis bracelet or similar.
I don’t know any young women who wear watches.

A watch, the same as your DS.

I’d want a Rolex aswell .

A Rolex for her as well.

Diamond earrings?

Definitely a Rolex for her also.

Sorry but I think it's madness to spend this amount of money on a watch. Why not put the money away for uni, car or a house deposit. He can still buy a nice watch for a few hundred pound. Would they even appreciate a fancy watch at 18?

I think getting her a watch would be fair but if she doesn’t want one then a necklace, earrings or bracelet would be nice!

I think a watch is difficult, I don't know anyone around the 18-30 age group who would wear a hugely expensive watch. Especially ladies' watches are such a personal taste item.
I think DD would just sell it as soon as possible. She eyes a smartwatch but wouldn't be interested in a luxury one which is an investment piece.

Can't you put the money into a decent interest bearing account and make a decision just before she turns 18 and you have a good idea what she likes?

DD turned 18 last year and my mum had a bracelet (white gold with rubies), made in the 1920s she inherited herself but wouldn't wear anymore due to health reasons. DD had seen it and really liked it so my mum gifted it to her. We had it valued and it is quite an expensive piece so DD only wears it sporadically and left it at home instead of taking it to uni.

Also a Rolex

Similarly priced watch or something more modest with a necklace and earrings?

Another rolex

I think a watch as well. But will you be making sure they’re wound and serviced in the meantime OP? They’ll need to be looked after between purchase and when they receive their gifts in a few years time.

Same as her brother a Rolex watch

Maybe jewellery from somewhere like Tiffany? Or a posh handbag? I get the thought that she should have a watch too, but I genuinely don't think many young people will be wearing anything other than a Smart watch in years to come.

Is she not much of a watch person? What about a necklace or bracelet? A diamond one?

Have a look at Omega constellation watch. They are very suitable for both young and older women, so she should get plenty of wear out of it when young. Lots of smaller faced Rolex Datejust are very nice too. I think it’s a lovely idea. As an aside, currently, Rolex hold their value compared to Omega.

No, you really don’t understand …

Firstly, it’s highly likely that both children already have solid trust funds set up to launch them into adult life.

Even if they don’t, I doubt a fancy watch will be the only thing they ever receive from their grandparents or parents.

And an heirloom / investment gift such as this isn’t intended primarily to delight the recipient at 18. It is intended to accompany them through their life - and very many people only begin to care about the thing they’ve received years or decades later.

(A few hundred pounds can indeed buy ‘a watch’. It’s not the same, at all. I don’t personally care about Rolex watches or Chanel bags - but I do care about fabulous, museum worthy clothes; so I have no qualms about spending money on stuff that other people might not value.)

Don't be so patronising telling me that I don't understand.

Where does OP say there'll be a trust fund or do you mean the government child trust fund?

Actually you're right. I don't understand buying an extravagant gift that they probably won't wear and will just be stuffed in a draw or a safe or even sold later on in life.

This seems like madness to me. Isn't it better to gift the equivalent money to use at University or towards a house deposit? Grandad could always buy something less expensive to give as a sentimental gift?