Do you know a watch lover who’s graduating this year? Here are some of the best graduation gifts that’ll complement their horology hobby.
When someone makes their hobby a big part of their personality, you’d think they’d be easy to shop for.
First off, I mean that with no judgment. I make watches a huge part of my personality. I even still have my first-ever watch.
Second, believe it or not, people who are intense with their hobbies can actually be more difficult to buy gifts for. So today, I’m going to help you with figuring out some of the best graduation gifts for the watch lover in your life.
The problem with enthusiasts, and especially experts, is that they might be extra particular. You may know they want a Submarine, but what if you get the wrong year? The wrong reference? Unless you yourself understand the nuances, there are too many landmines here.
Graduation is a big deal, and you want something special. Let’s start by answering what your first question may be.
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Is a Watch a Good Graduation Gift?
Okay, so is a watch a good graduation gift? Truthfully, the answer depends.
The first box to check is whether or not you know exactly, to the tee, what kind of watch they want. I’m talking about brand, model, reference, and year. If there’s a version with a date versus without, which one do they prefer?
They may only want a specific model if it has a particular complication.
The second thing to consider is whether or not it’s an appropriate gift.
An expensive luxury watch, even an affordable watch, might be more appropriate for a college or graduate school graduation gift. Even more, it might be a gift reserved for the parents or grandparents to give.
On the flip side, perhaps your son graduated high school and achieved something remarkable. Perhaps he received a full-ride scholarship to Harvard. Maybe, despite the odds, your son got into your alma mater, carrying on a very special legacy.
Situations like this might warrant a luxury watch.
It really all depends. But yes, appropriateness is an important consideration when it comes to watches as gifts. Let’s discuss some cool options for graduation gift watches.
The Graduation Gift Watch
Of course, a truly nice luxury watch or the graduate’s exact watch of their dreams are the best bets. However, it doesn’t have to be so high of a stake, either.
Again, perhaps you are a parent, grandparent, or even an uncle with a special relationship with the celebrant. A family heirloom of any price is always a special gesture.
Plus, if it’s a high school graduation, it gives them a piece of home or their family. That first year away from college might require a nice touchstone like this.
Maybe it’s their first “real” watch. To some, this might mean their first mechanical, after years of wearing fashion watches. Believe it or not, you can easily find automatic timepieces under $200.
It can also just be a cheap but legendary watch they’ve always wanted. The Casio F91W and the A158W are both watch world icons for less than $40 each.
Timex is another brand that makes affordable models that are more than just fashion watches. Something like the Marlin is distinct but not weird and has a unique manual wind.
Not only will he need to learn how to wind a watch, but he’ll get to know his watch because of it. To many, this might sound like a pain. To certain watch lovers, it makes the timepiece more engaging.
Exhibition casebacks are another way to achieve that engagement factor — check out Seiko for some affordable models that offer this feature.
Best Watch for Graduation Gift: Get Personal
Personalization is another way to make a watch, any watch, more special. You can engrave a special message on even the cheapest watches, which would definitely make them one of a kind.
Meanwhile, a lot of school stores on college campuses often have clocks and watches with the school branding on them.
Going back to the kid who got into a selective school or fulfilled the family legacy. This would be a great present option.
Finally, as far as graduation watches go, I think a pocket watch is quite a charming present. They’re easy to find at every price point, unique, and still useful, and you can always get them engraved.
4 Best Graduation Gifts: Non-Watch Options
Non-watch options are actually far less risky. This makes them preferable for those of us who aren’t as close to the celebrant as his or her parents are.
Perhaps you know that the graduate is getting a nice timepiece to take to college with them. They’ll definitely need a place to keep it or a safe place to put it in during travel potentially.
Different Watch Storage Solutions
Small-scale storage solutions are a great gift for a watch lover.
Fortunately, watch boxes and watch stands come in all shapes and sizes. A small two-watch box or a singular stand can serve as a protective case. Depending on the design, they can even serve as a beautiful exhibition.
Another option is a nice watch winder. Many might argue that the jury is still out regarding whether or not you need a winder. At the very least, they’re a cool, different way to display and safely store a watch.
Of course, you can always go for a handsome watch roll. This is probably one of the most practical options for a young person moving into a small dorm room.
You can use watch rolls as compact home storage or for travel. Even more, they come in a wide range of styles. You can go for a sophisticated leather role or a rugged canvas one.
Watch Books
Not to sound like a five-year-old, but watch books without pictures aren’t as fun. Plus, they can get all the written information on watches they want from blogs like this one.
I’m talking about cool, beautifully bound coffee table books.
A Man and His Watch is popular and explores the topic through stories of men who wore specific timepieces.
Then there’s The Rolex Watch Book. If he’s a fan of the brand, getting him a date just for graduation might be too much. This gorgeous book, however, is impressive yet reasonable.
Truly, there’s a watchbook for every watch lover.
Watch Straps
I’ve always said having several straps for one watch allows that one watch to transform into several watches.
You’d be surprised at just how much the aesthetic of even a simple field watch can change. A finished leather strap can bring out its classic sophistication. Meanwhile, a NATO or Zulu (which are two different styles, by the way) can give it an authentic, rugged look.
Basically, extra watch straps are a low-risk-high-reward present for a graduate. When in doubt, just go for a watch strap or two.
Watch Kits
I know what you’re thinking. Not every watch lover wants to build their watches.
However, kits vary. Some are very basic, simply featuring a watch tool for strap changes, and others are more advanced. You never know, your graduate may want to experiment with basic watch modding down the line.
Moreover, there’s something about having a magnifying loupe that just makes you feel like a legit watch collector.
Conclusion: The Perfect Present
When it comes to the best graduation gifts for watch lovers, here are some key takeaways.
First, they may be highly selective when it comes to watches. Tread carefully and make sure you’re staying within your lane. Save the luxury gifts for close relatives.
Second, watch accessories are a safe bet. Watch books and watch straps would make any enthusiast happy.
And hey, they deserve it. Finishing school is an achievement they won’t experience every day!
Did you ever receive a watch or a watch-related present for graduation? If so, I’d love to hear about it! Let me know in the comments!
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