Parents of young children - does it matter what watch you wear?
One of my best friends recently had a baby and bought a Rolex Oyster Perpetual, I believe. I can't remember the exact reference. He said it was to wear every day so his kid associated it with him and then he could give it to them at some point in the future. Lovely, I thought.
Then I listened to Rob Beckett's podcast about having a kid and thought that might not be appropriate for all the chaos and sleep deprivation.
Anyway, my partner and I have been talking about it more and more recently but being my WIS self I can't help but think... 'What watch should I wear for this?'. It's silly I know but this is the kind of hold my watches have over me! I wondered, what can I put on at the beginning of the pregnancy that will cover me for any situation until they leave the house 18 years later. Through all the sleep deprivation, fluids, knocks, scrapes, appointments, and no fuss to maintain, but still nice enough to bring me joy in the fleeting moments you get to yourself.
So, any parents here who have seen it all, what watch did you wear? And, ultimately, does it really matter?
Welcome to my WatchCrunch profile.
I wear what ever I feel like any given day, regardless of the activities with the little man.
Otherwise - when would I wear them?
Wear and enjoy - it’s all in the stories
Unless they are investments
You won’t care about any, let alone a watch, once you bring the baby home. You’ll barely know what day it is and whether you’ve eaten or taken a shower.
What if you just built your collection around what resonates for you then one day let your now adult child pick the watch from that collection that has meaning or reminds them of you. That seems more organic and less forced imo.
I've always found the birth-of-a-child watch to be nothing more than a self-indulgent excuse.
I mean, it's not like you're going to forget the child if you don't have some sort of memento to remember them by.
I've always found the birth-of-a-child watch to be nothing more than a self-indulgent excuse.
I mean, it's not like you're going to forget the child if you don't have some sort of memento to remember them by.
Yeah but it is a damned good occasion for buying a new watch ! I speak having bought (getting gifted by wifey) my two most expensive watch for our children's birth
If one is worried about what watch to wear with children then maybe seriously view the bigger picture.
No kid = more watches just sayin'
sincerely, proud DINK
I wear whatever I want, he will eventually like one more than the others and I will gladly give it to him as a present one day. He is already trying to wear my watches at 1.5 years old, I'm a very proud dad!
I think watches are much nicer than kids
Agree with above comments re how much the baby will take all the necessary energy you have and at the same will be the best gift in itself...
Having that notion cleared I like the idea of acquiring watches to commentate life events or career milestones. However for reasons of passing on it makes no sense in wearing something so the kid can bond. He/she will bond with whatever you give them if you tell them why you want to give it to them. My father passed on a beautiful gold certina to me that my grandfather had received for his 25th work anniversary. My father didn’t wear it much but is holds the greatest emotional value of my watch collection. I will definitely pass it on to one of my sons later in life…
(ps. A generation watch doesn’t have to be a Rolex or Patek😉)
I'm planning to buy a watch this year for that exact reason.
The only two requirements I'm going for are;
Can take a beating
Good water resistance, for obvious reasons
And I have to like it of course 😁
Does it really matter in the end, probably not. But it brings me joy thinking about it.
It doesn't matter.
I bought a watch while my wife was pregnant of my baby girl. I imagined this watch representing my fatherhood and my relationship to her. Then, the whole thing happened and i went to the hospital with what i had in my wrist which was just my daily. Now even if i have done nice memories with the new watch, I'm trying to sell it. Wear what feels like you. If it's a lot of variety, your kids will remember your variety in your personality. If you're like me then maybe it will be mainly one or two watches. If you wear what feels like you, then they will remember what feels like you. Besides, you have time. Kids don't remember anything before 5yo so take the time to buy and sell until something feels like you. Then wear it, a lot.
You will be in a sleep-deprived, hallucinating haze for years. You only need a watch when you start having to take the offspring to appointments. Spend the money on books for her/him.
Didn't go through any of this, only started with watches last year. What i can tell you is my boys are 36 and 33. They love the thought of divvying up my watches when i'm ten toes up....😀
It doesn't matter what you wear. It's just an excuse for those who do to buy a watch.
What if you just built your collection around what resonates for you then one day let your now adult child pick the watch from that collection that has meaning or reminds them of you. That seems more organic and less forced imo.
Great idea! 🍻
I've always found the birth-of-a-child watch to be nothing more than a self-indulgent excuse.
I mean, it's not like you're going to forget the child if you don't have some sort of memento to remember them by.
Of course it is. But I’ve bought watches just because I thought they were pretty, so a child’s birth is at least a better excuse than that.
My 5 year anniversary Lorier Neptune for the actual birth. Day to day I wear whatever I feel like. BabyYetti knows Dad likes watches, in fact she's already kinda started collecting herself 😂.
Every watch I had during my working career got broken somehow within 6 months and since retiring broke a coupe more. as only tools I don't buy expensive ones. Whatever watch you wear will have time fly by too fast to care and your to busy to admire anything beyond being on time.
It can be any watch and yes they will notice.
Well before I was infected with this disease, I wore a two-tone quartz Citizen daily.
It got beat up pretty badly & got water inside. Then cell phones became a thing, I got divorced, moved around a lot but somehow kept the watch, even though I haven't worn it in over a decade.
Recently, I gave my three kids, daughter in law & granddaughter a watch & my eldest daughter asked about the two-tone Citizen. So now I need to fix it to give it to her.
Casio is always the answer
I’m a mom in the thick of things (2yo, 6yo) so I’m going with a g shock for weekends and a few seiko beaters for weekdays and office and general mom life.
Your life as a parent isn't only being a parent.
You're still going to be living your life, so the watches that facilitate and compliment your life now will still be applicable, (you just might get barf on them at some point.)
Good luck!
You think way too much about that subject.
Great question! Short answer = just be happy when a healthy baby has arrived safe and sound. Other short answer = post your question on Mumsnet and enjoy their thoughtful and not at all scathing answers. Long answer = I have 4 kids so have seen it all. I think I wore either a Casio F91-W or a Swatch, see first short answer earlier. Babies are not the issue. Toddlers are the issue. You could buy a Rolex now and to save time, bury it on the beach and hope you can remember where it is, puke on it a few times (sorry), scrape it against some house bricks, drop it in a pot of paint and then ask a random stranger to hide it somewhere really good, like in the washing machine. And then tell yourself these are all fun memories. Hahaha. See Casio F91-W mentioned earlier. If you want a sensible answer then buy 1 nice watch. For your partner. She will have done all the work up to birth and will do a good chunk of it after birth. Use the money for your watch to pay for a baby sitter and take your partner out to dinner. Many times. Any watch you wear on the day your first child is born is the best watch in the world. Been there. Got the t shirt. Final short answer = don't over think it, get a Rolex Explorer and just love the hell out of it. After all, becoming a Dad is THE best excuse for getting a Rolex. Or a Casio F91-W. 🙂🙂🙂
I laughed when you said that hilarious line “ leave the house at 18” . You need a beater because you will smash the Rolex ALL THE TIME if you are wrangling babies. It can be like wrestling a koala 🐨. Buy the Rolex ,put it in a box , if your trying to convince yourself this “ narrative “ . BUT wear a casio from day to day , you know waterproof shock proof, STRESS proof …. Just my two cents worth
Just one advice from a dad with two kids: get one watch that you can read in the dark when you put your kids to sleep. I do not collect memories with watches. However I have two of my beloved watches that I would like to pass to my children one day.
You’re assuming your kids will like watches in 20-30 years time. This isn’t a given 😂
Wear the cool watches you want, make sure it’s visible in a few of your family photos over the next decades, and if you’re lucky, you’ll have kids that you’re still on speaking terms with then and they’ll appreciate your watch some day 🍻
I raised two girls, all the way up to women hood. I honestly don’t remember the watch I wore, or if I did.
I built cell phone towers for a living. Bit of a rough job to even wear them.
Buy a nice watch and save your money. Your gonna need it for the kid.
Later in life, get your luxury watch.
Don’t rush it, enjoy the journey.