What's your expectation of your children's reaction to your watch collection?

Added the option 😜

My 9-year-old daughter is not particularly interested in watches, EXCEPT when it's bedtime and she's supposed to go to sleep. Then she's figured out that she can buy herself extra time just by asking me a few questions about the watch I'm wearing. Then dad gets pretty chatty and she quickly gets 10-15 extra minutes of wakefulness. Who knows, maybe it will manifest itself in real watch joy when she gets older?

If indifference could be measured in terms of purity, my teenage children’s’ lack of interest in my watches would be a reference held in a vault at the Bureau of Standards.

My daughter said to me the other day, "what will we do with all your watches when you die"? Lol. Honesty of a 9 year old.

I would expect the family to keep one and cash out the rest.

Fortunately not cursed with children 😁👏🏻👏🏻

I'm going to have them all cremated along with my worn out body.

Not the kids you understand, my watches.

No children. If I go before my husband I imagine he’ll keep them in his collection. If he goes first then they’ll probably be tossed out with the rest of my things when I’m gone.

They will receive detailed instructions of how to sell assets that are part of the trust, and watches are no exception. My expectation is that my kids are able to sell the watches without being completely taken advantage of.

Never had kids. That is why I could afford nice watches, and other stuff. 😉

They’re smarter than we think.

Yes, and parents let themselves be tricked time and time again 😂

Since my collection starts with my great grandfather's watch he needed/used at work, includes my dads 25 year gold watch and has watches I've made (assembled), I would hope they would treasure it for the story it tells of our lives.

True enough. But then, vast majority of watches in a person collection reflect that person and their taste, not just where they come from.

Of course, there is no right or wrong answer. Just random musing on fatherhood and watches...

(or, maybe I just have too many watches 😅)

My son (11) is a proper labels boy. He'll flex the expensive stuff. My daughter (14) actively dislikes watches.

She was complaining the other day as I stopped at yet other AD window, and I say "You should WANT me to buy watches! They'll be yours and your brother's one day! Don't you want me to leave you something you can remember me by when I'm dead??"

Her: "My brother can have the watches. I'll have the house. Loads of memories there."

If anything, the reverse is true.

Look, smartwatches impact mostly cheaper watches. Even the most expensive smartwatches barely scratch the entry level of haute horology, let alone brands like Rolex or Patek or JLC. They are different markets. The lower end, with exception of enthusiasts, is already squeezed dry by the quartz.

Reversely, the domination of technologies in everyday life seems to ignite a soulful yearning for crafts and hand made goods. This is beyond just watches, but also more natural food and support for conservation and so on. Mechanical watches just happen to be one of these.

In fact, since 2017 (with exception of 2020, and we all remember that the world kinda ended that year), the revenue for Swiss watch industry increases every year, but the volume generally dropped.

In the long run, I am hopeful that this trend (mindful consumption?) will continue. So will beautifully crafted watches.

My kids have already claimed their favorites that they would like have.. I might sell some as soon as my watch craze gets over.. I have only one rule.. no boy friends or girl friends will ever get to wear the collection or else they loose their inheritance.. if I die before that.. none of it matters.. Damm.. I need to update my will..

My kids won't give a damn about my watches, just like most people. They didn't inherit the watch nerd gene 🥺

Er, Patek never said anything about the ‘next generation’ being your next generation….😉

One of my ‘rules’ of parenting is not pushing my ‘demons’ onto my children - they’ll find their own way/Daniel Wellington….

I have started to pass along many of my watches to my two daughters both accomplished young adults. They have lived their entire lives around my watch affectation, expect nothing beyond the ones already gifted to them but obviously there will be the rest one day. I sell nothing so some of my “stuff” will be a concern just not mine, haha. My wife and I talk all the time about responsibilities, each seriously hoping that it will be the other’s. I intend to slow down my watch buying but suspect it is too late to just save for one final relevant watch. Honestly we are just talking about watches!

I don't care what they do I'll be dead. However I feel my children 5 of them will be access to them. One of my sons is on WC. I now have to start buying watch with him mind and the other kids in mind.

My father left me about 30 pocket watches. What the hell am I meant to do with them?

Im sure that's how my kids will view my collection of wrist watches.

They’re coming with me… I can’t be the only one?? 😇

Nooooo , at least you can double their wrist time if you both have similar wrist sizes and then have an auction upon your demise’s with the money going to your favourite charities, or a nephew or cousin that was a kind person to you both .

They’re only young for so long.

Hmm, my daughter has alread taken my Longines Flagship Heritage 🤪💕

I think this is the only thing I'm commenting, but my favorite watch is my grandma's, she had that watch for most of her life, and when she had a stroke and she couldn't use her left arm, she would keep that watch between her knees to wind it.

of course I'm not wearing that watch no more, cuz I'll have to wind it twice a day or more, and maybe I would break it, or I don't know.

and if course I've put it in a sealed vacuum bag.

but I sometimes take it out and look at it and feel warm and fuzzy.

if she had a freaking collection, I don't think I would care about them as much as a single watch that she loved and cared for.

i think that the "we are the only ones that wear watches" is overstated.

it's not like we are a minority.

the watch industry is not dying or anything. and we believe we are the only ones that wear watches, because we are the only ones that wear "acquired taste" watches. take a peak at all other people are wearing around you. today the guy that served me beer at the beach had a freaking dive watch. not a "dive" watch. a proper dive watch. the guy next to him had a g shock square.

my waiters at noon had a golden Casio f91w (or whatever they are calling it) and the cook had a dressy watch.

and you should look around how many girls are wearing the Casioak in Barbie colors, OMG that thing is so fresh, I think I'm losing my mind, cuz I want one just like that

I don't want to argue, but what you consider a traditional watch? because my Casio GBD 200 is kinda smart, and sometimes I even let it show me notifications. but I don't wear it as such. I wear it as a really really accurate watch with the best dial, I could read the time from another room with this thing. this thing is a beast, I don't think a Rolex or a Omega can play in the same playing field time telling wise. looks, yes, quality, yes, but pound for pound, this is a far better watch. but it's it considered a traditional watch? is that guy's diver watch a traditional watch? is the waitress Casio a traditional watch? is the Casioak a traditional watch? BTW, those girls wearing barbie colors Casioaks aren't above 25... or maybe this is cultural thing, cuz over here, people wear watches all the time. maybe not fancy watches, but watches as a fashion accessory, or as a beater or to keep track of their workout. I don't think when I was going to the gym, that many people were not wearing watches to keep track of their workout.

i say this because since forever I loved watches and looked at what other people wear. and I don't discriminate, I like what I like, they like what they like, and if I strike a conversation about watches, I feel lucky to get their input about why the like, love or even hate their watches.

Your collection is your collection and reflects your taste. Your children will have a different take on your collection. But almost always they will at least keep one for sentimental value, if they are not into watches.