Graduation Gift

[Raza]

Okay, so you guys all know that I'm finishing up law school.  Hopefully today I can hand in my final paper, and then I'm just waiting until commencement. 

As a thank you to my mom and brother, without whom I couldn't have made the leap, I'm getting them gifts for my graduation.  I already know what I'm getting my brother.  A Greg Maddux signed baseball and a Maddux Braves jersey, and maybe a signed hat if I can find one that's authenticated and in budget.  For my mom, I'm getting her a watch.  There's a story behind this, which I'll share if you'd like, but I know most of you don't go for the sentimental stuff, so I'll skip it for now.  I'm between these two watches:





They're identical except for the dial color.  I think the silver is a bit prettier than the black, but the black is more legible.  But then again, women generally just wear watches as jewelry anyway (and so do many men), so the time-telling function isn't as important as how good it looks. 

Anyway, which one do you think I should get her?

[mzziaz]

Silver

[68_427]

Silver


But you should also get a Japanese waifu for yourself

Or at least her used panties from the vending machine

[RomanChariot]

I would go with the silver.

[giant_mtb]

Silver!  If it were for me, I'd go black, but for a woman, the silver fits better.

[shp4man]

So what will the gift be when you pass the BAR, a new Lexus? 

[MrH]

You graduate and give your family gifts?  That seems backwards to me

[BimmerM3]

I already know what I'm getting my brother.  A Greg Maddux signed baseball and a Maddux Braves jersey, and maybe a signed hat if I can find one that's authenticated and in budget. 

I wish I were your brother.

You graduate and give your family gifts?  That seems backwards to me

Honestly, I think Raza's way makes more sense.

[Raza]

You graduate and give your family gifts?  That seems backwards to me

I'm getting a gift too, but I didn't want to bore you guys with that.

Seriously though, I couldn't have done it without them. It's going to be a total surprise to them.

[Soup DeVille]

Fact is, most graduates are broke.

[FoMoJo]

If your mother is anything like my wife, she'll want the black...and tell us the story.  Guys only pretend not to like sentimental stuff.

[Cookie Monster]

I personally prefer the black but agree silver probably works better for women's jewelry.

[Payman]

A blue TAG Carrera.

[Raza]

A blue TAG Carrera.

Thanks for the suggestion, but it has to be an Omega and my mom doesn't really like to fiddle with automatic watches.  She has a Seiko SKX013 that she never wears because she hates having to set the time all the time. 

And, since FoMoJo asked:

If your mother is anything like my wife, she'll want the black...and tell us the story.  Guys only pretend not to like sentimental stuff.

Here's the story:

My grandfather, who died long before I was born, used to wear an Omega. He was a great man who has an airfield named after him.  He fought in Bangladesh's war of independence from Pakistan.  One of his last acts was to give my grandmother his Omega for safekeeping as he was taken away by the Pakistani military.  He was executed by them shortly after.  His watch sits in a safe deposit box, likely not working anymore.  My grandmother wore it for many years after he died, though, until she died. My mother always wanted my brother and me to have an Omega like her father did. My brother got a Planet Ocean chrono when he finished his CFA, I got a Speedmaster when I turned 25.

The thought occurred to me that, well, she didn't have an Omega herself. She likes watches--has a two-tone Aquaracer with an MOP dial and diamonds that she wears now and then and she also has an SKX013 which she wears sparingly because she doesn't like fiddling with the crown whenever she doesn't wear it for two days. Last year, I liquidated a large portion of my collection (more than 2/3rds, I'd say, I'd have to do an actual count) in order to fund a purchase for my Black Bay. I still have something left to get the axe and partially fund this purchase. As part of my graduation, I'm going to get her an Omega so she has one, just like her sons and her father.

And that's why it needs to be an Omega.  I'm going to give it to her just before I leave for commencement, so she can wear it for the first time on the day I graduate law school.  She didn't get to watch me walk in undergrad, since I skipped it for a job interview, and this will make the day extra special.  She'd never buy one for herself, and she'd stop me from buying it for her, especially if she knew I was selling one of my watches to help cover the cost. 

[Soup DeVille]

Damn, now that's a story.

[veeman]

Buy both.  Let her choose and return the other. 

Damn fine story...

[veeman]

If you don't have a large enough credit limit on your credit card to buy both, I would get the black.  On the black one, the OMEGA is readily visible.  Her friends can tell what she's wearing without looking close.

[CaminoRacer]

Good story.

[FoMoJo]

Interesting family history.

Great story.

[MrH]

This is like the background story for a watch themed, time traveling super hero.

[dazzleman]

Nice story, Raza.  And a very nice idea.  It reminds me of one of my mom's birthdays when I was about 10.  She gave each of us a gift on her birthday, and I asked why she was giving away gifts on a day she'd normally receive them.  Her answer was "It's better to give than to receive."

I voted black, but now that I know the whole story, I think silver is better.

[Raza]

It's arrived:



It's really nice. Tiny for me, but I think it'll be a really good fit for my mom.

[giant_mtb]

I like it. Looks better there than in the OP.

[Lebowski]

Very nice

[dazzleman]

Very nice

[FoMoJo]

I'm sure your Mom will love it. 

[Raza]

Thanks guys. I'm giving the watch to her this weekend.

[FoMoJo]

Thanks guys. I'm giving the watch to her this weekend.

Let know how that goes.  I would expect some emotion.

[veeman]

Nice, very very nice.

[Raza]

Let know how that goes.  I would expect some emotion.

I'm expecting tears of joy.