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Afternoon all,
I've recently inherited a reasonable but not ridiculous sum of money from a sadly deceased grandparent. The large majority will be put into savings but I would like to buy something with some of it that I can keep and remember her by. I would like to spend no more than £1k on this, ideally a touch less.
The only criteria is that it needs to be something that will "keep" rather than something that will fall out of fashion in 5 years. My first 2 thoughts were art of some variety (I know nothing about art and therefore will have terrible taste) or a watch (I like watches but £1k is a very difficult price point, to little for really nice stuff, too much for more standard stuff).
Any ideas great people of STW?
A puppy.
When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window
Edit: ...or puppies.
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Engraved 'standard' watch?
Bike frame and pair of forks or some wheels?
I'd agree, get a watch
Good set of DT swiss rims and hubs. Hand built, it's an art form donchaknow!
Erm... a bike?!
Watches are a good option and you should be able to get a fairly decent one for £1k? My missus had a similar dilemma, her total inheritance was £1k and she wanted something to remember her nan by. She got a nice Tag watch. Only problem is now we can't afford to service the bugger!
What about something for the house?
Longines worth looking at for a watch.
3g of colombia's finest and a high class hooker
memories that will last a lifetime....
Art? Mcmoonter painting?
COmmission a local artist to do a picture of the deceased? (from a photo).
Watch is a good idea, don't feel obliged to spend £1k if you can find something you really like at £500
I got a watch when I inherited a small sum from my Grandma. As I wear it all the time it's a constant reminder of her. Buy a good one and you'll have it for life and can then pass it down..
When in a similar position I spent the money on a vast tool kit.
You can't get a "nice" watch for £1000?
a bike? 😆
When in a similar position I spent the money on a vast tool kit.
or a single tool from Festool....
You can't get a "nice" watch for £1000?
I feared that may induce the odd comment. Of course £1k will get you a nice watch but it doesn't get you into the realms of really interesting stuff from the likes of Patek Phillipe, Audemars Piguet, Rolex, etc.
Hamilton watches are very nice, I've an x-wind that is very well made. The pilots watches are very nice too, and the jazzmaster has a name that makes me giggle. All around the £1k mark.
£1k would get you a very nice pre-owned 60s or 70s Omega/TAG other - I'd do that.
Watch doesn't have to be new, either - you could get something very nice from Chrono24 for that money in virtually as new condition.
Edit - beaten to it, it seems...
I feared that may induce the odd comment. Of course £1k will get you a nice watch but it doesn't get you into the realms of really interesting stuff from the likes of Patek Phillipe, Audemars Piguet, Rolex, etc.
Not sure Rolex actually make any 'really interesting' stuff, unless the two-colour gradient dial counts on the new Sea Dweller*?
*Bleurgh
Watches are a good option and you should be able to get a fairly decent one for [s]£1k[/s] £40
FTFY 😉
Why get art if you're not really into it?
A commission might be a nice idea as mentioned though.
What about a beautiful piece of furniture, a one-off commission that you will treasure for years to come and perhaps hand down?
I happen to know a very good furniture maker....ahem. 🙂
Are you the outdoors type? If so a really nice set of binoculars. Might sound a bit daft but a really good pair will last a lifetime and the image quality is astounding...
How about a shotgun?
Or a musical instrument of some description?
musical instrument - if you play, obviously!
a really nice touring bike maybe (if that floats your boat) - or on similar theme, really good tent + sleeping bag.
Workstand ? Ultimate top model?
really nice pair of leather brogues, or decent suit (trickier though). A kilt, if you're Scottish or have a claim / affinity..
TBH for a watch I'd be crapping myself of losing / damaging it / getting it stolen, I had a really good Seiko watch my folks bought me, it got nicked, I had an old watch from my dad - had that nicked as well 🙁
Or nice picture / print framed up as suggested.
I'd never wear a watch that cost that much. When I inherited some money years ago I spent about 2k on a round the world trip. Never done anything like that since or likely to again. Those memories will live linger than a watch. Rest went on a house deposit a decade later.
Good binoculars sounds good
I've always fancied some huge lumps of rock in the garden to look at and sit on
Do you have any nice photos? Get some photos printed as a collage on dibond Aluminium to make display
Custom made steel bike frame
Or I'll second travel or an experience. Track day? Memories last longer than consumer goods
I bought a nice Steinhart with my grans inheritance, It was an awful lot less than £1k.
Just choose a watch you like that you will be keeper, simple.
It does not need to be expensive.
What a great position to be in! How about a lovely chair, ercol style, to relax and contemplate. A share in a local wood. A green oak woodwork tuition weekend. A Canadian ski week. <back to the chutney>
I'd agree that buying art might be a bad idea if you don't know much about it and don't really have much interest in it. Same might go for a watch - would it be something you just put in a drawer and look at occasionally or wear? Not sure if want to wear a £1k watch!
How about a custom made frame? I would love a custom made audax/touring bike made by one of the classic UK frambuilders, or a new guy like Ricky Feather. Something you would enjoy for a long time and never sell - maybe have a paint job that was in the relatives favourite colour or one that reminded you of them? I seem to remember lavendar was a colour I seemed to see a lot round my grandparents house so that's what colour I would use.
Maybe a stupid idea; a really expensive (antique silver) picture frame?
Could hold value, unlikely to get damaged, easliy passed down and you could have a picture in it of the grandparents.
http://www.sellingantiques.co.uk/282978/sterling-silver-photograph-frame-art-nouveau-style-antique-edwardian/
So, this is a no to the puppies?
A piece of locally made oak garden furniture. Loads of interesting designs and will last a long long time with little care.
Get granny stuffed.
A tattoo? A double blooming cherry tree? A memorable family all together holiday in a rented castle? Memories are invaluable and would be an inheritance for all the family.
Mackem wins the entire internet for all of today .
Tricky decision because £1k isnt really alot of money anymore (unfortunatly ). As you say , it wont get you a high quality watch for example, but then spend £XXXX on a high quality watch and you will never wear it , apart from the odd wedding .
Holiday would be a great thing to do , combine it with what you usually spend and go somewhere different or for longer ?
We 'bought' a pew in a church for one relative, and a nice bench for another . OK so I dont get to see them, but the people that knew them do.
If you are a homeowner, with a garden then how about giving a decent gardener a patch and a sum of money and making an area dedicated to them ? Unless they had chronic hayfever , hated flowers and lived in a central London tower block ..
I'm reluctantly selling my Rado if you're interested: http://www.amazon.co.uk/SINTRA-CHRONOMETER-R13663162-GENTS-CERAMIC/dp/B001II27WC
I'd let it go for £1k minimum as we need a kitchen and I need a new bike. It's 3 years old and immaculate and has had a service in the last few months.
Let me know if you want any details.
Sculpture or fountain for the garden?
How about a shotgun?
Or a musical instrument of some description?
A musical shotgun is around the £1k mark.
Another £500 will get you a 'flute-uzi' and about £2-2.5k will get a 'kazooka'.
DrP
The thing I really want to own is a picture of a tree. It was painted by my mother , the tree is the one my dad's ashes were scattered under. She painted it after his death and gave it to his best friend whose wife returned it to her on his death.
Obviously you won't have something like that to hand but comisioning a simple watercolor of something poignant would be a real emotional investment.
Either that or a new bike.
Won't use up your inheritance but you could guerilla garden and plant some trees in places,not just your current garden. Watch them grow and think of your grandparent when you see them.
You can buy a [i]very[/i] nice watch for £1k, but look away from the well known brands...
[b]Stowa Marine Original[/b]
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Definitely a round the world ticket, you may find something that inspires you on the other side of the world! As has been said, the memories will last a lifetime.
Watch or camera equipment for me....
Daughter would go mental if I spent that on a bit of art, something she studied but fails to see or understand the values put on pieces of art(paintings) However she refused a considerable sum when offered for some of her creations due to what they meant to her. The person wanting to buy was taking to someone else in France.
i bought a full suspension bike, ive barely done 500 miles on it in the last 2 years, but i enjoy it every time i use it.
also, i think my grandad would have sort of expected that.
i had 3k, not really enough to invest in anything, i did consider a custom frame, but tbh, when i had the cash i knew what i wanted to do with it.
See if there's some sort of local art exhibition for young up and coming talent (art college type of thing?). Get whatever you like the look of. Never know you could be getting a piece of work by someone who will be worth millions, or a picture you like and will always keep.
a Telescope?
How about a nice case of whiskey to put away as an investment?
A nice wall clock for the house?
Or a massive dildo?
Agree. Mackem is 'da man' for today.
Wonky donky a very close runner up.
Really? I thought they were both in pretty poor taste.
jambalaya - Member
Watch is a good idea, don't feel obliged to spend £1k if you can find something you really like at £500
POSTED 10 HOURS AGO # REPORT-POST
I had the same issue after losing both parents. Was going to spunk loads on a TAG then, when I realised how much they cost to look after, bought a Citizen Eco-Drive on offer in Argos. It keeps perfect time, I don't need to be precious about it, I wear it all the time including in water yet it still reminds me of them.
Seiko Tuna, or a Sinn.
Something vintage, I've picked up vintage electronic and quartz Omegas for not much (relatively) money.
I wear all my watches, expensive (to me, probably not to others!), and rare and the cheaper ones, no point in owning them otherwise.
Much smaller treat to remind me of my Little Grandma but I still use it and think of her, a really nice hip flask with a collapsible cup that presses into the side.
I was in a similar position and bought myself a Gibson Flying V. It's a timeless design, a work of art (to me!), practical ( as long as you play guitar) and even if I gave up and never played again it would still look great hanging on the wall 🙂
That, my steel Kona that I bought new and a couple of watches given to me as gifts are the only things I'm a bit sentimental about and will never sell.