Grandson 18th

A vintage bottle of whisky. He can save it for when he retires!!!

In the old days would suggest a watch but of course they don’t wear them now. How about a piece of jewellery, I know teenage boys now wear necklaces/bracelets, or studs if his ears are pierced.

For my 21st my FIL gave me 21 silver threepenny bits. I treasured them and bought more to enable me to give 18 on each of my 6 GCs birthdays.

A quality leather hold-all/weekend bag.
You can have his initials embossed on it.
We got each of our boys one, still going strong.

It's difficult with boys I think. Money is usually welcome! An account with some money in maybe? Plus a fun small keepsake (because often boys won't want to keep keepsakes long). I did see you could get a high quality hammer with a wooden handle and their name engraved. A hammer he could use for life! Even if he's not into diy now. But - that might not be your or his thing. I would ask his parents what they think would go down well.

When I had this with neices and nephews I decided that something memorable was better/easier than something that was a keepsake as it was so hard to find anything. So something they will never forget they got for an 18th birthday - even if it's not something they keep forever. Just something they really want now that is special. A musical instrument maybe? If he's a musical type? A high quality record player (if he's into vinyl records).

BridgetPark

A vintage bottle of whisky. He can save it for when he retires!!!
I think it would be a very unusual 18 boy who would not be tempted to drink it though!

Bought my grandson a very small gold coin.
He's doing economics and it was to teach him about gold reserves.
Was about £100 and it was very small! But he liked it!

When my eldest grandson was 18 we had decided to give him some cash but I also wanted him to have something to keep, to cut a very long story short I found a car number plate with his initials and the year he was born, it was a bit more than we had planned to spend but he is now 45 and has had it on every car he has owned .

An engraved silver hip flask?

A beautiful chair by a famous designer e.g. Hans Wegner's wishbone chair or copy thereof. He can have it in his room at home until he has his own place. It will be good for all his life.

For something special, I would take a look at what the Royal Mint are selling.

www.royalmint.com/

Some keepsake commorative coins, and other items.

We bought our granddaughter a watch for her 18th. She always wears a watch.

I disagree about not wearing watches, they are very popular with some men. Though they are more like fashion accessories.

How about an engraved tankard

surfingsal what an inspired idea. Fabulous

Libra10 I've just had a browse and signed up. Excellent idea.

Every day is a school day here 😊

Sorry, but whilst your grandson may be very polite and touched by your generosity, I think all those 'heirloom' type gifts may just be forgotten at the bottom of a chest of drawers - probably in his parents' house. Be realistic - ask him what he'd like. He will remember you with love regardless of whether you buy gold coins, watches, engraved tankards, rings etc. Perhaps he would like a contribution towards a holiday after his exams.

Gold sovereign or other gold coin. Gold neck chain

Boys don't keep sentimental things at all. The only thing my son kept was a leather Mulberry key ring which he has for his car and house keys, still going strong he is nearly 28 now.

Euro rail travel card so he can travel anywhere in Europe maybe?

Definitely avoid anything alcohol related but a leather travel bag a brilliant idea

If he has not passed his driving test, lessons might be a good present. There are also courses and tests to improve driving skills for existing drivers, some can lead to reduced insurance premiums.

NemosMum

Sorry, but whilst your grandson may be very polite and touched by your generosity, I think all those 'heirloom' type gifts may just be forgotten at the bottom of a chest of drawers - probably in his parents' house. Be realistic - ask him what he'd like. He will remember you with love regardless of whether you buy gold coins, watches, engraved tankards, rings etc. Perhaps he would like a contribution towards a holiday after his exams.

Sadly, I think this is true.

Tankards, hip flasks etc.

Just don’t think many 18 year olds interested in stuff ‘to keep’.

How many christening gifts are still looked and treasured?

Boys more so than girls probably, but don’t think our ideas of jewellery etc would be welcomed by many GD’s either.

Fast forward 50 years, how many of us are on the declutterring site, saying how we are trying to ditch ‘stuff’, some of which our own kids have left us with, 18th birthday gifts amongst them?