Swaine Adeney Gift Advice

[HEPennypacker]

Originally Posted by alepenn

Would appreciate feedback on the model I've chosen (would another model be better for business on the rare occasion he does choose to use it/in the future if he uses it more frequently?)

Check out my very recent thread on the subject: http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=206275

 

[HEPennypacker]

Originally Posted by Lord Nonsie

MY briefcase is the classic wrap around document case. I had it made with the round brass lock as I preferred that to the rectangular style that come standard. I did it in London Tan, which I consider to be the best color, but I have also seen it in Chestnut. its worn beautifully and looks better as it gets used, etc. My parents bought it for me at Sterling and Burke (ie Classic Luggage)

Valextra makes beautiful sleek 1950s styled Italian luggage. I would consider them closer to Hermes or Goyard in price. I bought a Valextra piece a year ago and its great, but not the same thing as Swaine. For a briefcase I love the SAB. The Valextra I bought is a garment carrier and my fiance talked me into it since I started traveling a lot more for work. Its held up wonderfully, but I do not like their briefcases. I much prefer the Britishness of the SAB. The SAB garment bag and suitcases, on the other hand, are just too heavy and impractical.

As for a watch... I love watches and I think they are beautiful and wonderful rewards for milestones. However, starting out at GS, I would suggest the briefcase. Last thing I would recommend is somebody to notice a potentially showy watch.

I like the Valextra cases, but they're almost opposite to SAB in styling. Very sleek and modern. I might acquire one one day, but I think SAB is probably more timeless and its bridle hide more likely to last a lifetime of regular use.

A watch is also a good idea, but frankly, a nice watch will cost more than an SAB, unless we're talking about something like an Omega. I'd take an SAB over an Omega.

 

[caldervale]

If he's going to be working at Goldman, the last thing he wants is a watch - it will just act as a constant reminder of the fact that he's in the office twenty hours a day. As an analyst, you don't want to attract too much attention to yourself with more expensive accessories than your superiors. An expensive watch is quite obviously an expensive watch - an expensive bag is quite obviously beautiful, but most people won't know enough to see it for what it is. The watch would be a much better gift further down the line.

Get the bag.

 

[BlueHorseShoe]

Originally Posted by caldervale

If he's going to be working at Goldman, the last thing he wants is a watch - it will just act as a constant reminder of the fact that he's in the office twenty hours a day. As an analyst, you don't want to attract too much attention to yourself with more expensive accessories than your superiors. An expensive watch is quite obviously an expensive watch - an expensive bag is quite obviously beautiful, but most people won't know enough to see it for what it is. The watch would be a much better gift further down the line.

Get the bag.

So he could use the briefcase 10 years from now when his soul has been crushed from the weight of tens of thousands menial hours fiddling in Excel? Why buy him something that he won't use? Considering that many analysts blow a chunk of their bonus on a watch, I'm not sure at all that an Omega or something similar will be cause for concern.

 

[HEPennypacker]

Originally Posted by caldervale

An expensive watch is quite obviously an expensive watch - an expensive bag is quite obviously beautiful, but most people won't know enough to see it for what it is.

I think the two are comparable. Sure, people will obviously recognize a Rolex or a Patek, but I doubt too many will pay much attention to a JLC or Blancpain (and if they do, it's probably a sense of quiet admiration/respect). Similarly, a LV or Hermes bag would likely be recognizable to many people, while an SAB probably would not.

 

[jsqfunk]

You know your brother, just make sure you are buying something he wants not something you want him to have.