Retirement Gifts
A retirement gift should mark time well spent. The automatic and skeleton-dial watches are the traditional choice; the whisky glasses, charcuterie board and Laphont melting clock suit a group gift from the team.
A retirement gift marks the end of a career, so it should look like it took some thought and last longer than the party. The traditional answer is a watch, and it is still the right one; this collection adds the pieces a team pools for, the engraved silver a firm gives its partner, and the desk objects that move from the office to the study at home.
The watch
For a retirement, choose a mechanical watch. Alfred Sung's Automatic II ($249) is the classic black-dial-on-steel; the Automatic III skeleton ($235) shows the movement through the dial, which is the part retirees show their grandchildren. The Chronograph ($189) is the quartz alternative; the Serenity ($159, mother-of-pearl, rose gold) is the dress watch for a retiring executive who prefers something smaller. All watches ship free within the US.
Engraved silver for a partner or senior leader
When a firm gives a retiring partner a gift, it is usually engraved. Massete's sterling silver cufflinks ($169) take initials; the hand-engraved sterling business card holder ($489) is the firm-level gift for thirty years of service. Type the engraving on the product page: initials, or a date range such as "1994 to 2026".
Group gifts from the team
When a department chips in, choose one object rather than a basket. The Laphont melting clock ($109) is the retirement gift with a sense of humor about time; the Rain Drop charcuterie board ($98) and whisky glasses ($46) suit a retiree who plans to host. A Venero pen engraved with the years of service and a B5 padfolio make a $150 set for the retiree who is writing a memoir or a second act.
Retirement gifts by profession
A retiring physician, nurse, attorney or agent has profession-specific traditions; see gifts for doctors, nurses, lawyers and real estate agents. Companies retiring several people in one year can use the corporate order form to standardize the gift and engraving.
What to skip
Novelty "retired" mugs and signs, anything with the company logo, and gift baskets that are eaten in a week. The retiree will keep a watch for the rest of their life; that is the standard.
Frequently asked questions
What is the traditional retirement gift?
A watch. Historically a gold watch; today a mechanical automatic. The Alfred Sung Automatic II or Automatic III skeleton are the two self-winding models here, $235 to $249, and both ship free in the US.
How much should a team spend on a retirement gift?
Team gifts typically land between $100 and $250. Ten people at $15 to $25 each covers an automatic watch or the melting clock. A firm gift for a partner is usually higher and engraved.
What retirement gift can be engraved?
Massete sterling silver cufflinks, the sterling business card holder, ID bracelets and Massete pens all have an engraving field on the product page. Watches cannot be engraved.
What is a good retirement gift for a boss?
An engraved Massete pen with a B5 leather padfolio, or engraved sterling cufflinks. For a senior executive, the Automatic II watch or the hand-engraved sterling card holder.
Can you ship the gift directly to the retiree?
Yes. Enter their address at checkout and add a gift note. Each item ships tracked from its maker.