Gifts for a 60 Year Old Man Who Has Everything

The best gifts for a 60 year old man mark the occasion without making a fuss of his age: a well-made object he would never buy himself, or a game that gives him a reason to sit down with the people he likes. At sixty, most men have bought every useful thing they want. What they rarely have is something that says this year mattered.

The test: will it still be in use, or on display, a year from now? If the answer is yes, it is a good gift. If it will be in a drawer by spring, keep looking.

For his pocket

A pocket watch. A sixtieth is exactly the kind of milestone a pocket watch was made for. A bronze case with Roman numerals and a long chain looks deliberate with a waistcoat at a wedding, and sits well on a bedside table the rest of the time. See how to wear a pocket watch.

A memento mori coin. An hourglass on one side, a reminder on the other: remember you will die — which, at sixty, is less morbid than it sounds. The Stoics carried the idea to make the most of the time left. The meaning of memento mori.

A pocket compass. For the man planning the next decade of walks, trips and drives. A hinged bronze case closes like an old watch.

For his desk or shelf

A wooden puzzle box with secret drawers. It looks like a small chest; opening it takes a sequence of moves he has to discover. It is a puzzle the first time and a hiding place after that — put a note or a key inside before you give it. See puzzle boxes for adults.

A metal model kit. Many men at sixty are looking for a project with their hands. A 3D metal ship kit takes an evening or two with small pliers and ends as a piece to keep on the shelf. How to build one.

For his table

A cribbage board. Two players, a deck and a lifetime of rematches. If he played as a young man, it will come straight back. How to play cribbage.

A backgammon set. A game for two that rewards experience, and a handsome case for the coffee table. How to play backgammon.

A magnetic chess set. It folds flat, and a game can be left half-finished on a shelf until the next visit.

Gifts for a 60 year old man by occasion

• 60th birthday: the pocket watch or the puzzle box with a note inside — something that marks the date.
• Christmas: a game for the whole family to play after dinner, such as cribbage or backgammon.
• Retirement at sixty: the model kit or the chess set, things to fill new time well. See retirement gifts for men.

Make it personal

Write a short note to go with it: the game you played together, the trip you took, what you hope the next ten years hold. The object is what he keeps; the note is what he rereads. For older milestones, see gifts for a 70 year old man.

Frequently asked questions

What do you get a 60 year old man who has everything?

Something well made that he would never buy for himself, such as a pocket watch or a puzzle box, or a game like cribbage or chess that brings people to the table.

What is a good 60th birthday gift for a man?

A gift that marks the year: a pocket watch, a memento mori coin, or a puzzle box with a personal note hidden inside.

What is a good Christmas gift for a 60 year old man?

A game to play after Christmas dinner, such as backgammon or cribbage, or a desk project like a metal model kit.