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Yes
Was visiting La for an extended trip and took my aquanaut but swapped out the orange strap to be less conspicuous. I’ve very cognizant of my surroundings. It’s sucks that the liberal policing and enforcement policies of certain cites have destroyed the community. My parents live in LA and all their friends never take out their watches or jewelry anymore. It’s just not safe.
Has the reality and/or perception of a big uptick in luxury watches being stolen (often violently) off people’s in public settings affected your watch wearing habits?
For me, the great joy of owning a Patek is wearing it. When I first started collecting Pateks it seemed like very few non watch people had ever heard of the brand. Then years later it seemed like a majority of people had heard of the brand but probably ha...
Yes
While I don't have a patek, I am on my way out downtown to waterfront with kids. Would wear my Pepsi gmt but decided for my rado for this reason.
It used to be only in certain circumstances one had to worry.
Today the reality is that we must be completely aware of our surroundings at every instance. So yes a lot more cautious.
I've only had one PP, a steel 5711.
When I bought it in 2012 it became a daily wear for the next 5+ years. Totally loved wearing it anywhere anytime all the time. But the heightened brand awareness emerging more recently encouraged me to put the Nautilus away, and earlier this year, at the ...
Your personal story and sensible approach really resonates with me. Unfortunate that you felt compelled to sell the watch you loved but understandable. If you
can’t wear it the way you like (as an every day watch) one might ask oneself “why keep it”? On the plus side, you wore a watch that you loved everyday for 5+ years, apparently had no problems, and when you no longer felt comfortable wearing it, you presum...
Yes
Was visiting La for an extended trip and took my aquanaut but swapped out the orange strap to be less conspicuous. I’ve very cognizant of my surroundings. It’s sucks that the liberal policing and enforcement policies of certain cites have destroyed the co...
Really depends on where you are going…
I just came back from 10-day trip to Monaco, Nice, Cannes, Florence and Pisa. I brought only a pair of Chopard Alpine Eagles and a SeaMaster Diver 300M. I had similar discussions on this topic before the trip at the Chopard forum and the votes were split…...
Very interesting story about your trip. Similar to you, on a recent trip overseas I wore a Tudor BB 58 on a bracelet which I acquired to wear for
overseas trips and other situations where I might felt a bit insecure. Before that I might have opted for a Rolex GMT if I was being cautious. Now I am not even sure if the Tudor might be a problem because it has a bracelet and could be mistaken for a Rol...
Definitely more conscious about what I wear when I go out.
Given the overall global environment on watch crimes, I have become more low key when wearing an easily recognizable watch. From what I read and hear, Asian cities are relatively safer than big European and American cities such as London, Paris, and LA. I...
Agreed! Definitely safe to wear in Asia
I’m comfortable wearing my watches in Asia…even on the metro! ...
Not really for me. I live in LA, a city of around 12 million and you hear of a few robberies…
but in a city this size it is expected, and exploited by political hacks for their own reasons. I think the issue is two fold, organized crime discovered this new revenue source and has networks to move and sell them, and for economic reasons due to Covid...
Without a doubt the current situation has made me more aware as it should to everyone...
I actually have been very cautious wearing pieces, even since 2015 - 2016 before this whole world went nuts with the number of watch crimes. Nowadays, the "wrist condom" goes everywhere I go 😉🤣🤣
Wrist condom aka the BEST 5 USD / EUR / AED / HKD / SGD you will ever spend in your life 🤣😂
Been doing this since 2015 - 2016 to be incognito and doubles as a great watch protector as well 😉 ...
Thanks for pointing out the details of your “wrist condom”. I wear wrist bands frequently but only for sport. I have some questions if you don’t mind.
I find that after considerable wearing and washing cycles they stretch out a lot and become more comfortable to wear but useless for sports. That’s when I discard them. Prior to that I find them to be quite snug. So I wonder do you find your watches (part...
+1 on the wrist condom?
I remember Tom cruise wearing the rubber cover on his Panerai… but I am curious what you are talking about…
Ahhh!
You can have long sleeves or you can short sleeves and wear some wrist bands… do you complete the look with headband?
Sometimes…
Then again I may wear an Apple Watch on the right wrist to balance the look! 👍
That’s also clever… because who would wear
Two watches???? 😀. Not suspecting watch is under your wrist band
I see this has become a concern in mayor cities around the world
where more organized crime occurs (Big Cities). In my country, Costa Rica, I never fear wearing my watches, as I find nobody really cares what is on other´s wrist. Of course, there are areas where you need to be more conscious of your surroundings, but no...
Awful
It's a very disturbing trend and I believe is a direct result (at least here in the U.S.) of new counter to common sense criminal justice policies, such as no bail requirements for criminals (unless a very violent crime), and an attack on police being abl...
It’s the sign of the times..
I know longer visit London but if I have to go I won’t even wear a Tudor, big cities around the world it’s a Tudor Pro for me at the minute, I was in Palms Mallorca a few weeks ago and some character filmed a whole cafe of people outside a hotel and he wa...
Very sad that this seems to be something we need to be aware of. I wonder if at some point the demand for luxury high profile watches
will diminish because of these concerns.
Italy
I fully agree with you. I live in Italy and started feel uncomfortable wearing Patek and Rolex unless the watch sits under the sleeve and cannot be noticed. While in the past thieves targeted Rolex at the wrists of drivers (in Italy they developed the so ...
Rearviewmirror
The strategy works this way. Thieves work are usually two, on two different scooters. The first one hits your rearviewmirror and does not stop. Once you roll down the window in order to put the mirror in the correct place again, the second thieve pops up ...
I totally understand and appreciate your viewpoint and approach. I wonder how you feel about this question: Do you think that with the heightened
concern about wearing luxury high profile watches that the demand for same might start to fall? After all I imagine some people (not me) might be thinking if I am going to be so restricted in wearing a Patek/Rolex why buy it, or why not sell it?
I can understand the notions but one perspective is missing imo
Aren't watches like sports cars (or super cars) made to be used? So what is the difference when I crash my car on a track to getting a watch stolen off my wrist? I know that people buy sports cars and store them as garage queens being afraid to get a scra...
If one knows or realizes that the pain or fear of a loss is to big
one should sell the item, or even better not even purchase it. The world is full of problems, why add some more on a voluntary basis?
Thank you very much for your detailed analysis and perspective! Like you I wear all my watches, but I have become a little more selective
as to where and under what circumstances I wear certain ones WHEN wearing a short sleeve shirt. If the watch is covered by a sleeve, for me no need to be selective or restrictive. But there is another factor, I think an important one. While the word “stol...
I am cautious as well, considering the environment
I guess that is normal, no one wants to take unnecessary risks. And having been robbed by force before I understand the difference that you address. But again: these are only “things” in the end…
Wow, very sorry to hear that your were victimized in a robbery involving force! On the other I am very happy to know that
that presumably awful experience has not deterred you from buying what you want and enjoying what you have. Many would have justifiably reacted very differently following such a physical and mental assault and intrusion.
tbh it took me some years to get back to usual
but I also once had an awful crash with total damage of my 911 and it took half a year to start tracking again. when you love something, nothing should stop you from doing it imo
That is awful what happened to you. Can’t imagine I would have recovered anywhere nearly so quickly. Great attitude!
Wondering, if you don’t mind my asking, whether any of watches were ever recovered?
“When you love something nothing should stop you from doing it” While these may be words to live by, not always easy to apply to one’s life. Certainly words you live
by after a robbery involving force and a bad crash.
In bay area here
And I do agree with you. 90% of the time now is my apple watch. the 10%. I start wearing back my old school collection of panerai, & omega. But all the rolex got put away except for Air-King with green rubber strap. and the patek.. 5711, 5980 , 7118.....