Expensive Watches - Security Tips?

My wife and my Rolex’s stay in the safe at home most of the time. It’s a shame but with the way the world is right now, we try to be very safe.

We’ll wear them to friends houses or out to dinner with friends. When we travel or go out of the country, they stay at home in the safe.

I’ve seen some of the violent behavior of the criminals during Rolex thefts. I don’t want to possibly subject my wife to that.



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I only have a few “valuable” watches and even those aren’t that expensive compared to what many people here wear. However, if I’m leaving the U.S. or flying within the U.S. I only wear/bring my Seiko diver and a 1960s stainless steel silver dial Oris on a leather strap. I like both of these watches, but they aren’t particularly valuable and don’t draw undue attention. I’m more concerned with damage due to activity. If I’m going to work, running errands, out for dinner, movie, etc and I want to wear my DJ, Seamaster, etc fine. If I’m going to the beach, Home Depot, rock concert, the Seiko is my go to watch.
As to your theft question. State Farm personal article policy covers thefts. I just have to send an updated appraisal every now and then.

 

I wear my Rolexes almost every where, and over 35 years can only think of a few times anyone even mentioned anything. Of course, mine are pretty subtle, not giant solid gold things.

The only exception I can think of is I wore my Seiko when I went to Russia, and maybe in Kenya? I can't remember about Kenya, too long ago. I think the Seiko with a blue dial looks a bit higher profile than either of my Rolexes.

I don't worry about damage to the Rolexes at all... not one bit. If the watch gets damaged, I can't imagine what my arm would look like... if it's still attached. Rolexes are rugged.

 

Insure them and forget about it. However...do NOT insure them through a rider on your homeowner's policy, as you only have a limited number of claims you can make on that, and you don't want a $15,000 wristwatch claim to be a strike against that. Jewelers Mutual is a great, responsive company, and will even cover accidental loss.

 

My wife and I keep one watch out at a time. I wear mine everwhere and have never had a problem. I mostly wear one of my Breguets and no one knows what they are. When we went on safari, I wore my Breitling.

Joe

 

I usually bring two to three watches when I travel, wear different watches for different places and occasions, if I'm going to Hawaii, its my Panerai, Omega Speedy or Rolex Sub combo; Zurich its a Patek, AP or Rolex combo; NYC an Omega, IWC or JLC combo. That said, I pick watches more for look/function than how much it is. I never understood the reason for wearing a watch to "flex" and catch someone else's attention/eye. If someone does notice, I'll say thank you, but I would only take my watch off for family/friends to see and handle. I mean you wouldn't hand over the keys to your Ferrari to a guy you just meet, even if he's driving an F40, right.

I always take a picture of the watches on my wrist so I have a current date stamp photo of it on my phone before leaving, for insurance and customs purposes. My watches are insured, shout-out to @flat_plane_eddie for helping out with that. I just keep them locked in one of our luggage. One of the things I do is wear the same watch in and around the hotel, so I give the impression I only have one watch if anyone is eyeballing. If we're going out and I want to wear a different watch, I'll put it on after we leave the hotel, again sort of depends on the hotel and city. I mean if someone in the hotel wants to steal, they'll steal, nothing you can do about it, just try not make yourself an obvious target.

 

I would….unless his name is Donnie Callaway.

 

Rob,

Relative to getting your dad back, it's an irritating but minor issue.

Don't wear anything you are unwilling to lose and insure it per Pol's advice.

Buck the trend - wear a pocket watch... :^)

Regards,

Art S.

 

All Aboard!

 

:^)

A mechanical watch is as necessary as a Ferrari. This is about men's jewelry/toys; it is about what pleases you and those you wish to impress. Oh, BTW, the old true railroad grade watches are REALLY accurate and beautifully made.

Regards,

Art S.

 

I have a lot of watches and I am happy to travel throughout the US with even the most valuable (I do insure the most valuable ones) and I put them in the room safe when I'm not wearing them. I generally also bring my apple watch along, which I use for exercise and activities like swimming and boating. I'm going abroad this summer and will likely just take the apple watch and charger. Practically, it's all I need and I'd rather not go through the hassle of being potentially being robbed of other items (like a wallet) because I attract attention with a watch. I might bring my Omega or Panerai, but I will leave the AP, Daytona, Patek at home...

 

Insure them and wear them. If I'll be somewhere where it's plain stupid to wear a watch, I won't wear it. If it's somewhere that I could standout, I wear long sleeves. Otherwise, I wear it and if somebody really wants it off my wrist at the expense of my/my family safety, they can have it...

 

I agree, if someone wants to rob me, they can have it. I'm just reluctant to risk having a wallet or passport stolen abroad but wearing a watch that might attract undue attention. I wear my watches everywhere in the US, although I generally only wear the gold ones with long sleeves in certain places, more because I think it's showy (except in Miami....in Miami I say "when in Rome").

 

I have pondered buying a Rolex Smurf Sub (blue face & dial with yellow gold trim and bracelet).....would it make more sense to buy it in white gold for security purposes? Maybe it gets mistaken for SS? Or would that not matter if any Rolex paints a target on you?

 

You'll need to watch out for this guy if you buy a Hublot... :^)

 

I've worn a Rolex for the past 35 years... and I dont think I've had more than a dozen people notice my watch. usually when they do they are into watches and we have a watch discussion. I'll take it off and let them look at it closely if they are wearing comparable product... Its a gut feeling. At our Ferrari gathering every month its routine to take your watch off and show it to others.. never even think about it. the only time I had a wired watch thing was in London - sat down at a place called Gymkana - Indian food - and the waiter said I notice you and your wife are wearing the beautiful Rolex watches... that wigged me out a bit.... but in the end he was just being nice... but akward.

 

I am a Rolex guy. My collection is simple — datejust, Hulk sub, Pepsi GMT — but growing. If I’m dressing up, I wear one. If I’m traveling somewhere where I will dress up often, I wear one. I stress about what to do with them on a trip when I’m not wearing it, so I let that guide my decision about whether to bring it. If I’ll get lots of wrist time, we’ll travel together.


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Don’t wear it in LA:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/violent-rolex-robbery-caught-video-062554438.html

 

Poor old guy , probably walking those streets for over 60 years ,,,,, Things arent the same , especially in crap hell Downtown LA >>>.

 

Why do you only wear one when you are dressing up? The Datejust, in particular, is subtle and will go with anything (although I guess that depends a bit on the spec-- if it's solid gold or something, maybe not, but steel or steel/gold are not particularly flashy).

In the case of the LA guy who was robbed, I wonder how long that guy was following him or targeting him? I would be very surprised if he just saw him and jumped him just on impulse.

 

That's a fair question. I think it is just a personal preference. When I am dressed down, I feel like it would be too flashy / showy to wear an expensive watch. My love of watches both fills me with glee and with dread -- I think it is cool and douchey at the same time. If I am wearing a jeans, a t-shirt, and a multi-thousand dollar watch, it tilts the balance in the wrong direction. But, again, that is just the noise in my head.

 

You should wear whatever watch you feel like enjoying. My wife wears hers 24/7 because she loves them. Life's too short to feel 'dread' that the watch you want to wear may cost a bit. Most people have no idea what a watch costs anyway.