Watches, Robberies and Fakes

I'm in OC, have heard about these robberies also. Though these stories seem to be LA related, I can't help but think this is a problem I don't want or need.

So I have been wearing a modded Seiko for the past few months, looks like a Rolex Yachtmaster, though it clearly says Seiko. I have a real Yachtmaster, but haven't been wearing it lately for this exact reason. Neither have I worn any of my other good stuff, which begs the question of "why have it?"

Maybe I'm being paranoid, who knows?

 

I shelved the Rolex’s for other watches. Still nice but not usually a target. IWC, Grand Seiko, Tudor…..
Wearing a fake may still get you pistol whipped. I do still wear the really nice stuff to work. I guess I feel safer during the day.

 

I wear watches proportional to the risk. Then again, I don’t like being conspicuous at the best of times. I wouldn’t wear a fake for “safety” purposes. Loss of property can be the smallest consequence of robbery and a fake watch doesn’t repel thieves.

I used to travel around the world to many sketchy places. For Rio de Janeiro, a notorious place for petty theft, I bought a smart looking $35 Timex Expedition, which, frankly, I have grown quite fond of.

 

Visiting family in LA the past 2 weeks, me and my wifey left our watches. Usually I bring one or two in a roll besides what I wear when I travel. I am not used too not wearing any watch but I dont want to be a statistic.
Nobody will care if you are getting mugged in the street.
You get some withdrawal not wearing one for a long time.
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So they're still willing to take a beating or possibly get killed but will feel better if they don't lose money over it all? If they're gonna mug you for what they think is an expensive watch, it being a fake ain't gonna stop 'em. I'd say if they're that worried about it either wear a cheap watch or hire a bodyguard maybe? It's not right but I guess a sign of the times?

I have to say it's sad that it would come to this and any further comment on this would be going into P&R territory.

 

Yeah, I just never got fakes. I get they aren't talking about buying a fake because they don't want to or can't afford the real deal though. I just don't trust that someone willing to simply mug me for a nice watch won't also resort to violence.

 

Imagine getting robbed (potentially injured or killed) for a fake. No thanks. If it’s an area you aren’t comfortable wearing a real one don’t invite trouble. And, as long as you’re properly insured just give the watch up anyhow. Who cares. Not worth dying over.

 

I sold my Rolex, got a Garmin training watch instead. It is not the same, but here in Stockholm Sweden we had the exact same robberies happening for the last 3 years or so... I loved my Rolex, but not at the price of getting robbed...

 

Man, living in liberal big cities really must suck!
Around my woods most, including myself, have concealed carry.
Nor do many care if you wear a Rolex or not.

 

Concealed carry only helps if your life is in danger.

My son was held up, they took his Sub.
He was carrying at the time but couldn’t use it….

A shot out to LE’s. They found the guy and he went to prison for a number of years. (He had warrants).


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So the fake still draws the attention of a would be robber and makes you a target of a potentially violent encounter...yet you know you are wearing a piece of junk fake and feel crappy about that. I see zero upside for your risk, and all downside.
If going to a dicey area or travel abroad I wouldn’t wear a watch at all. In a nice area I would just take my chances.
I usually wear a Patek on a strap so that is pretty much invisible.
I carry a gun always...a guy comes at me aggressively with a knife or club in his hand he’s getting shot. If he has a gun drawn then I guess I lose the watch.

 

I'm the same. I'm semi-retired and have nowhere to go so I don't wear my nice watches. I wear a MoonSwatch these days, or Omegas. I watcha lot of YouTube these days and was shocked there were MoonSwatch fakes! I guess if there is something people covet, here will be a fake made.

 

Before I had replicas to alternate with my real ones. But right now, you can get mugged or worse, get killed for replicas, so just dont wear one when you go to LA.

Where I live, i just wear my rolexes if I go to a place direct like into a restaurant, office etc. Of course, it helps to bring my Glock and being aware who is behind me.

 

Agreed, situational awareness is most important, along with common sense.

 

You got a MoonSwatch???

 

When we went to Africa, I bought a Breitling and left the good watches home.

Joe

 

Recently in Paris a guy was mugged for his look-alike Rolex. He was still trying to catch his breath (they half strangled him from behind) when the criminals realized it was a fake and came back to give him the beating of his life.

I travel with a Casio G-shock now and the AP stays home.

 

Yes. On a whim, I walked into the Swatch store and they had a few models in stock. I got Mercury, and brought the gf an hour later and she got the Saturn.

 

My sons fiance' has been trying to buy him one for months. Calling stores regularly, etc. No luck. I'd wear one!

 

Cop here. Nice to see some of you guys being vigilant. I've been following this trend for the last 6 months. With Rolex's doubling, even tripling in price, they are an easy target for thieves. As for wearing a fake or counterfeit Rolex, I'm not sure a thief would be able to distinguish the difference without examining it up close. I've seen videos of grey market watch dealers needing to examine higher quality counterfeits using a watchmaker loupe to tell if it's fake or not.

 

Nate , thank you for your service.

 

I’m planning to shelf my Rolexes and get an Apple Watch

 

I just can't. I have too much invested in my watches and I like them! the Apple Watch just feels like another step into a device quagmire.

Funny story, my sons and I all wear mechanical watches. At a recent family event, my brother wanted to show off his new watch, but couldn't part with his beloved Apple watch for even an evening. He showed up at dinner wearing the new watch on the other wrist with the Apple watch firmly in place.