Watches - another OCD problem
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Sad state of reality and luxury watches: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-67608184
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@goosehd it’s another reason why the long sleeve lengths on IH shirts comes in handy!
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Yes, lots of robberies lately. Especially Rolex sports models like the Submariner. You have to be cautious where you go with an exposed wrist. Sad times in some ways.
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Get a Blancpain and go stealth. Only ever had one person comment on it....And, one of the reasons we gave @Alex a Grand Seiko and not a Rolex for his 30th..
"OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011
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My wife got me a really nice watch as a wedding gift. I only wear it on special occasions. She has a hard time understanding why I don’t wear it to my school where I work in a very low income, title one building. One, I’m not trying to flaunt a fancy watch in the faces of the underprivileged kids I work with. Two, I don’t want to be robbed walking out to my truck after school.
I bring it out on date nights and special occasions. Sadly, I am on high alert when I wear it. -
@Giles visiting London next year and thinking about my IWC MKXVIII. Thinking that should be pretty low key.
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@Anesthetist it's probably worth having a chat with @ddtrash about this.
My understanding is that something recognisable like a Rolex, Nautilus, or Richard Mille will very likely draw unwanted attention. I've heard that a lot of collectors in London won't wear them for that reason.
If you are wanting to watch shop in London, most of the boutiques are on Bond Street, there's a huge Watches of Switzerland on Regent Street, and both Harrods and Selfridges have decent selections. Unfortunately, you cannot reclaim VAT (around 20%) post Brexit, which makes it expensive, though Duty Free at Schiphol in the Netherlands didn't have it when I passed through in July. I don't know about Gatwick.
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@Anesthetist London is pretty bad for watch crime these days. I never wear anything recognisable when I visit the city. The gangs seem to target bars and restaurants in the evenings. They spot a nice watch and then follow you away from the bar and then mug your for the watch.
One of my Patek collecting contacts got seriously hurt (week in hospital with head injuries etc) when he was hit on the head with a metal bar for his modern ceramic GMT master II. He had been followed out of a city centre pub/restaurant and mugged just before he entered his own apartment building. The police told him that his watch would have been into Continental Europe for sale within 24hrs of it being taken off his wrist.
If you are only going around town during the day with family sightseeing at the major attractions etc then you should be OK. If you are out drinking and partying in the evenings then this carries more risk for watch theft. I personally would not take the risk with anything easily recognisable, Rolex and certain Patek models are incredibly easy to spot.
The irony is that there have been incidents of people getting mugged for fake watches....
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@ddtrash it would be virtually impossible to tell the real from the fake from the distance these spotters are working at. Even with a fake watch, I’m sure the experience of getting robbed is not the best. The victim can, however, chuckle a little once the initial rush wears off, hoping a witnesses or security camera can identify these creeps.
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Coincidentally, Time and Tide has just published an article on London watch robberies.
https://timeandtidewatches.com/bbc-watch-theft-recommended-reading/
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I reckon it's down to how you wear it. I've never worn mine with a bracelet. and the gmt master 2 looks very downplayed on a nato. so much so most people think it's just a seiko..
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@JDelage This exactly how some of these gangs are operating. Attractive female spotters sent in to the pub / club / restaurant etc to scope out what is on peoples wrists. As @TinMan mentioned, it is a sad state of affairs.
This is not just prevalent in London. Barcelona also has a bad rep for this kind of crime.
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I watched the BBC programme referred to in the article. The lack of any kind of guilt or compassion for the victims was chilling to hear.
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Empathy is dead. “Civil”ization next.
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@mclaincausey a cheery message this festive season
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Merry Christmas! I wish I could afford to give away nice watches but all I have is existential dread.
