How to keep watch safe during travel?

[Flintstone]

You do realize it’s a watch, right? If it’s not going to take pictures that nobody wants to see, put posts on Facebook that nobody wants to read, and buy useless gifts for family and friends that nobody wants, then you may want to stop referring to it as your vacation companion. It’s just a watch ( a nice one at that). If it brings you joy to wear it, then wear it. If you’re going to obsess over it then leave it at home all warm and tucked away safely out of a burger’s mindful eye.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Flintstone

You do realize it’s a watch, right? If it’s not going to take pictures that nobody wants to see, put posts on Facebook that nobody wants to read, and buy useless gifts for family and friends that nobody wants, then you may want to stop referring to it as your vacation companion. It’s just a watch ( a nice one at that). If it brings you joy to wear it, then wear it. If you’re going to obsess over it then leave it at home all warm and tucked away safely out of a burger’s mindful eye.

Have to agree sometimes I wonder why some buy Rolex watches if its going to cause worry over when and where you are going to wear it, perhaps only to wear the brand name instead of the watch.

[JSol1]

I always take 2-3 watches when I travel. As others have said, I bought them to wear. For airport, right before going through the line (I’m TSA pre check approved), I stick the Rolex I’m wearing in a watch pod or similar and put it in my carry on. I bought a Casioak that I use to get through security and to wear if I’m somewhere that I feel uncomfortable with a Rolex on.
Right after security, I swap back to my Rolex.
I do this only to avoid slowing down the line if they ask me to remove and I would rather the watch be in my carry on if I have to remove…

[ertihan]

Originally Posted by beshannon

Are you TSA pre-check?

No, unfortunately it's been a hot minute since I've flown anywhere. I haven't stepped on an airplane since before I entered graduate school, back when you could still buy a Rolex by walking into an AD (aaaah the good old days...). As it's been a while since I've flown anywhere at all. They didn't ask me to take off my watch before but then again, 5 years is a long time. Things change, especially after COVID.

Originally Posted by beshannon

Are you staying in a hotel with a room safe?

Yes, but I've been told that hotel safes are not very safe. That's why I was debating whether I should bring a secondary watch at all or just wear the one Rolex all the time.

Originally Posted by beshannon

Why would you travel somewhere that is not safe?

I mean, I wouldn't - not by choice anyway. But like I said I haven't traveled since before graduate school so things might have changed. A lot can happen in 5 years - hell just look at COVID and the George Floyd riots and all that...

I'm probably overthinking things too much, it's just a combination of the fact that I've never traveled with any item of any kind that is this expensive before (when I flew 5 years ago the most expensive thing I brought with me was my laptop - which is 5 times less expensive than the Rolex) along with the fact that I haven't traveled period for half a decade since I was so focused on school. I didn't know what the TSA situation had become in my absence and whether they've gotten more strict about the watch policy. Also didn't know if hotel safes were safe enough for something as valuable as a Rolex (apparently they are not).

All the responses so far are leading me to believe I should just wear the damn thing but not leave it in the hotel room unattended.

[Tools]

1. TSA will make you take off your watch if you set off any alarms. It may not be the watch but something else; they have to start somewhere. If you take everything else out of your pockets and don't have metal zippers they your Rolex will unlikely trip any detectors.

2. Wear your Rolex as you like. You will not be the only one there with a Rolex on, by far. Especially if you are staying at any of the area resorts. Don't use the safe, it is more secure on your wrist.

3. Hawaii is as safe as any other state. If you pass out in a seedy back-alley you might have issues, so don't do that.

[csaltphoto]

You never mentioned where you are staying but there are AD's in Wailea and Lahaina. The Owner at the Lahaina shop is a really nice guy and loves to chat watches. They have pre-owned as well. Watch spotting at Wailea and Ritz Carlton in Kapalua is off the charts.

[Harvie]

Ask your mom to go with you, she could hold your hand and keep everything safe.

[jb335]

Lol at all these fragile egos that have to flex that they are above asking for the opinions and thoughts of others..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Incroyable12]

A TSA Agent once commented "Nice watch" when I was getting patted down wearing a Rolex Oysterquartz 17000.

[nat]

The safest place for your watch is on your wrist. And, it will not trip the TSA scanner.

[lear60man]

I take one and only one watch when I travel. Leaving an expensive watch in a hotel room is an invitation for aggravation. The only thing I do differently is rinse it off in fresh water after going in salt water while twisting the bezel.

[Blueteg]

Lots of suggestions in this thread to use the safe in your hotel room.

I would absolutely avoid using those at all costs. Most of the hotel safes that I see in hotel rooms are digital. And many of the digital safes have an override/owner password. So if there is a dishonest hotel employee that has access to room cards/keys to break in into rooms, it's not far fetched to think that they can get access to the master code for the room safe.

[garyk]

I wear it through TSA pre check with no issues. While on vacation, it’s under my shirt or jacket sleeve as we tend to only vacation around the world during colder off season…after witnessing some of the watch crime we’ve seen news coverage on, wearing my Rolexes for travel is on my mind slightly more than years past.

[gwozhog]

Originally Posted by padi56

Have to agree sometimes I wonder why some buy Rolex watches if its going to cause worry over when and where you are going to wear it, perhaps only to wear the brand name instead of the watch.

The brand has turned into overpriced Jewelry so I kind of understand where the OP is coming from. Even a basic Sub if lost or stolen can’t be replaced easily due to the ridiculous waiting time now. Things have changed.

[BroncoOne]

Keep it on your wrist. In Hawaii you don’t have to worry about flaunting it and being robbed . People wear watches there that cost more than houses routinely.

I put my watch in my carryon for TSA (pre-check and Clear keep you near or at the front of the line). I’ve never had a problem even with PM pieces.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I always have my watch stowed in my carry on before entering TSA checkpoints.

Same here. For the rest of the time I don't take it off.

[lear60man]

Originally Posted by Blueteg

Lots of suggestions in this thread to use the safe in your hotel room.

I would absolutely avoid using those at all costs. Most of the hotel safes that I see in hotel rooms are digital. And many of the digital safes have an override/owner password. So if there is a dishonest hotel employee that has access to room cards/keys to break in into rooms, it's not far fetched to think that they can get access to the master code for the room safe.

IIRC, The Lockpicking Lawyer, among others, have plenty of videos on hotel room safes. Super easy to open for a common person. But yea, nothing to stop the maintenance guy from giving the super code/master key to the maid.

[DJ OG]

Travel quite a bit, million miler x2 on one airline FF on a few others. NEVER take my watch off going through security. Let them break out their wand, the dogs have a sniff, pat you down or do whatever they need to do. I would not put it in one of those open trays or bowls where it's visible, only in the carry on if necessary. If they have to get it out so be it. Son and I traveled back from Vegas this week and I had my watch on and he had his air king on, neither of us took our watches off, passed through the screener. I did however have a new rolex in my bag that I bought for a friend's wife. My son went three people in front of me so he could watch my bag come through. Regardless of what the internet experts say do what makes you feel secure about it. Insurance or not it would really suck to lose anything that had sentimental value and/or you worked to acquire.

[htrap2294]

I'm about your age, OP. It's really not complicated. Wear the watch and have some common sense, that's all you need. If asked to take your watch off, don't take it off. As long as you're not a jerk, they will accommodate and figure out another way.

[Boopie]

I have the TSA Pre Check (and Clear) and haven’t had to take off my watch for security. I’ve flown more than 50 flights since the pandemic and it’s never been an issue.

I went to Hawaii last year with my Rolex (and have been several times over the years). I know many people here aren’t big fans of hotel room safes, but I’ve never felt shy about putting my Rolex in the safe in Hawaii if I’m going swimming etc. I figure there are people with far more expensive things in their safes than in mine. Plus, it’s insured, and it’s not an expensive piece (SS Datejust, not PM). I feel far more cautious wearing my watch around LA than I do putting it in the safe of a nice hotel in Hawaii.

[Xtralarg]

I'm lost for words with this type of bs, just wear the watch and enjoy it. Sounds to me like you have too much watch, maybe get a timex.