Advice for wearing PP in Europe

[mongrelnomoad]

Being in London right now, and reading these comments... I don't recognise my city in your words at all.

[iginut]

Originally Posted by mongrelnomoad

Being in London right now, and reading these comments... I don't recognise my city in your words at all.

Same, I'm not sure what these folk are doing

[aa_watch]

Originally Posted by AK797

The pro gangs in London target places not people, so top hotels and restaurants have spotters outside and in rare cases waiters inside who then relay the watch info to the rippers waiting outside, they target Rolexes over £10K so APs and PPs will be absolute targets. Just not worth wearing a nice piece to these places without being very aware, I went to the Savoy recently and made sure my sleeves were covering me.

100%. Instagram page "watch_crime_ldn" is good for awareness.

[SL BRABUS]

Originally Posted by scurfa

No they are not safe even in the back of taxis that are stuck in traffic, make sure the driver locks the rear doors, 57,000 mobile phones stolen in London last year, personally I stopped visiting 6 years ago, as a family we used to go quite often for our Christmas shopping.

Thanks for your insight....

The reason I ask this is because recently I saw many women in Europe flexing their Hermès Birkin or Kelly on youtube, tiktok, instagram, facebook, & etc.....

Just wondering it's safe since those a big target unlike the watch where you could hide it under a long sleeves...

[soxfan39]

Originally Posted by SL BRABUS

Thanks for your insight....

The reason I ask this is because recently I saw many women in Europe flexing their Hermès Birkin or Kelly on youtube, tiktok, instagram, facebook, & etc.....

Just wondering it's safe since those a big target unlike the watch where you could hide it under a long sleeves...

Market for watches is most likely exponentially larger making them easier to sell on the black market. They are also smaller and easier to conceal and move around.

Interesting thought though, if you were a thug, would it be harder to steal a watch from a guy or a purse from a woman? Or is there an honor code among these street gangs to target watches over purses?

[philhendrix]

Alright, so let's assume that by and large one shouldn't go to some of the above mentioned places and flash their PPs (insert any other expensive/sought after timepiece), unless one personally feels safe enough to do so.

So what watch/brand IS considered safe enough to wear with short sleeves? Of course Casio, Swatch, Seiko and Apple Watch are considered not worth the effort to steal, though what else "flies under the radar" and gives the PP owner and watch snob enough satisfaction to wear out and about? I saw Czapek being mentioned. Anything else?

[cdm765]

I am regularly in London and wear nice watches without issue. Is there a risk - sure. But what you read on here is entirely overblown. Walk around Mayfair with a nice watch (Rolex, AP, Patek) and there will be LOTS of other people with similarly nice watches on.

[Ashj52]

I think it's not worth the risk wearing a Patek with a short sleeve whilst walking on the streets, as I mentioned earlier - a friend of mine has been left with a horrific life changing injury for a Rolex. He was "Spotted" whilst he was in the smoking section of a restaurant.

Here is another example:

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crim...i-b946765.html

I wear my PP but long sleeves on the street, but am comfortable in most restaurants with short sleeves.

[Russell996]

Originally Posted by mongrelnomoad

Being in London right now, and reading these comments... I don't recognise my city in your words at all.

Originally Posted by iginut

Same, I'm not sure what these folk are doing

Snap, never personally had any concerns in London wearing nice watches.

[COMPLICATED PP]

I wear my Pateks and Rolexes all over Europe without an issue. You obviously have to remain vigilant. No point of buying them if you have to worry about it all the time….

[rolexpatek363]

Up and down Bond St yesterday in various watch shops & boutiques, wearing my Casio F91W, and apologising for it when trying on their lovely watches...

All of the sales people said never wear a good watch in Central London.

[Russell996]

Originally Posted by rolexpatek363

All of the sales people said never wear a good watch in Central London.

They were

[burakusta]

London is out of control, suckers tried to steal my wife’s earrings in daylight.
Whenever we go there, we try to look like the most casual couple ever because of this unsafe situation

[scurfa]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/a...valuables.html


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[kaiserphoenix]

I moved from Tokyo, one of the safest cities in the world to London so heres my perspective. Firstly a disclaimer, i have lived in London before and studied here so I know my way around. I rarely feel threatened and I've worn Pateks, Langes, Rolex without issue. Yes Im not walking around drunk at 2AM by myself, I mean day to day life. I was expecting the worse from all the online stuff and news, which im not saying is fake, but it is way overblown. I see people with nice watches everywhere, nicer than mine.

[Wahlberg]

Originally Posted by scurfa

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/a...valuables.html


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I understand her sentiment but that's such a rubbish and horrible written piece.


It's a combination of crypto/IG/marketing/popularity/more poverty in the world/covid/a horrible mix and combination of all that multiplied several times/.... that caused all this to happen. The only thing that can make this hobby 'safe' again is if the watch prices go to near zero which won't happen.

[Ristretto]

I often go to London and spend around 45 days a year in the city, I am now seeing more nicer watches out in the wild in the better parts of London worn mostly by locals.

Just wear a nice watch for afternoon tea or a fine dining scenario and use a taxi to get back and forth of your place of residence. Do wear a Swatch or other affordable watch for roaming around and exploring the city by foot.

[robertengel]

I think that two things are true at the same time here:

1, Watch crime is up
2, You are still statistically not likely to be robbed

Some of the comments make it seem like it's a prison yard on Bond Street with people testing you as soon as you enter. Tens of millions worth of watches pass through the city and the street daily without being stolen. THAT BEING SAID, it is not as safe as it used to be so you have a higher chance than 20 years ago of being robbed of your belongings. Items stolen from Hotel rooms are not as sensational as gun point crime so it gets less publicity. Exercise common sense and you will eliminate 99.9% of the problems. If you feel unsure err on the side of caution, also...get insurance!

[mongrelnomoad]

Why was my comment removed? I simply suggested that the recent negative news about London may be related to the upcoming mayoral elections, and that the Daily Mail (especially an anonymous op-ed) may not be the most reliable of sources.

Hardy controversial.

[rolexpatek363]

Originally Posted by Russell996

They were

They were not.

[Russell996]

Originally Posted by rolexpatek363

They were not.

Are you a frequent visitor to London?

[sya]

Is it safe to wear expensive watches in Paris? Watch will be hidden in sleeve most of the time. Will security checks in major attractions require to remove jackets/coats upon entry?

[rolexpatek363]

Originally Posted by Russell996

Are you a frequent visitor to London?

Yes, and I lived there for nine years.

[mongrelnomoad]

Originally Posted by rolexpatek363

Yes, and I lived there for nine years.

Were you ever mugged for your watch?

[Moondoggy]

My friends friend saw London on a map, she told me to never go there with my own time piece that’s what Big Ben is for.

[rolexpatek363]

Originally Posted by mongrelnomoad

Were you ever mugged for your watch?

I've never been mugged for any reason, but targeted high-end watch robberies have skyrocketed in large cities all over the world, and London is no exception.

Anyway, we are all grownups here and we make our own decisions. I can manage the occasional day wearing a Casio.

OTOH, the Met claim that robberies have recently halved.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...lure-criminals

[Watchdoyouwant?]

Originally Posted by sya

Is it safe to wear expensive watches in Paris? Watch will be hidden in sleeve most of the time. Will security checks in major attractions require to remove jackets/coats upon entry?

No, you will not need to. While anything could happen, I wore a submariner on a recent visit with absolutely no problems.

[fsprow]

BTW, the chances of having your watch stolen from your hotel room safe (takes less than a minute to open using web info) are much higher than having it taken from you on the street.

[Russell996]

Originally Posted by Moondoggy

My friends friend saw London on a map, she told me to never go there with my own time piece that’s what Big Ben is for.

Big Ben only helps once an hour.