To leave Rolex at home

[Huromjuicemaker]

Is wearing a nice watch in or around London asking to be mugged? What about in other cities?
Will be traveling back to UK to visit family and do a few work related visits and I have read that watch theft is quite rife and it is organised and targeted, ie there are spotters checking your wrist and arranging ambushes etc. Would I be unreasonable to leave my beloved Rolex at home because the risk is too high?

Great thanks - she lives in the centre of Leeds at the moment so is used to keeping safe in a city so should be fine! And doesn't own anything worth pinching.

😆 One of my best friends met her husband there!

DH swaps his nice watches out in some cities, Rio, Johannesburg for example. Not London or NYC or similar.

BS

I've seen enough documentaries where most experts are 101% fooled by the looks and additional when some have a close look ie in their hands. Even then, the insides on a good fake can fool a few

Below is a link bud to verify what I have seen and read many time inc on tv and press, Bud

https://luxurylaunches.com/watches/sophistication-of-rolex-replicas.php

I don't think it's safe not when work ate emailing regularly to sya don't have your phones and laptops visible outside the office there was another mugging outside this morning 😐 and our office is main road busy next to tube station

All these expensive watches - I think the top I've ever paid for one is £35!

But I do find these threads on 'no go' London fascinating. I've lived here all my life and yes there is crime, have been the victim of it several times myself, though of course not everyone is affected equally.

But it's not any more dangerous than many places (I used to find central York on a Saturday night quite terrifying). I think we all do that thing of making up little rules that allow us to feel more in control and safe from random violence: I'll be okay if I keep to the main roads/ if its still light/ if I'm on the phone to a friend/ if I'm not wearing my rolex/ if I'm five minutes from home/ if I'm not in that there London. I do this too - its how we cope with the fear of crime - but the truth is that London is not the most dangerous part of the UK and that crime here isn't sky rocketing.

It's becoming a thing in some areas of Spain. It's called hugger mugging there as it's mainly women who embrace generally older men and sometimes women wearing a Rolex or other brand of note. All very quick. Friend had it happen to her, followed her home from the supermarket. Luckily her £10k, quite old, Rolex was insured. She was pretty shaken by it though. Police know who they are and do nothing.

But I do think it's a good idea not to walk around with your phone in your hand on busy streets.

No, they’ll be grand. Zillions of people go out in Dalston every night - like going out in Camden or Brixton. It’s busy and poss getting a bit hipster touristy but there’ll be a ton of people there and it’s a safe place.

If someone tries to mug you for your watch in Putney, I’d question why t f they hadn’t nipped up the road to Barnes where the money is

I do have a friend who thieves attempted to rob for his Rolex in Leicester Square recently. Fortunately a couple of his large mates were nearby and managed to put a stop to it. I don't think this is a general crime thing, more specifically watch crime which is definitely a problem right now. A quick Google will bring up loads of media articles on the subject

www.ft.com/content/557d8356-1f64-4e0c-ac12-d655a5916b71

Sorry, that was behind a paywall. Loads of other similar articles online though.

I'm afraid you've fallen into a trap there, your average (and even below average) street thief doesn't even need a close view to spot a fakery.

I suppose it's almost comical that the 'experts' can be fooled!

So you're far safer with your out-of-a-street-suitcase watch than a genuine Rolex.

You’re right. If you keep to the main streets you’re ok.

But I’ve seen some “interesting” behaviour on the main streets recently including near me a random man on a bike throwing rocks at a bus going the other way.

You are as at much risk with your fakery watch as one is with the puka watch and that is a fact.

The mugger with the one brain that is working unlike the muggers with one brain cell that is not working - target people based on their clothing, where they live and the car they drive and places they come out of

Which part of the link I posted did not connect with you??

You’re wrong.

SuperClones exist now which are the same 904L steel, same weight, same engraved rehaut, same magnification on the cyclops.
Only way to tell for sure on them is to get the back off and inspect some of the tells on the movement which is also cloned.
They do fool people. Regularly.

Fakes are no longer glaringly obvious.

You are NOT safer with a fake, even if it’s from the looky looky man and easily identifiable as fake because these things are spotted at metres away.
If you get mugged for a fake then congratulations, you’ve risked injury for 30-400 quid. It’s a stupid thing to do.

What you ARE safer with is a Seiko or something similar.

Correct.

This plus expensive watches should be insured.

This made me laugh!!!

I’ve got an inherited Chanel bag which as you say is generally ok whenever and wherever I take it out.

Other bags, some are recognisable like a Dior Saddle Bag but I’m generally not big on logos.

I’ve had friends have bags stolen from their arms and equally people have had jewellery taken from them.

With jewellery generally, yes of course if you go around dripping in diamonds and gold in areas where there might be thieves and with designer bags on, yes you might be safe one day but another not.

Not at all, and often those who have the most money don't 'look' Richie Rich, the organised robbers already know who to target and much more likely to put energy into stealing collections rather than take the risk of a street crime.

They'd like you to think it's difficult, think about it...

Total BS

Have you not seen the rick kids from Dubia and other UAE countries?? Have you not seen the American football and basketball players and some of of those footballers that play in England - you are joking?

My Rolex and I out to eat in London regularly. Never had a problem, pull your sleeve down if you're worried!