Are You Still Wearing An Expensive Watch?

[MillStream]

Are you comfortable walking around with an expensive watch on your wrist these days?

With the rise in crime, even in the suburbs, I've pretty much glued my Hermes SO Black Apple Watch to my wrist. I've got several Hermes leather straps (Black, White, Rouge de Coeur & Anemone) to change up the look, and find this watch both functional and fun.

What I'm not wearing these days are a couple of "good" watches -- an Hermes Medium H-Heure SS/Diamond with several crocodile quick-release deployant buckle straps and a Cartier 18K WG Rhodium Plated Manual Winding Tortue with 18K WG band. Both are watches I've had for the past 15 to 20 years and are still my taste. So what's the issue? It's about whether or not it's safe to wear a good watch in public.

 

[lill_canele]

I wear long sleeves 95% of the time so I am generally okay with wearing my fine jewelry and watches.
(This is mostly because I get cold easily, my work place is cold, and I hate tan lines lol)

 

[880]

I wear long sleeves 95% of the time so I am generally okay with wearing my fine jewelry and watches.
(This is mostly because I get cold easily, my work place is cold, and I hate tan lines lol)

+1

when I’m not wearing big jewelry, I wear a watch. Usually one of DHs old IWC; JLC; or a Breguet in white metal/matte alligator strap which is relatively discreet. Since he started with ALange, he doesn’t wear any other brands. I have not worn my cartier or Rolex watches in years.

 

[MillStream]

I understand what you mean about wearing long sleeves, lill_canele. Good that this works for you!

 

[etoile de mer]

I'm comfortable wearing my more expensive watches as they are not from a recognizable brand (Franck Muller). If I'm at all wary, I have two Hermes watches that are just stainless steel (one of which is an older, less recognizable design). If I really want to be discreet, I wear my stainless steel Swiss Army watch!

I understand your current concerns!

 

[mary333]

This is such a good question. I wear my Cartier tank francaise everyday. I feel like it’s an under the radar watch. Am I wrong about this?
Thank you for starting this thread!

 

[MillStream]

880, I'm wondering why you stopped wearing your Cartier and Rolex watches. Is it because those watches are the smaller woman's size and you prefer wearing your husband's larger watches? I had the classic Women's Cartier Tank 18K YG watch with crocodile strip and deployant buckle, which my husband gave me before we were married in 1985. Although the watch aged beautifully, my former 20/16 vision did not. I sold it because it became merely decorative and not very functional.

 

[Onebagtoomany]

I haven’t worn my Cartier Panthere watch for quite a while but do wear my two tone Tag Aquaracer with MOP face and diamond markers, so although it is not as prestigious a brand it is still a good one and from some points of view is flashier to look at because of the diamonds. However, I tend to wear sleeves and in the circles I mix in no-one cares about watches.

I don’t really think about my watch too much (I would if it was a Rolex or dripping in diamonds) but I am a lot more careful with how I wear my jewellery than before. I don’t stack my Cartier and VCA bracelets and haven’t been wearing some of my more obviously valuable pieces such as my tennis necklace recently. I live in a fairly safe area but it’s more to do with sensitivity towards others who are in a less fortunate financial position. The situation in the U.K. is pretty dire at the moment and this winter is going to be grim for many with the cost of living crisis and energy prices further skyrocketing.

 

[etoile de mer]

I haven’t worn my Cartier Panthere watch for quite a while but do wear my two tone Tag Aquaracer with MOP face and diamond markers, so although it is not as prestigious a brand it is still a good one and from some points of view is flashier to look at because of the diamonds. However, I tend to wear sleeves and in the circles I mix in no-one cares about watches.

I don’t really think about my watch too much (I would if it was a Rolex or dripping in diamonds) but I am a lot more careful with how I wear my jewellery than before. I don’t stack my Cartier and VCA bracelets and haven’t been wearing some of my more obviously valuable pieces such as my tennis necklace recently. I live in a fairly safe area but it’s more to do with sensitivity towards others who are in a less fortunate financial position. The situation in the U.K. is pretty dire at the moment and this winter is going to be grim for many with the cost of living crisis and energy prices further skyrocketing.

I feel the same. There are safety concerns (although, like you, my immediate area feels safe), but I also want to be sensitive to others who may be dealing with financial difficulties.

 

[tenshix]

I haven’t worn any watches at all lately since I use my phone to tell the time now and prefer to have chain bracelets on one arm and bangle bracelets on the other. It does bother me when they bang or scratch against my watches. The H Apple Watch used to be my daily driver but I’m not even wearing that anymore, I think just a change in habits. I feel sorry for all my watches just sitting in the safe but I’ve never been a huge watch person either!

But to go back to your point about safety… That’s also one of the reasons I try to not wear my more expensive pieces out unless I’m familiar with the surroundings and feel relatively comfortable in the area.

 

[Onebagtoomany]

I haven’t worn my Cartier Panthere watch for quite a while but do wear my two tone Tag Aquaracer with MOP face and diamond markers, so although it is not as prestigious a brand it is still a good one and from some points of view is flashier to look at because of the diamonds. However, I tend to wear sleeves and in the circles I mix in no-one cares about watches.

I don’t really think about my watch too much (I would if it was a Rolex or dripping in diamonds) but I am a lot more careful with how I wear my jewellery than before. I don’t stack my Cartier and VCA bracelets and haven’t been wearing some of my more obviously valuable pieces such as my tennis necklace recently. I live in a fairly safe area but it’s more to do with sensitivity towards others who are in a less fortunate financial position. The situation in the U.K. is pretty dire at the moment and this winter is going to be grim for many with the cost of living crisis and energy prices further skyrocketing.

Reading this over, I don’t think I expressed myself very well and hope I didn’t sound like a d***. I’ve had periods when I had very little money in the past and am now fortunate to be in a much better position. I personally have never resented anyone else’s good fortune, even when I was struggling, but it does seem incredibly insensitive/crass to be flashing stacks of very obviously branded and expensive jewellery in front of someone who may have to make a choice between heating their home or buying food.

I do still wear some of my expensive pieces - am not going to pretend to be someone I’m not and I know I shouldn’t be ashamed of having nice things - but just dialling it down and trying not to be too in your face with it all.

 

[Deleted 698298]

This is a good question and an important topic. I have to say I stopped wearing jewellery pretty much (which makes me sad but it’s another matter).
In London snatch and run crime is out of control. Im not blaming the police, bless them. Thugs (as young as 13yo!) can be extremely reckless, nothing to lose and aggressive, add to it kids/youths can’t be prosecuted in ways adults would be and you have a recipe for disaster.
I wish public had ways to defend themselves if sth happened, but pepper sprays etc are considered a weapon here and one can get prison time for possessing. Its really gloom and doom and I’d not recommend wearing high end watches in London if you come visit

 

[Prada Prince]

I've stopped wearing my Rolex and Cartier watches in London at the moment, it's just not worth my anxiety with the huge spike in watch robberies, especially in the nicer bits parts of town.

I have a Tag Heuer Professional, and although that's not super pricey; 1) it has sentimental value (18th birthday present from my late dad); and 2) it still looks like an expensive enough watch to perhaps attract the wrong kind of attention, so I'm not wearing that either at the moment.

I do think there's also quite a bit of confirmation bias, as I follow a couple of watch crime instagram accounts, and keeping an eye on the news on these makes me not want to leave the house sometimes. But I think, until London gets a better handle on these sorts of robberies, the watches are staying in the safe.

I still wear jewellery, and my nice bags, but somehow I feel that watches attract a lot more undue attention in London at the moment, comparatively.

 

[Swanky]

Yes, I wear mine. Our home was robbed in March and it was recently replaced, I missed having it. I don’t wear it all day everyday, but most anytime we’re going out. My wedding ring is far more valuable, and I do wear it all day everyday so my watch doesn’t seem nearly as risky to wear.
I live in the Dallas area (not proper) and people aren’t getting mugged or robbed on the streets here.

 

[Onebagtoomany]

This is a good question and an important topic. I have to say I stopped wearing jewellery pretty much (which makes me sad but it’s another matter).
In London snatch and run crime is out of control. Im not blaming the police, bless them. Thugs (as young as 13yo!) can be extremely reckless, nothing to lose and aggressive, add to it kids/youths can’t be prosecuted in ways adults would be and you have a recipe for disaster.
I wish public had ways to defend themselves if sth happened, but pepper sprays etc are considered a weapon here and one can get prison time for possessing. Its really gloom and doom and I’d not recommend wearing high end watches in London if you come visit

This is so sad and scary - I used to work in London and even now would normally visit fairly regularly but I haven’t for a long time precisely because of the reports on the news of what you describe.