Are You Still Wearing An Expensive Watch?

[Onebagtoomany]

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.

So sorry to hear this but yes, please keep your precious watch safe. Material items can be replaced but you can’t replace things that have so much emotional significance attached to them

 

[purly]

I just wear a fitbit. It has nothing to do with crime and everything to do with wanting to get notifications of my work messages without having to keep my work phone on me at all times.

 

[etoile de mer]

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.

I didn't interpret your previous post in a negative light. It just sounds like you're being thoughtful.

 

[Vlad]

I wear my basic Apple Watch Series 6 daily, and all my nicer timepieces collect dust. I just don't care anymore, not about the optics, the craftsmanship, the fashion, all that jazz. I was never worried about getting mugged; in my mind, I would give up something like a watch in a heartbeat to ensure my safety. Also, I am not exactly what you'd call an easy target.

Probably I should just sell my watches, aside from a few special ones that were gifted to me, or passed down from my dad, and that I want to pass on to my kids.

 

[TC1]

I wear my basic Apple Watch Series 6 daily, and all my nicer timepieces collect dust. I just don't care anymore, not about the optics, the craftsmanship, the fashion, all that jazz. I was never worried about getting mugged; in my mind, I would give up something like a watch in a heartbeat to ensure my safety. Also, I am not exactly what you'd call an easy target.

Probably I should just sell my watches, aside from a few special ones that were gifted to me, or passed down from my dad, and that I want to pass on to my kids.

This is the exact reason I won't let myself get an Apple Watch I wanted a Rolex FOREVER, so now I make sure I wear it almost daily. I know if I got an Apple Watch it would just sit on the dresser!

 

[Vlad]

This is the exact reason I won't let myself get an Apple Watch I wanted a Rolex FOREVER, so now I make sure I wear it almost daily. I know if I got an Apple Watch it would just sit on the dresser!

Yup, my Sky-Dweller sits in the safe.

 

[MillStream]

I agree with etoile de mer, Onebagtoomany. Your comments were sensitive and thoughtful. These are difficult times for so many people. It seems to me that you are aware that wearing an expensive watch or other luxury items now might come across as entitled and clueless to someone struggling to put food on the table and heat their home. Do what feels right to you, whatever that is.

 

[MillStream]

Wow, TC1, you're so in my head. The Apple Watch is the reason I put my good watches aside!

 

[Florasun]

I had pretty much quit wearing watches because they got in the way at work. Then I retired and didn't really need a watch. But then hubs bought an apple watch for himself for his birthday, not knowing that I, also, had bought one for him. So - surprise! I ended up with an apple watch. And that is pretty much what I wear all the time now!

 

[880]

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.

@MillStream, I stopped wearing my gold Rolex bc it was the smaller size, champagne dial and I couldn’t read it. It was a hand me down from my grandmother, via my mom. As per family custom, I passed it along. I wore a two tone Rolex from freshman year for about ten years. (I alternated with a cartier santos eventually). some decades later I got a larger tank francais ( I believe that model of TF was soon discontinued: an automatic gender neutral size with date). I prefer single metal watches rather than two tone (to me, two tone is very 1980s) JMO

at this point in my life, I prefer the larger size bc my eyesight is terrible. But, bc I wear a lot of jewelry, I also find a bracelet watch too much bling. Even though i don’t wear the watches with jewelry, IDKW. Personal choice lol

 

[etoile de mer]

@MillStream, I stopped wearing my gold Rolex bc it was the smaller size, champagne dial and I couldn’t read it. It was a hand me down from my grandmother, via my mom. As per family custom, I passed it along. I wore a two tone Rolex from freshman year for about ten years. (I alternated with a cartier santos eventually). some decades later I got a larger tank francais ( I believe that model of TF was soon discontinued: an automatic gender neutral size with date). I prefer single metal watches rather than two tone (to me, two tone is very 1980s) JMO

at this point in my life, I prefer the larger size bc my eyesight is terrible. But, bc I wear a lot of jewelry, I also find a bracelet watch too much bling. Even though i don’t wear the watches with jewelry, IDKW. Personal choice lol

Aesthetically, I've preferred larger watches on myself, for a while. And now, I'm finding them more essential if I actually want to be able to easily read the time! Dial color and graphics definitely matter, though. So, my PM Cape Cod, athough my smallest watch, is still easy for me to read, yay!

 

[classychictipz]

I live in the states and consider my area where I live to be pretty safe along with areas that we visit. I don't wear my Rolex out unless I know for a 100% fact it's extremely safe. I do own additional higher priced watches like my Tudor and Tags. I wear my Tudor and one of my Tags often, because they are under the radar. The other Tag has a diamond bezel which is only for special occasions. I also wear a Longines and a Citizen watch when I'm casually leaving the house. My husband wears his Breitling with no fear at all, but does have other everyday watches like Bulova and Tissot. Personally, I feel the targeting I've seen in the news has been more towards people wearing Rolex. I was looking at getting a two-tone Rolex, but just recently changed my mind and have decided not to buy any more Rolex watches due to the crime issues. I'm looking at Omega and Breitling instead. I feel these brands just don't get noticed enough. My hubby is on the list for an OP, but will not buy any other watch from Rolex because of all the theft. It's quite scary how crime has escalated over the years towards people wearing certain luxury goods.
On a side note, living in the states does have some advantages because thieves don't know who they may target will have a gun or not. My area loves and promotes gun ownership, so that could contribute to less snatch and grab situations.

 

[susiefoo]

I am in the UK (not London) and finally in a position to buy my first luxury watch - I've never worn anything of value before so this thread is timely. I'm debating between a two-tone more "recognizable" watch and a more discreet, plainer one, and wondering whether it should influence my choice of watch. I'll probably start a new thread when I can...

 

[Pop Art Suzy]

I just bought my first Rolex watch about a month or so ago, so I wear it everyday (except on weekends when I'm more casual). I live in a college town, so there is hardly any crime here. I don't worry about my Cartier jewelry or Rolex, because to be honest I don't think anybody knows what it is. I wear mostly long sleeves anyway because of the a/c at work so I doubt anybody notices what I'm wearing. But if I'm ever heading down to Denver, then I won't wear my Rolex, I'll wear my TAG instead.

 

[TXLVlove]

This thread is so timely. Two weeks ago my husband and I visited a jewelry store in a mall here in Dallas. I purchased a Cartier Must Tank XL as a retirement gift to myself. I was wearing the watch when we stopped by a popular park to just take in the lake. While we were sitting on a bench maybe 10 yards away my car was broken into and my LV purse with several slgs was stolen. The bag with the Cartier box with my Apple Watch was left! I love my huge watch since I can actually see the time and will continue to wear it in my area, but now I’m careful where I go when carrying my designer purses. I’m on a short trip to the beach right now and I did bring my new watch but also brought a plain leather Coach purse. I’m hoping with a black band most people won’t know what type of watch I’m wearing. I will tell you I’m heading to Calif next month and will only be bringing my Apple Watch and coach purse.