Travelling to Columbia with a Rolex?

[Andrejb]

Hey guys. Booked a trip to Cartagena in May. My girl and I have been lusting after photos of this place for quite some time.

Anyone ever been?

My question is, I hear mixed reviews on rolexes when travelling. Some people say to always carry one high valued item with you at all times in case you need to quickly trade it to get yourself out of a bind

Others say avoid avoid avoid

Would love to hear your experiences / opinions?

Planning on wearing a sub for the trip

Cheers


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[MK25toLife]

I’ve been to Carta and didn’t wear mine, I chose to play it safe.

[anakyn101]

I would avoid bringing an expensive watch..why risk putting yourself and your girl in a dangerous situation.

[TheVTCGuy]

I have been three times in the last couple years. The first, I wore my EX II without even thinking and had no issues. Then again, it is one of the most “under the radar” watches Rolex has. The next two, I was debating bringing my DJ 41, which is much more noticeable. My coworker that lives in Bogota recommended bringing it. I thought it prudent to follow his advice and left it home

[Teetime71]

Just make sure it is insured. That way you can take it wherever you wish and not stress. Play it safe and don’t be conspicuous by displaying signs of wealth in unknown company or environs.


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[cdmorenot]

I live in Colombia (Please make sure you get the spelling right, people down here take offense to this)

I moved down here a little less than a year ago. Never take my Rolex off and I never will.

I live in the outskirts of Medellín where I am pretty much free to wear any watch I want. Withing Medellín and any other major city I do switch to a subtle explorer and throw the watch in a cubby when I know I'll be stuck in traffic. There are professional watch thieves who prey on people while they're sitting ducks in traffic.

Same as any other major city ... While in CTG I wear my Sub or whatever else I bring on the trip but I am also not dumb enough to venture outside the "good" areas of town.

I love this place and I've never felt unsafe but the truth is that if a thief here wants your watch, he'll get it so just give it up and don't get shot. If you can't afford to lose the watch, please leave it at home.

If you find yourself in Medellín and need some tips on all the wonderful things this place has to offer, PM me.

Welcome to Colombia !





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[dafuture]

I'd leave it at home. Sure, insurance will cover it. But on the other hand, do you really want to lose your watch?

[vacano]

Colombia is fine. I visited summer 2016, (Bogotá, Medellin and other places). You will be surprised how things have changed there. If in doubt take a wrist sweat band to cover you watch if you feel unsure.

[David cote]

wear the hell outta that thing!

[sensui]

If you have any reservations (I would too hearing about the things from Columbia)...why would you risk this? Could care less about losing an insured watch but you're willing to encounter possible physical harm in the process? Is showing your Rolex on your vacation that important to you to compromise you and your wife's safety there? Sorry I just don't see why this is even a question...you stick out as a tourist already, no need to add incentives for bad guys.

[datejustrms]

If in doubt, leave it at home.

[tbonesteak]

I'd leave it at home.

For a reference point, I went to Vegas for a bachelor party last year, I knew I'd be on little sleep and intoxicated for the majority of the trip... I brought a G-Shock. I see no reason to ever jeopardize my watches.

[Justinmg]

Forget the Rolex, I wouldn’t travel there at all.

[tng11]

My advice - leave it at home. I did that for my entire South American trip, as I was strongly advised by locals in Colombia, Argentina and Brazil to do exactly that and I listened.

[Brian HCM#1]

My wife and I leave all expensive jewelry at home when traveling to those types of countries. Don't need to draw attention to yourself, plus we feel in some less fortunate countries its like throwing it in their face that we're better off than they are.

[cdmorenot]

I'm never the one with the "remarks" but some of you really really need to get on a plane and travel the world.

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[RossHetherington]

Leave well at home.

[kilyung]

I’d probably leave any expensive watch behind depending on the surroundings. As for emergency funds, I always carry a few gold coins with me.

[Spartan1]

You bought it to wear it, however, not to make yourself a target. There will be plenty of time to wear it when you get home, so I’m this case, not worth the risk you will put you and yours in while in a third world country.

[parasky]

I've been to Colombia and Cartagena at least five times in the past few years and, for what it's worth, I think you will be fine. It's no different from traveling anywhere else, as long as you use common sense. I wouldn't go out drinking late at night and flash your watch there just like I wouldn't do it here in the U.S. Just for peace of mind, I would have my watch insured, though.

[Preludejo]

Originally Posted by Justinmg

Forget the Rolex, I wouldn’t travel there at all.

Colombia is beautiful, so are the women! It's a lovely place, I wouldn't worry too much at all. I feel safer there than in Detroit, lol.

Medellin, Bogota, Cartegana, Armenia, all of em gorgeous places

[mikeps2006]

I wouldn’t.


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[douglasf13]

Judging by this forum, one should not wear a Rolex while: vacationing, using a laptop, showering, working out, working in the yard, working on the car, wearing a tux, interviewing for a job, hot tubbing, in the sauna, golfing, sleeping, swimming, near a diamond, at work, near a door frame, standing on a tile floor, in Detroit, and while not being serviced after more than 5 years.

Wearing a Rolex is no easy pursuit.

[tbonesteak]

Originally Posted by douglasf13

Judging by this forum, one should not wear a Rolex while: vacationing, using a laptop, showering, working out, working in the yard, working on the car, wearing a tux, interviewing for a job, hot tubbing, in the sauna, golfing, sleeping, swimming, near a diamond, at work, near a door frame, standing on a tile floor, in Detroit, and while not being serviced after more than 5 years.

Wearing a Rolex is no easy pursuit.

Maybe others feel differently, but I have no need to put myself in unnecessary situations. I don't feel the need to flash the fact that I can walk around with $20k on my wrist.

The situation like Vegas I noted above; I'm drinking heavily with little sleep for 60 straight hours and certainly not in my normal mental state, someone gets cute, slips something in my drink, and bye bye Ceramic Daytona. No thanks :shrug:

[JR16]

Originally Posted by tbonesteak

Maybe others feel differently, but I have no need to put myself in unnecessary situations. I don't feel the need to flash the fact that I can walk around with $20k on my wrist.



The situation like Vegas I noted above; I'm drinking heavily with little sleep for 60 straight hours and certainly not in my normal mental state, someone gets cute, slips something in my drink, and bye bye Ceramic Daytona. No thanks :shrug:

I wear an Orient when anticipating possibly being in these situations


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[Tools]

Originally Posted by tbonesteak

Maybe others feel differently, but I have no need to put myself in unnecessary situations. I don't feel the need to flash the fact that I can walk around with $20k on my wrist.

The situation like Vegas I noted above; I'm drinking heavily with little sleep for 60 straight hours and certainly not in my normal mental state, someone gets cute, slips something in my drink, and bye bye Ceramic Daytona. No thanks :shrug:

Well, there are two completely contradictory paragraphs.

[strafer_kid]

Originally Posted by datejustrms

If in doubt, leave it at home.

Yes.....why risk it?

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by tbonesteak

Maybe others feel differently, but I have no need to put myself in unnecessary situations. I don't feel the need to flash the fact that I can walk around with $20k on my wrist.

The situation like Vegas I noted above; I'm drinking heavily with little sleep for 60 straight hours and certainly not in my normal mental state, someone gets cute, slips something in my drink, and bye bye Ceramic Daytona. No thanks :shrug:

That's what insurance is for, and it's impossible to plan when a bad thing can happen. I was once held up at gunpoint in a parking lot at a famous restaurant in West L.A., 5 minutes after the parking attendant left, and the guy carjacked a freaking VW Bug, of all things. I've since been in far seedier places in much nicer cars. Worrying too much would be miserable.

[tbonesteak]

Originally Posted by douglasf13

That's what insurance is for, and it's impossible to plan when a bad thing can happen. I was once held up at gunpoint in a parking lot at a famous restaurant in West L.A., 5 minutes after the parking attendant left, and the guy carjacked a freaking VW Bug, of all things. I've since been in far seedier places in much nicer cars. Worrying too much would be miserable.

While it is impossible to plan for bad things, and your story is a reminder of that, you can certainly do things to reduce the odds.

If someone said I'm going to London with the wife and kids and someone else says they're on their way to Sao Paulo to visit working girls, I'd say the guy in latter of the two scenarios is at much higher risk of having his watch stolen.

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by tbonesteak

While it is impossible to plan for bad things, and your story is a reminder of that, you can certainly do things to reduce the odds.

If someone said I'm going to London with the wife and kids and someone else says they're on their way to Sao Paulo to visit working girls, I'd say the guy in latter of the two scenarios is at much higher risk of having his watch stolen.

Yeah, I guess my point is that I wouldn't really buy anything I'd worry about, whether that be in Beverly Hills or some other place, because bad can happen anywhere. I mean, I lived in Caracas as a kid and we never got mugged, yet I got carjacked near Beverly Hills. With any watch I own, I could easily give it up to a robber without question, just like that stupid VW a dozen years ago.