Have you ever had your watch stolen from your wrist?

[InitialAndPitch]

There’s been a fair bit of talk in this forum about watch values, security, travel and so on. I was sure that I’d written a post on this subject - but maybe not. Then I read a post by r_afficionado reporting his watch theft.

Lots of insurance companies will only cover your watch while travelling if it’s (a) on your wrist at the time or (b) in a safe. Therefore don’t leave it in a hotel bedside table.

It’s a rotten thing to consider but I have to ask: have any of you had your watch taken/stolen from you while you were wearing it? Is it a common thing?

[tomallen]

I was at wedding reception years ago and there was a magician walking around during dinner doing slight of hand and card tricks. He was very good. My TT Sub was off my wrist and ended up on my brother in laws wrist I did not notice until he asked for the time. No harm no foul but scary stuff that I will never forget.

[SeaDweller50]

Originally Posted by tomallen

I was at wedding reception years ago and there was a magician walking around during dinner doing slight of hand and card tricks. He was very good. My TT Sub was off my wrist and ended up on my brother in laws wrist I did not notice until he asked for the time. No harm no foul but scary stuff that I will never forget.

Although that method will not work on a standard oyster / jubilee bracelet.

[ninjin]

Not me personally, but my brother had his TT datejust stolen at knifepoint outside his home.

[Pongster]

Not on my wrist. I left a watch in the glove compartment. When i had car serviced, the watch was stolen.

[Pongster]

Originally Posted by SeaDweller50

Although that method will not work on a standard oyster / jubilee bracelet.

Only for tang buckle?

[padi56]

Originally Posted by InitialAndPitch

There’s been a fair bit of talk in this forum about watch values, security, travel and so on. I was sure that I’d written a post on this subject - but maybe not. Then I read a post by r_afficionado reporting his watch theft.

Lots of insurance companies will only cover your watch while travelling if it’s (a) on your wrist at the time or (b) in a safe. Therefore don’t leave it in a hotel bedside table.

It’s a rotten thing to consider but I have to ask: have any of you had your watch taken/stolen from you while you were wearing it? Is it a common thing?

With all the watches bought each year Rolex included world wide, the amount that ever gets stolen off the wrist, or any other way is a very very very very very very very very very very very tiny amount.

[Hub6152]

This is a common sight in London lately. Knifepoint muggings are commonplace, and you’re still likely to get stabbed even if you handed over the watch.



Luckily for me I no longer live in London after moving to Hong Kong where this is the more likely scenario!!

[InitialAndPitch]

Thanks Hub6152 that’s interesting. I’ve been in London during a particularly bad week for knife crime and motor scooter type hold ups/acid attacks. I’d not seen those signs. If you’re openly displaying a nice watch, you’d have to be somebody of interest for the thugs.

The place that really frustrates me because I fly so much is the airports where they want you to take your watch off and put it in the tray. They try and shuffle you through the metal detector while your watch is still in a tray waiting to go through X-ray. I take it off and put it in a travel case and shove it in my carry in before security.

[InitialAndPitch]

Originally Posted by padi56

With all the watches bought each year Rolex included world wide, the amount that ever gets stolen off the wrist, or any other way is a very very very very very very very very very very very tiny amount.

Which means that lots of watch travel insurance is overpriced and only covers unlikely scenarios.

I’ve been pick-pocketed but thank goodness not mugged.

[timedate]

Originally Posted by tomallen

I was at wedding reception years ago and there was a magician walking around during dinner doing slight of hand and card tricks. He was very good. My TT Sub was off my wrist and ended up on my brother in laws wrist I did not notice until he asked for the time. No harm no foul but scary stuff that I will never forget.

i dont believe this story

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Hub6152

This is a common sight in London lately. Knifepoint muggings are commonplace, and you’re still likely to get stabbed even if you handed over the watch.



Luckily for me I no longer live in London after moving to Hong Kong where this is the more likely scenario!!

Wow ... London must have changed since my last visit.

What part of town is this in?

[Hub6152]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Wow ... London must have changed since my last visit.



What part of town is this in?

Not my photo but it’s Chelsea/Knightsbridge area.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Hub6152

This is a common sight in London lately. Knifepoint muggings are commonplace, and you’re still likely to get stabbed even if you handed over the watch.



Luckily for me I no longer live in London after moving to Hong Kong where this is the more likely scenario!!

Originally Posted by Hub6152

Not my photo but it’s Chelsea/Knightsbridge area.

Interesting, thank you

[kultschar]

It’s outside the Burlington Arcade if I remember rightly. Isn’t that Fortnum Masons across the road

[Headshrinker]

I was attacked while getting off an elevator accompanied by my 10 year old daughter. As I exited, I was punched in the face. The two men demanded my watch (Platona) and wallet. (I told this story on TRF many years ago.) I was left with a cracked orbital bone, while both men suffered many more injuries, one from falling down a set of stairs nearby. I kept my possessions, but the psychological damage to my daughter lasted many months afterward.

[Hub6152]

Originally Posted by kultschar

It’s outside the Burlington Arcade if I remember rightly. Isn’t that Fortnum Masons across the road

Could well be as that clock hanging looks so familiar. But the street looks too wide. The left side looks like some gallery or museum! But these signs are in multiple places so it’s not just one small area.

[kultschar]

Originally Posted by Hub6152

Could well be as that clock hanging looks so familiar. But the street looks too wide. The left side looks like some gallery or museum! But these signs are in multiple places so it’s not just one small area.

Its a wide road. I often walk half way across to the “Islands” before crossing the second half

[kultschar]

Originally Posted by Headshrinker

I was attacked while getting off an elevator accompanied by my 10 year old daughter. As I exited, I was punched in the face. The two men demanded my watch (Platona) and wallet. (I told this story on TRF many years ago.) I was left with a cracked orbital bone, while both men suffered many more injuries, one from falling down a set of stairs nearby. I kept my possessions, but the psychological damage to my daughter lasted many months afterward.

Not good at all! Glad they got what they deserved!

All the best

[Hub6152]

Originally Posted by kultschar

Its a wide road. I often walk half way across to the “Islands” before crossing the second half

I’ve been in HK too long I guess!! I’m forgetting what some of it looks like!

[kultschar]

Originally Posted by Hub6152

I’ve been in HK too long I guess!! I’m forgetting what some of it looks like!

Ha - prefer Hong Kong! Would love to go back!!!!

[Hub6152]

Originally Posted by kultschar

Ha - prefer Hong Kong! Would love to go back!!!!

Not today you wouldn’t!! First Red rain warning of 2019 struck today, and boy did it come down!

[wesdaniel]

Originally Posted by InitialAndPitch

The place that really frustrates me because I fly so much is the airports where they want you to take your watch off and put it in the tray. They try and shuffle you through the metal detector while your watch is still in a tray waiting to go through X-ray. I take it off and put it in a travel case and shove it in my carry in before security.

That's nuts. I don't fly that often now, but, used to fly 3-4x a week and can only remember being asked to remove my watch once. I politely declined and made it through without any problem.

[BigBlue1]

No I haven’t. Messing with me is like messing with Charles Bronson in other words you must have a Death Wish. Me and Mr.T say “ I pity the fool”.
Really though I’ll jack you up.
Don’t try it

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by timedate

i dont believe this story

Saw it dozens of times with all types of watches, with leather bands and bracelets.

I used to work in a bar in LA called Merlin McFly's (Santa Monica actually) and they had magicians 2-3 nights a week going around doing table magic. And lots of them could remove watches, rings, bras, and God knows what else. I've seen them take the watch off a guy ask him the time and he looks at is wrist and the watch is now on the other wrist or on another person, or in someones pocket or purse.

It's all communication, misdirection and great hands. They do the watch thing while doing card tricks. The misdirection comes from the person concentration on one thing while something else is going on. And nobody at the table sees it happening. In all the time there I never once saw anyone realize it was happening. It's done by getting the guy to stand up and do something and hold something and the magician guides him through while touching him, his arm, his hand, his wrist, patting his back etc, all while talking about the card trick.

These guys all worked at the Magic Castle in LA if you ever get the chance to see them. It's still there I think.

[Burlington]

Originally Posted by kultschar

It’s outside the Burlington Arcade if I remember rightly. Isn’t that Fortnum Masons across the road

Yes that’s the exact spot.

[yoniman]

Originally Posted by ninjin

Not me personally, but my brother had his TT datejust stolen at knifepoint outside his home.

In HK?

Cheers

[GB-man]

Nope.

[janice&fred]

i think a "hold up" is a "hold up" whether the bad guy wants watches, jewelry, purses and or wallets. that's about the only likely scenario where one would get their watch stolen from their wrist. yea i suppose it's a theoretical possibility a slight-of-hand expert could zip it off one's wrist but the chances of that are slim unless as mentioned it's a magician performing tricks.

[InitialAndPitch]

I was mainly thinking about those who might have been targeted for street robbery. But a rogue David Copperfield is a possibility.