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Old 25 August 2019, 08:34 AM   #1
quadraaa
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Barcelona observations

Hi,

Just wanted to share that I saw some ss sports in the showcases in Barcelona: one dealer had an Air-King, the other one - an Explorer and a blue Milgauss.

Tried on the Explorer just to make sure once again that although rationally I like it a lot it doesn't do anything for me once I put it on my wrist.

Regarding "is it safe": the sales manager from the Rolex boutique advised me not to wear my Sub in any other circumstances than in a well-lit area with many people around while in the city. He mentioned that lately there had been cases of not just stealing/pickpocketing but of robbing with violence.
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Old 25 August 2019, 11:01 AM   #2
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Interesting, I’m going to BCN and Mallorca very soon and debating whether or not to take my Explorer.
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Old 25 August 2019, 04:30 PM   #3
GarbanzoNegro
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The US Government explicitly says this regarding Barcelona:
“Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive jewelry or watches.”

https://es.usembassy.gov/security-al...elona-spain-2/
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Old 25 August 2019, 04:36 PM   #4
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I did a tour of the AD's yesterday morning and saw the AK and Milgauss you mentioned.

Regarding safety. During the day I don't have any concerns wearing a Rolex in the city.
On an evening and depending on the area I am going I switch it out to a less expensive watch.
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Old 25 August 2019, 05:39 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MHB View Post
Interesting, I’m going to BCN and Mallorca very soon and debating whether or not to take my Explorer.
You'll be fine in Mallorca, but Barcelona is really getting out of hand. Amazing how action isn't taken by authorities.
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Old 25 August 2019, 06:09 PM   #6
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Laws in Spain are an invitation for all thieves - punishment is practically non existent, for stealing something worth less than 400 Euro they only pay a 50 Euro fine, no matter how many times they get caught!!!! And they are very organized so your Rolex will never be found. Now why would police treat your watch as something worth more than 400 Euro? More work for them...and “lazy” gets a whole new meaning in Spain. Tranquilo!


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Old 25 August 2019, 06:16 PM   #7
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Really a sad situation unfortunately
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Old 25 August 2019, 06:33 PM   #8
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Good to know. I am in Barcelona regularly. Never had any issues wearing a Rolex mind you. But I'll be more careful from now.
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Old 25 August 2019, 09:15 PM   #9
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Not scaremongering, at least not intentionally, but interesting reading on the subject

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.t...ieves-tourists
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Old 25 August 2019, 09:22 PM   #10
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Generally don’t worry about wearing watches anywhere except for Barcelona. I personally know of too many instances of people being robbed for their watches there.
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Old 25 August 2019, 09:30 PM   #11
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I love Barcelona and we have visited many times,
We always wore our watches but avoided the dodgy areas,,
Talking with Spanish friends,, it would seem it’s a certain demographic that steals high end watches,, so beware of people being friendly in the streets and outside of your hotel especially if they are not Spanish
These scum seem to be well organised ,
It’s a beautiful city ,,
Have a great time and just be mindful,,,,
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Old 25 August 2019, 09:38 PM   #12
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Though I had wanted to wear my Explorer travelling, I never did in Spain and Italy. Best be safe than sorry.

A plastic Swatch it is always.


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Old 25 August 2019, 10:29 PM   #13
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Good to know. I am in Barcelona regularly. Never had any issues wearing a Rolex mind you. But I'll be more careful from now.
Used to travel to Barcelona monthly with my SkyD. No more. I can sit on a bench and see the thieves in action and the police watching and doing nothing. A very sad state of affairs.
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Old 25 August 2019, 11:10 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MHB View Post
Interesting, I’m going to BCN and Mallorca very soon and debating whether or not to take my Explorer.
I'm going to mallorca too in the next weeks and I will leave my watch at home.
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Old 25 August 2019, 11:59 PM   #15
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Come on people, this again?
I was in Mallorca and Barcelona in June.
Plenty of Rolex and Breitling to be seen.
Use common sense. What this AD advised is nothing more than that.
Most of the times, these victims made themselves victims.
My Pepsi and wife’s DJ survived.
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Old 26 August 2019, 01:10 AM   #16
quadraaa
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Well, it's all relative and is about how you estimate the risks and your personal perception of safety. There are about 33 violent robberies taking place per day in Barcelona (source). Relating this to the number of tourists (I assume tourists are the primary target) in the city will give a tiny probability of getting in trouble. But that tiny probability will likely be much higher than in many other cities (including tourists' home cities) thus creating the feeling of being unsafe.
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Old 26 August 2019, 02:13 AM   #17
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Just returned from my probably 30th time in Barcelona, walking everywhere

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=691888
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Old 26 August 2019, 03:05 AM   #18
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Originally Posted by bayerische View Post
You'll be fine in Mallorca, but Barcelona is really getting out of hand. Amazing how action isn't taken by authorities.
According to the local press yesterday someone stole his Rolex to the Mallorca General Prosecutor in Palma in full daylight.
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Old 26 August 2019, 03:19 AM   #19
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What has driven the Spanish/Catalans to turn violent on their visitors ?
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Old 26 August 2019, 03:23 AM   #20
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According to the local press yesterday someone stole his Rolex to the Mallorca General Prosecutor in Palma in full daylight.
2 thieves were catched by the police soon after. They are Italian belonging to the famous ‘Rolex Band’ working every summer in Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera.
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Old 26 August 2019, 03:29 AM   #21
Crazy Lugs
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What has driven the Spanish/Catalans to turn violent on their visitors ?
The people committing these crimes aren’t locals...
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Old 26 August 2019, 04:35 AM   #22
Rafabond
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What has driven the Spanish/Catalans to turn violent on their visitors ?
This statement is not correct, it is bands of Moroccans who steal. If it were in my hand I would throw them all out of the country. It is a plague that unfortunately happens to a good part of Europe
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Old 26 August 2019, 04:46 AM   #23
mg Barcelona
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This statement is not correct, it is bands of Moroccans who steal. If it were in my hand I would throw them all out of the country. It is a plague that unfortunately happens to a good part of Europe
When I lived in Sitges I was burgled twice. The ones that were caught were not Moroccan. There is a reason that there is bars on the windows on the first floor of the buildings. Stealing and cheating in Spain Catalonia has been a serious issue for decades.
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