Wearing Rolex in London?

[bluetrain]

Yeah I understand you always need to be cautious etc etc but what is your general understanding of the safety level in downtown London as of today? Better or worse than other european cities of similar size?

Bring or leave the Rilex at home?

[superdog]

If it’s a Rilex, you should be fine.

A Rolex, is likely fine too. But crime appears to be up everywhere.

[espanol]

Originally Posted by superdog

If it’s a Rilex, you should be fine.

A Rolex, is likely fine too. But crime appears to be up everywhere.

What Seth said.

If you have to ask, then it's probably better to leave it at home and have peace of mind. Even if internet strangers tell you it's okay, your preconceived concern likely will take away from the enjoyment of your travels.

[beshannon]

Why would you travel to where you do not feel safe?

[Chester01]

I would be a bit more Inclined to wear 4/5 digit references but the new ones are very easy to spot as they are far shiner by design. Folks like the wrist presence, and thieves as well. Be aware of your surroundings and use common sense and you should be fine.

[brandrea]

I don’t wear mine out of the house.

[R.bartlett]

London is not particularly safe these days.
Long sleeves or nothing for me if I ever returned to that shite, rat infested hell hole

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V8guG1sPAw

Enjoy your stay!


Richard

[AF_Rob]

I generally feel safe there, in most places a visitor may frequent. Off the beaten path, maybe not so much but that's anywhere, really.

My travel piece these days are either a Seiko or an OP. They are both pretty subtle.

[rootbeer7]

Originally Posted by R.bartlett

London is not particularly safe these days.
Long sleeves or nothing for me if I ever returned to that shite, rat infested hell hole

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V8guG1sPAw

Enjoy your stay!


Richard

a touch harsh. Incidentally, 14 years ago, I was followed around the Town Centre in Tenerife one afternoon by a gang. Luckily a friendly jewellery store owner spotted them dragged us in to her shop and called a cab for us!!
OP be careful and you'll be fine. There's approx 10million of us who don't get mugged.

[rajurama]

There's a reason why Seiko and Casio exist.

[KM95]

I live locally and only wear an Apple watch to central london these days.


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[Chewbacca]

.

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I don’t wear mine out of the house.

Astute advice.

And adding to that perhaps not out of the living room. If you wear it in the kitchen or bathroom it could get wet and anywhere near the bedroom you could be accosted and attacked.

[R.bartlett]

Originally Posted by rootbeer7

a touch harsh. Incidentally, 14 years ago, I was followed around the Town Centre in Tenerife one afternoon by a gang. Luckily a friendly jewellery store owner spotted them dragged us in to her shop and called a cab for us!!
OP be careful and you'll be fine. There's approx 10million of us who don't get mugged.

I was born in Brixton and spent a lot of my working life all over London so I feel free and able to comment. London is (in the main ) a shite hole. Sure there are nice spots but generally those who live in the nice areas are far out numbered (by a factor of 100x easily) by those who live in dog rough area's. And by dog rough I mean downright dangerous. Robberies have gone up 16% in the last year and little or nothing is being done to stop it.

https://crimerate.co.uk/london/city-of-london

"The overall crime rate in City of London in 2021 was 665 crimes per 1,000 people."

Doesn't make for good reading tbf..

Name one street you'd happily walk around at night with a in short sleeves sporting a gold Rolex on in London? (I mean London not the suburbs)
Handy hint: there isn't one!

As an aside, your Tenerife story doesn't particularly ring true..

a woman working in a store, spots 'a gang' following you (how did she know they was following you btw?) in a 'town centre' leaves her shop to grab you and called a cab?.. hardly plausible anywhere in the world let alone some fictitious 'Town centre in Tenerife' but who knows?? IMHO

Tenerife is an island of nearly 1m people but 99% of Tenerife is absolutely safe. Watch theft is almost unheard of. I've only ever heard of one person who was robbed of their Rolex. He was absolutely blind drunk and out of his head on drugs and staggered across a park opposite 'Veronica's' pretty much the only dodgy spot in the South. Sadly he was jumped for his wallet and watch. Not that he actually remembered what had happened apparently..

Back on topic,
Best advice, simples> don't bring it. No one will be impressed and you won't get any girls wearing it either , apart from the Rolex rippers

[Speedbird-1]

OP, "Downtown London".....where are you staying/visiting?
I can 'practicle guarantee', you won't get shot, wherever you go in our beautiful country.

R.bartlett,
I hear Brixton is VERY nice these days.
'Sarf' London has been a toilet for many, many years, for well known reasons.
I'm originally, from the much more sophisticated, Chiswick, (West London).

[supernova]

Was just there in London wearing an AP with tshirt since it was 31C, didn't feel any more dangerous than any other major city as always (travel there ~4 times a year for food and shop), walked a ton and also took the tube around.

Did notice the place is packed with US tourists (same as Ireland), must be the strong dollar luring them over to Europe these days.

[daveathall]

I've been to London many times wearing a good watch and never had any bother, I never advertised the fact that I was wearing a Rolex or similar, but, I never hid it either. I suspect London is on a par with most major cities in the world for crime.

To the OP, if you are worried about looking after your watch in any major city, be that in the US, UK or the EU, because for crime (not murder) rates they are very similar I would leave it at home so that you can enjoy your time there.

[rootbeer7]

Originally Posted by R.bartlett

I was born in Brixton and spent a lot of my working life all over London so I feel free and able to comment. London is (in the main ) a shite hole. Sure there are nice spots but generally those who live in the nice areas are far out numbered (by a factor of 100x easily) by those who live in dog rough area's. And by dog rough I mean downright dangerous. Robberies have gone up 16% in the last year and little or nothing is being done to stop it.

https://crimerate.co.uk/london/city-of-london

"The overall crime rate in City of London in 2021 was 665 crimes per 1,000 people."

Doesn't make for good reading tbf..

Name one street you'd happily walk around at night with a in short sleeves sporting a gold Rolex on in London? (I mean London not the suburbs)
Handy hint: there isn't one!

As an aside, your Tenerife story doesn't particularly ring true..

a woman working in a store, spots 'a gang' following you (how did she know they was following you btw?) in a 'town centre' leaves her shop to grab you and called a cab?.. hardly plausible anywhere in the world let alone some fictitious 'Town centre in Tenerife' but who knows?? IMHO

Tenerife is an island of nearly 1m people but 99% of Tenerife is absolutely safe. Watch theft is almost unheard of. I've only ever heard of one person who was robbed of their Rolex. He was absolutely blind drunk and out of his head on drugs and staggered across a park opposite 'Veronica's' pretty much the only dodgy spot in the South. Sadly he was jumped for his wallet and watch. Not that he actually remembered what had happened apparently..

Back on topic,
Best advice, simples> don't bring it. No one will be impressed and you won't get any girls wearing it either , apart from the Rolex rippers

Let me say firstly I’ve had many lovely holidays in the Canaries and will be going again shortly. I truly can’t remember where I was in Tenerife. It was a centre with amazing fountains and a Rolex shop as well. The woman beckoned us into the shop and pointed at whoever was following us. She’d watched them apparently. I believe they may have been English. Point is these things can happen anywhere. I meant no offence.

[mountainjogger]

Originally Posted by daveathall

I've been to London many times wearing a good watch and never had any bother, I never advertised the fact that I was wearing a Rolex or similar, but, I never hid it either. I suspect London is on a par with most major cities in the world for crime.

To the OP, if you are worried about looking after your watch in any major city, be that in the US, UK or the EU, because for crime (not murder) rates they are very similar I would leave it at home so that you can enjoy your time there.

Well said Dave.

[JoeJoeBobo]

I never wear mine, I buy them and take them directly to the bank. Where I then secure them in a safe deposit box until I am then ready to either sell them during a high or low market. Those I don’t sell are to be removed upon my death by brinks security and destroyed so my next of kin won’t be at risk wearing them in London or anywhere else!

[Incroyable12]

If London is so dangerous who's buying all those jewels and watches in Burlington Arcade/Kensington/Mayfair?

Maybe people should just wear their Rolex in their own bathrooms.

[RFC]

Originally Posted by JoeJoeBobo

I never wear mine, I buy them and take them directly to the bank. Where I then secure them in a safe deposit box until I am then ready to either sell them during a high or low market. Those I don’t sell are to be removed upon my death by brinks security and destroyed so my next of kin won’t be at risk wearing them in London or anywhere else!

Buy insurance and have peace of mind wearing your watch. No safe queens for me.

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I don’t wear mine out of the house.

Brian! You actually WEAR your Rolex IN YOUR OWN HOUSE!?!?!?!? Are you Insane!?!?!?!?!

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Brian! You actually WEAR your Rolex IN YOUR OWN HOUSE!?!?!?!? Are you Insane!?!?!?!?!

right?

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[alonsowwss]

Not another one of these … smh.

If you’re already doubting why even try it ? Get a nice seiko Casio Hamilton and enjoy your trip.

[bluetrain]

When traveling I usually take whatever watch I want and don´t think much about it. I have been to a lot of large cities, and in some shady places too over the years, and never had any problem.

That being said. I have never been to London but heard some comments about the crime level some weeks ago that got me a little bit more worried, that´s why I was asking.

We will be staying in west End, in Bloomsbury. But of course we will travel around the city for tourist stuff such as museums and the occasional rolex boutique... (:

[daveathall]

Originally Posted by bluetrain

We will be staying in west End, in Bloomsbury. But of course we will travel around the city for tourist stuff such as museums and the occasional rolex boutique... (:

I have stayed in Bloomsbury on a number of occasions, just off Russel square in a small hotel on Montague St which backs on to The British Museum and is in easy walking distance of the theatres, Oxford St and Covent garden. Have a great time, you will have a fabulous time in a fabulous city. That is praise indeed coming from a Northern Englishman.

[colpol]

I had to go to London for work last sept for 2 weeks. Office was in Holborn area & hotel 5 mins from office. Finished most days at 4pm/ weather was great & did a lot of walking after work seeing the tourist sites (palace/ Houses of Parliament/ parks etc ) plus a visit to the Burlington Arcade. Wore my Rolex SD the whole time/ no issues BUT I did wear a jacket on the tube going back/ forward to Euston for train back to Scotland.

[bluetrain]

Originally Posted by daveathall

I have stayed in Bloomsbury on a number of occasions, just off Russel square in a small hotel on Montague St which backs on to The British Museum and is in easy walking distance of the theatres, Oxford St and Covent garden. Have a great time, you will have a fabulous time in a fabulous city. That is praise indeed coming from a Northern Englishman.

Thanks! (:

[bluetrain]

Originally Posted by colpol

I had to go to London for work last sept for 2 weeks. Office was in Holborn area & hotel 5 mins from office. Finished most days at 4pm/ weather was great & did a lot of walking after work seeing the tourist sites (palace/ Houses of Parliament/ parks etc ) plus a visit to the Burlington Arcade. Wore my Rolex SD the whole time/ no issues BUT I did wear a jacket on the tube going back/ forward to Euston for train back to Scotland.

So what you are saying is that the tube may not be place safe (for wearing a Rolex)?