Advice for wearing PP in Europe

[Partekular]

Watch theft data from London’s Metropolitan police ;-

Table 1 - Count of watch theft by month and year

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total
2018 985 851 812 720 745 825 791 784 790 812 996 938 10049
2019 837 841 847 708 708 727 803 797 811 841 773 877 9570
2020 839 751 451 140 192 239 401 455 459 492 364 391 5174
2021 241 228 231 326 302 404 426 479 561 513 500 536 4747
2022 429 446 495 377 485 456 564 526 485 4263
Total 33803


Given the population of London - 7.000.000 the chances of being mugged are very small and declining now the police are looking out for it. Wear them under your sleeves and do not flash them in public places such as the tube, street markets, crowded areas or in smart areas such as Bond Street, Mayfair, Chelsea etc. Also be aware of spotters in restaurants, nightclubs etc.

https://www.met.police.uk/foi-ai/met...september2022/

[scurfa]

I’ve come to the conclusion now it’s not worth the risk losing anything I really like and now when travelling I only wear a watch that I can afford to lose, the risk to your loved ones is also just not worth it.

[Partekular]

Originally Posted by scurfa

I’ve come to the conclusion now it’s not worth the risk losing anything I really like and now when travelling I only wear a watch that I can afford to lose, the risk to your loved ones is also just not worth it.

Very sensible. Being mugged must be terrifying.

I never wear watches, other than a Swatch, on holiday. In the UK I am not so concerned but I always wear long sleeves in town.

[Moondoggy]

Originally Posted by Partekular

Very sensible. Being mugged must be terrifying.

I never wear watches, other than a Swatch, on holiday. In the UK I am not so concerned but I always wear long sleeves in town.

I used too wear what I like whenever, not anymore for obvious reasons.

[AperolSpritz]

This thread is hilarious...

If you guys think Europe is such a shithole it's unsafe for you to take your watches with you, please don't bother to come at all. Stay safe!

Cheers

[Ubiquitous1984]

Originally Posted by AperolSpritz

This thread is hilarious...

If you guys think Europe is such a shithole it's unsafe for you to take your watches with you, please don't bother to come at all. Stay safe!

Cheers

Literally no one is saying Europe (and I mean, what a catch-all concept that is!) is a shithole. Everyone still wants to come to visit. But it is a fact that there is an ongoing issue with the theft of high-value watches, especially in certain places that are also popular with tourists. Some people don't want to be put in harms way for the sake of taking a watch on holiday. Many choose still to wear their high value watches, but on the basis that they are making an informed choice.

[Moondoggy]

Originally Posted by AperolSpritz

This thread is hilarious...

If you guys think Europe is such a shithole it's unsafe for you to take your watches with you, please don't bother to come at all. Stay safe!

Cheers

Europe isn’t a sh*thole, it is a majestic place…………just seems to be more bottom feeding scum of late.

Also tourism is pretty handy to most countries.

[johnsonsxusfrt]

Originally Posted by scurfa

I’ve come to the conclusion now it’s not worth the risk losing anything I really like and now when travelling I only wear a watch that I can afford to lose, the risk to your loved ones is also just not worth it.

this is probably the best advice

[AK797]

The pro gangs in London target places not people, so top hotels and restaurants have spotters outside and in rare cases waiters inside who then relay the watch info to the rippers waiting outside, they target Rolexes over £10K so APs and PPs will be absolute targets. Just not worth wearing a nice piece to these places without being very aware, I went to the Savoy recently and made sure my sleeves were covering me.

[watchamatic]

I will be going to Europe next month, specifically Munich, Vienna and Prague. I was told that it is relative safe to wear a nice watch (Patek, Rolex, etc) in Munich but am not sure about Vienna or Prague. Anyone have experiences or heard watch theft stories in Vienna and Prague? Would an Omega Speedmaster or two tone Cartier Ballon Bleu attract attention in those place like a Rolex or Patek would? Not sure yet which watches to take but will bring a couple of them for sure…..

[mjolnir2thor]

Originally Posted by AperolSpritz

This thread is hilarious...

If you guys think Europe is such a shithole it's unsafe for you to take your watches with you, please don't bother to come at all. Stay safe!

Cheers

I have news for you brother, the shit-hole extends across the pond as well.

Cheers

[thetahoess]

Originally Posted by Divingdeep87

I love how you Americans make Europe alot worse than the states. lol. Those Fentanyl neighborhoods you have... yikes!

I wore mine in Paris in Metro and London a few times no problem. Can be luck.

A staff member at the Patek store in London wore an Aquanaut and said he took it off on the way home though.

But London, Barcelona, Paris and Marsielle/Lyon is in Europe the only one who has a bad reputation really...

But Geneva, Zurich, Munich, Amalfi coast, Cannes, st tropez and so on you would be the only one without a pp/rolex. lol

I was specifically told to be careful where i was going in Geneva after buying a few heavy pieces from the local Bucherer. May have just been because I was a tourist, but who knows. This was back in September of 2023. The world is changing. Crime is up everywhere. Where I live, a homeowner in a community directly next to where I live was followed into his house, tied up, thrown in the closet, and robbed at gunpoint. Pretty unnerving.

B

[321Forever]

Originally Posted by AperolSpritz

This thread is hilarious...

If you guys think Europe is such a shithole it's unsafe for you to take your watches with you, please don't bother to come at all. Stay safe!

Cheers

There’s no way I can look like a local in Paris. I look like an American tourist with my Tom Bihn backpack, etc. I’m an easy mark. I’ll probably go with a JS Watch Sif NART. Or a Casio 5600 G Shock.

And I don’t think the US is safer. I’m technically the victim of a violent crime (armed car jacking) that took place in a nice suburb of NJ. Some drug lord got my PAM 177H Ti Luminor Marina for $50.

[TNG]

This thread is the same when i'm asking if it is safe to wear my watch to the USA?
Hell, makes a lot of difference if i would be visiting Orange County or the hood, right?

[Moondoggy]

It’s safe to wear a watch anywhere in the world when you are a local, when not a local act like a local.

[pam66]

Originally Posted by watchamatic

I will be going to Europe next month, specifically Munich, Vienna and Prague. I was told that it is relative safe to wear a nice watch (Patek, Rolex, etc) in Munich but am not sure about Vienna or Prague. Anyone have experiences or heard watch theft stories in Vienna and Prague? Would an Omega Speedmaster or two tone Cartier Ballon Bleu attract attention in those place like a Rolex or Patek would? Not sure yet which watches to take but will bring a couple of them for sure…..

Prague i have no clou but watch thefts do happen in the center of vienna. i know of a PP 5968A being stolen (violent robbery) after the owner left a top restaurant at 10pm. an RM was stolen in the very center at 11am very recently from a guy wearing a t-shirt.

[Ingvarr]

this thread shocked me

1) you need money
2) you need AD allowing you to buy watches
3) don't wear it, cuz tugs hunts for Rolex

[Partekular]

“Shocked!”

I was walking down the street minding my own business carrying $100,000 dollars in cash in my hand right out in front of me to keep my eye on it and some thug ripped it off me!

[Will_NL]

So funny to read the reactions in this thread.

One the one hand people who actually seen the violence in the street and post the statisticts to back their opinion up, on the other hand people who are totally not impressed and then some people who get offended when you say that the capital cities in the EU are dangerous.

In The Netherlands there are 'incidents' where boms are exploding at peoples houses on a daily basis. Shootings and stabbings do not reach the news anymore and a couple of years ago a guys was shot over a fake Rolex at a beach near Amsterdam.

But yeah, nah, no problem or just write it of to bigotry. And as I didn't come here on this forum to get into a discussion with people slinging names, I will leave this thread.

Luckily everybody can decide on their own comfort level and I hope everybody stays safe.

[dbfagan]

Originally Posted by watchamatic

I will be going to Europe next month, specifically Munich, Vienna and Prague. I was told that it is relative safe to wear a nice watch (Patek, Rolex, etc) in Munich but am not sure about Vienna or Prague. Anyone have experiences or heard watch theft stories in Vienna and Prague? Would an Omega Speedmaster or two tone Cartier Ballon Bleu attract attention in those place like a Rolex or Patek would? Not sure yet which watches to take but will bring a couple of them for sure…..

I was in Vienna last fall and it seemed pretty safe. I never felt overly concerned. I was cool so I had on long sleeves. Enjoy your trip!

[ts3]

Originally Posted by watchamatic

I will be going to Europe next month, specifically Munich, Vienna and Prague. I was told that it is relative safe to wear a nice watch (Patek, Rolex, etc) in Munich but am not sure about Vienna or Prague. Anyone have experiences or heard watch theft stories in Vienna and Prague? Would an Omega Speedmaster or two tone Cartier Ballon Bleu attract attention in those place like a Rolex or Patek would? Not sure yet which watches to take but will bring a couple of them for sure…..

Munich seems pretty safe compared to other places mentioned in this thread. I run around in shorts and T shirt with some Patek all the time and hang out on the lakes and swim with my 5711. Never had a problem and exactly one person approached me and asked about the 5711 on my wrist in 5+ years and I have been wearing it all the time. There have been a few watch thefts in the city center, but single cases and not dozens or hundreds a month like in Paris or London. Granted, Munich is a lot smaller and home turf tends to feel safer than abroad which is the very reason for threads like this one.

[Johndong888]

Not a PP but I wear my watches all over Europe and SE asia. This pic on the metro.

Was just in Paris, Rome, Firenze, Milan. Haven’t been to London tho. Everyone says not in London.




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[johnsonsxusfrt]

Originally Posted by mjolnir2thor

I have news for you brother, the shit-hole extends across the pond as well.

Cheers

LOL! very true... go to SF, NYC or parts of LA with a gold Rolex and see what happens

[jb335]

I wear my watches in all major European cities, Barcelona too.

Even while riding the Metro.

London is the only place in Europe I’d be a little wary of weariing a luxury watch. The watch thieves are different there, machete chopping at hands and all.


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[INC]

Hungary is completely safe.

At the same time, as usual, like anywhere else in the universe: be careful in tourist magnet places, don't show anything spectacular, because many foreign burglars and thieves are active there, especially in summer.

[SL BRABUS]

I heard about men getting rob or mug for their watch...

What about women that carrying Hermé Birkin or Kelly, are they safe..??. Do they get rob or mug...??

[scurfa]

Originally Posted by SL BRABUS

I heard about men getting rob or mug for their watch...

What about women that carrying Hermé Birkin or Kelly, are they safe..??. Do they get rob or mug...??

No they are not safe even in the back of taxis that are stuck in traffic, make sure the driver locks the rear doors, 57,000 mobile phones stolen in London last year, personally I stopped visiting 6 years ago, as a family we used to go quite often for our Christmas shopping.

[philhendrix]

Originally Posted by watchamatic

I will be going to Europe next month, specifically Munich, Vienna and Prague. I was told that it is relative safe to wear a nice watch (Patek, Rolex, etc) in Munich but am not sure about Vienna or Prague. Anyone have experiences or heard watch theft stories in Vienna and Prague? Would an Omega Speedmaster or two tone Cartier Ballon Bleu attract attention in those place like a Rolex or Patek would? Not sure yet which watches to take but will bring a couple of them for sure…..

Vienna was considered one of the last safe heavens where you could wear your nice watch out in public.

Was there last year and felt pretty safe - a lot of nice watches out in sight and high police presence in the city center.

As stated previously in this thread, Europe does have a severe migrant crisis bringing about a spike in theft and crime. Though I'm not sure if its the "migrants" doing those kinds of watch thefts as opposed to Romanian, North African, perhaps some eastern European groups who specialise in that sort of crime.

[rolexandlange]

Originally Posted by johnsonsxusfrt

LOL! very true... go to SF, NYC or parts of LA with a gold Rolex and see what happens

Go to all these cities regularly but when traveling I mostly stick to my 116500LN white dial Daytona thankfully to "stay safe"

[fsprow]

I believe the best phrase is “you make yourself safe”. By:
- not being on the streets when inebriated.
- keeping valuables out of public view.
- carrying yourself with self confidence.
- learning self defense. I have stopped two attempted robberies in their tracks with what I learned in Israeli method training.

Nothing is going to keep me from being prepared and willing to take action if warranted. I wear what I want when I want. Crime can occur anywhere and figuring out where to travel safely is, I believe, a fools errand.