Rolex Stolen off my wrist in Barcelona
Discussion
We spent four days in Barcelona last year, walking all over the place and spending a couple of days at the Primavera festival. We both had our phones. OH had a bag and I was wearing an IWC. We lost nothing.
I've been to lots of places where with bad reputations in Europe, Asia and South America, but the only place I've ever been ripped off is Moscow. I wore a Breitling around La Boca in Buenos Aires and held onto it.
I did lose an IWC on a work conference in Berlin after an all-night club session. I reported it to the Police, then found it at my bedside when I got back to the hotel room.
(it must have been in the bed)
Awareness is key. (I know I'll lose my watch on my next trip now).
I've been to lots of places where with bad reputations in Europe, Asia and South America, but the only place I've ever been ripped off is Moscow. I wore a Breitling around La Boca in Buenos Aires and held onto it.
I did lose an IWC on a work conference in Berlin after an all-night club session. I reported it to the Police, then found it at my bedside when I got back to the hotel room.
(it must have been in the bed)Awareness is key. (I know I'll lose my watch on my next trip now).
bad company said:
mikeveal said:
Whilst lying in a pool of his own blood, a dazed BadCompany smiled wryly to himself. He had fought back hard, but hadn't suspected there to be a third guy behind him with a knife. True he had lost the fight catastrophically but deep down he knew that he had got one up on the muggers and that made him feel proud.He managed a grin as his eyes closed for the last time.
Which leads to another question. I also have a genuine gold Rolex day/date. If confronted do I hand it over? I know that would be the sensible advice but . . . .
Robertj21a said:
If you go to Barcelona why do you need to wear a watch at all ?
Why drive a Porsche or TVR when a Vauxhall will get you from A to B?Why take Mrs BC’s jewellery?
Why take nice clothes to wear?
Come to that why bother to go at all? I could just read a guide book or watch on tv.
bad company said:
Robertj21a said:
If you go to Barcelona why do you need to wear a watch at all ?
Why drive a Porsche or TVR when a Vauxhall will get you from A to B?Why take Mrs BC’s jewellery?
Why take nice clothes to wear?
Come to that why bother to go at all? I could just read a guide book or watch on tv.
Mrs BCs jewellery could well be yanked off her neck if a friend of mine is anything to go by. Still, as long as she looks nice, I suppose that's a worthwhile risk.
Robertj21a said:
If you go to Barcelona why do you need to wear a watch at all ?
Maybe I missed something, but I don’t get that, I wear a watch primarily to know the time when I need to, be it in Barcelona or Bermondsey.On extremely rare occasions, usually when it’s on charge, I’ve left the house without my phone, causing me to fret like a turkey at Thanksgiving, but I don’t think I’ve ever gone out without a watch, I’d feel like I’d gone out sans culottes.
There again, my watches are as slim as razor blades, and unobtrusive.
bad company said:
mikeveal said:
Whilst lying in a pool of his own blood, a dazed BadCompany smiled wryly to himself. He had fought back hard, but hadn't suspected there to be a third guy behind him with a knife. True he had lost the fight catastrophically but deep down he knew that he had got one up on the muggers and that made him feel proud.He managed a grin as his eyes closed for the last time.
Which leads to another question. I also have a genuine gold Rolex day/date. If confronted do I hand it over? I know that would be the sensible advice but . . . .
It's a real first world problem, that's for sure.
You want to dominate the room, bar, hotel lobby or restaurant with ease, using a discretely worn but reasonably easily noticed wrist trinket.
However, at the same time you don't want the wrong person to see it.
Absolute nightmare!
How about buying a decoy Explorer as a secondary, so the domination is still taken care of, but at the same time if it gets stolen it's no biggie?
This also avoids the shame of knowing you've bought a fake.
You want to dominate the room, bar, hotel lobby or restaurant with ease, using a discretely worn but reasonably easily noticed wrist trinket.
However, at the same time you don't want the wrong person to see it.
Absolute nightmare!
How about buying a decoy Explorer as a secondary, so the domination is still taken care of, but at the same time if it gets stolen it's no biggie?
This also avoids the shame of knowing you've bought a fake.
Just bought a Casio Jura myself as a holiday watch, it's far better than I ever thought it would be, I would be pretty upset if I was mugged for it or just lost it even.
On the subject of Barcelona, I was there for the 'real' millenium in 200. On the Ramblas you could feel hands diving into your pockets in the crowds. Next night no watches or jewellery whatsoever and money down socks. Have not been back since, shame not a bad place, just frequented by low life scum!
On the subject of Barcelona, I was there for the 'real' millenium in 200. On the Ramblas you could feel hands diving into your pockets in the crowds. Next night no watches or jewellery whatsoever and money down socks. Have not been back since, shame not a bad place, just frequented by low life scum!
HannsG said:
If you can't wear your watch what's the point in owning one?
I always wear a watch in the UK and most of the world in fact but on my trip to Southern Africa in April/May I didn’t take it. There is no point drawing attention to yourself in places known for having a high risk of robbery. If Barcelona is known for it then it would be foolish to make yourself a prime target.bad company said:
I’ve worn my Rolex openly with no problem several times in Barcelona. Generally that’d be in the daytime though.
I was there earlier this year , wore my non date sub all the time , noticed plenty of other Rolex watches being worn .Been to dozens of different cities in the last 18 years since I bought it and not once have I had an issue.
AndrewCrown said:
On the bridge just by Bestial there were three street performers jumping about, back flipping and whooping.
Without warning a small one landed on me, steadying his fall on my wrist. The watch was gone and so was he
Are you sure they stole your watch? I have a Sea Dweller which is more or less the same as a Sub, and the crim would have to open the small hinge, then open the main hinge, then slip it off my wrist. Seems extraordinarily difficult. Without warning a small one landed on me, steadying his fall on my wrist. The watch was gone and so was he
Are you sure one of the bracelet pins didn't just slip out and let the watch fall from your wrist? That happened to my Omega Seamaster, the thing just dropped from my wrist. . Luckily I heard it crash to the marble mall floor, but on a busy street, at night, not sure I would have heard it.
Ayahuasca said:
AndrewCrown said:
On the bridge just by Bestial there were three street performers jumping about, back flipping and whooping.
Without warning a small one landed on me, steadying his fall on my wrist. The watch was gone and so was he
Are you sure they stole your watch? I have a Sea Dweller which is more or less the same as a Sub, and the crim would have to open the small hinge, then open the main hinge, then slip it off my wrist. Seems extraordinarily difficult. Without warning a small one landed on me, steadying his fall on my wrist. The watch was gone and so was he
Are you sure one of the bracelet pins didn't just slip out and let the watch fall from your wrist? That happened to my Omega Seamaster, the thing just dropped from my wrist. . Luckily I heard it crash to the marble mall floor, but on a busy street, at night, not sure I would have heard it.
HannsG said:
If you can't wear your watch what's the point in owning one?
Because you can wear it the other 51 weeks of the year that you aren't in Barcelona.I have several decent watches, yet only wear a watch once a week or less anyway.
I'll happily not bother taking a nice watch on holiday if I knew it would be unsuitable for the place I was going.
Bloodt hell there are some right namby-pambies on this thread (is that the right plural?).
Remind me of some Americans I used to work with based out of the company’s Florida office. Fretting all the time at global meeting in Chicago because that had to leave their guns at home. I hosted them in the UK for some joint work we were doing - again moaning because they couldn’t carry guns and London was so dangerous..staying at a hotel in Park Lane.
Honestly, people on here saying they wouldn’t go to Barcelona. Well, you shouldn’t but only because it’s had it’s day; peaked maybe a decade ago. Not because you are too scared to go out your front door for fear of being mugged. I’ve probably been there 10 times - no issues.
I wear I want, where I want. Thirty plus countries, sometimes for extended periods, often not tourist areas - never an issue.
Not long come back from the Timor/Timor Leste border. Wore mostly a Rolex GMT there, that’s three years average wages I guess. Spent time with the Police there in fact, nice guys. Funnily enough it’s still in my possession.
Bought drugs in Lisbon wearing the same watch - same watch also been in probably the dodgiest bar I’ve ever been to in my life in HK; it’s still here and so am I. It’s my usual travel watch as that’s exactly what it is designed for - not for sitting in a safe when it’s owner travels. It goes in the sea as well..!
I literally cannot see the point in buying something and then not wearing it.
Act like a tourist and like you’re scared of your own shadow and you probably do make your self a bit more of a target.
Remind me of some Americans I used to work with based out of the company’s Florida office. Fretting all the time at global meeting in Chicago because that had to leave their guns at home. I hosted them in the UK for some joint work we were doing - again moaning because they couldn’t carry guns and London was so dangerous..staying at a hotel in Park Lane.
Honestly, people on here saying they wouldn’t go to Barcelona. Well, you shouldn’t but only because it’s had it’s day; peaked maybe a decade ago. Not because you are too scared to go out your front door for fear of being mugged. I’ve probably been there 10 times - no issues.
I wear I want, where I want. Thirty plus countries, sometimes for extended periods, often not tourist areas - never an issue.
Not long come back from the Timor/Timor Leste border. Wore mostly a Rolex GMT there, that’s three years average wages I guess. Spent time with the Police there in fact, nice guys. Funnily enough it’s still in my possession.
Bought drugs in Lisbon wearing the same watch - same watch also been in probably the dodgiest bar I’ve ever been to in my life in HK; it’s still here and so am I. It’s my usual travel watch as that’s exactly what it is designed for - not for sitting in a safe when it’s owner travels. It goes in the sea as well..!
I literally cannot see the point in buying something and then not wearing it.
Act like a tourist and like you’re scared of your own shadow and you probably do make your self a bit more of a target.
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