Has the Rolex bubble finally burst? Perhaps it has
Discussion
DoubleSix said:
Without wishing to pry or delve into a sh*tty experience… can ask the circumstances around the Hulk event?
My 126655 isn’t exactly subtle and I’m keen to avoid a similar situation.
Sure! Trying to keep it short; I was drinking with three colleagues until the early hours in Nice, France. My 126655 isn’t exactly subtle and I’m keen to avoid a similar situation.
Walking back to the hotel a chap approached and did the old “hey my friend, where are you from?” thing - in a friendly fashion. I was drunk but well aware enough that it wasn’t feeling right. In any case, I’m not aggressive and generally polite, so I told him. Then I got “My favourite country! Let me give you a hug.” I said no you’re alright, but he forced himself on me.
A small struggle ensued and literally within three seconds I looked down and he’d got the lockdown clasp undone, the bracelet released and the watch halfway down my hand. Really quite impressive actually. If I hadn’t been holding onto his shirt he’d have simply slipped it off and got away. I realised what was going on, gave him a pissed-up-Brit right-hander and then got him on the floor. At this point my colleagues pulled me off him thinking I’d unreasonably overreacted to being hugged! And that was it, he was up and gone.
Probably a good job they pulled me off him. He could’ve had a knife, he could’ve had friends watching on who had knives…..it could’ve ended really badly for me.
So, to be honest, I was walking unfamiliar streets at 2am, in a city with a lot of North African immigrants involved in petty crime, while drunk. I wasn’t really helping myself.
Rolexes, particularly the newer, ceramic bezelled ones, are easy to spot. If I can notice them then you can be sure that undesirables are also noticing them. I was lucky mine was a non-violent attempt, that would’ve been a whole different story.
Sorry to hear that, glad it ended as well as maybe it could have. It’s a shame as the thought process of going on holiday or abroad is to want to take the nice watch that that can just stay on and handle water sports and dressing up smart casual in the evenings. Easy.
Then my thoughts quickly turn to that it is probably not smart. So I now tend to take a cheaper nice watch for when doing activities or site seeing and then the Rolex for dinner in the Villa or in resort.
Then my thoughts quickly turn to that it is probably not smart. So I now tend to take a cheaper nice watch for when doing activities or site seeing and then the Rolex for dinner in the Villa or in resort.
Ed T said:
Sorry to hear that, glad it ended as well as maybe it could have. It’s a shame as the thought process of going on holiday or abroad is to want to take the nice watch that that can just stay on and handle water sports and dressing up smart casual in the evenings. Easy.
Then my thoughts quickly turn to that it is probably not smart. So I now tend to take a cheaper nice watch for when doing activities or site seeing and then the Rolex for dinner in the Villa or in resort.
I don't think it's just in other countries. Then my thoughts quickly turn to that it is probably not smart. So I now tend to take a cheaper nice watch for when doing activities or site seeing and then the Rolex for dinner in the Villa or in resort.
There are a number of reports about people in London being robbed of their Rolex's in particular but it can apply to most luxury watches, some Rolex such as the Hulk are easily identifiable though.
I was watching a Youtube video from David Khalil who is a London watch dealer who was specifically talking about how he won't wear expensive watches on the street in London, especially in the summer when he is wearing a t-shirt, I've seen others on Youtube saying the same including Tom who does TGE and Adrian who does Bark and Jack.
I guess if you are around certain parts of London especially there is a high chance the man in the street will have a decent watch on them
Ed T said:
Sorry to hear that, glad it ended as well as maybe it could have. It’s a shame as the thought process of going on holiday or abroad is to want to take the nice watch that that can just stay on and handle water sports and dressing up smart casual in the evenings. Easy.
Then my thoughts quickly turn to that it is probably not smart. So I now tend to take a cheaper nice watch for when doing activities or site seeing and then the Rolex for dinner in the Villa or in resort.
There can be a certain vulgarity about a bright shiny Rolex in the wrong location. Now I'm fairly oblivious to these things. But it caught my eye last Friday whilst in a bar. There was a group of Americans, probably in their 20s, immaculately groomed & dressed like they were out for the evening in a californian beach resort. Nobody had seen them before so obviously new in town. Now had we been in a californian beach resort ok, but we were not, we were in a 'stani oil town where expats & locals mix freely & a significant minority of locals are not quite as appreciative of the foreign presence as others. Now some of the older crew do wear Rolexes, but generally dull, battered old subs. Now a number of my Yankee friends appear to have various types of SS sports watches so polished I needed to put my sunglasses on. As it was in the 90s all were in shirt sleeves. They stuck out like sore thumbs & you couldn't miss the bling on their wrists. It was vulgar & indiscreet in a town where the average wage is less than they were wearing on their wrists. Then my thoughts quickly turn to that it is probably not smart. So I now tend to take a cheaper nice watch for when doing activities or site seeing and then the Rolex for dinner in the Villa or in resort.
GT03ROB said:
There can be a certain vulgarity about a bright shiny Rolex in the wrong location. Now I'm fairly oblivious to these things. But it caught my eye last Friday whilst in a bar. There was a group of Americans, probably in their 20s, immaculately groomed & dressed like they were out for the evening in a californian beach resort. Nobody had seen them before so obviously new in town. Now had we been in a californian beach resort ok, but we were not, we were in a 'stani oil town where expats & locals mix freely & a significant minority of locals are not quite as appreciative of the foreign presence as others. Now some of the older crew do wear Rolexes, but generally dull, battered old subs. Now a number of my Yankee friends appear to have various types of SS sports watches so polished I needed to put my sunglasses on. As it was in the 90s all were in shirt sleeves. They stuck out like sore thumbs & you couldn't miss the bling on their wrists. It was vulgar & indiscreet in a town where the average wage is less than they were wearing on their wrists.
Rolex owners can’t really win! They’re either criticised for keeping them in a safe and not wearing them, criticised for buying them to make a profit and criticised for wearing them and using them. I agree with you, though. The new, large sports models look brash and vulgar in certain situations - some might argue all situations; unlike an old 14060 which could be worn in almost all circumstances. But unless you travel with two or three watches in your bag it’s very difficult. That’s why I’m thinking an Air King on a NATO might be subtle enough to get away with.
Good insurance is clearly key to having the confidence to wear them anywhere. I’m just not that confident in my insurance policy!
Crumpet said:
Rolex owners can’t really win! They’re either criticised for keeping them in a safe and not wearing them, criticised for buying them to make a profit and criticised for wearing them and using them.
I agree with you, though. The new, large sports models look brash and vulgar in certain situations - some might argue all situations; unlike an old 14060 which could be worn in almost all circumstances. But unless you travel with two or three watches in your bag it’s very difficult. That’s why I’m thinking an Air King on a NATO might be subtle enough to get away with.
Good insurance is clearly key to having the confidence to wear them anywhere. I’m just not that confident in my insurance policy!
....and don't get me wrong,.... I have a SS sports... I just wouldn't wear it here! Or even to work in the UK come to that! I agree with you, though. The new, large sports models look brash and vulgar in certain situations - some might argue all situations; unlike an old 14060 which could be worn in almost all circumstances. But unless you travel with two or three watches in your bag it’s very difficult. That’s why I’m thinking an Air King on a NATO might be subtle enough to get away with.
Good insurance is clearly key to having the confidence to wear them anywhere. I’m just not that confident in my insurance policy!
Despite not being cheap an Apple watch is neutral. Same with the bronze Christopher Ward I have.
GT03ROB said:
....and don't get me wrong,.... I have a SS sports... I just wouldn't wear it here! Or even to work in the UK come to that!
Despite not being cheap an Apple watch is neutral. Same with the bronze Christopher Ward I have.
Yeah, the Apple Watch…..!Despite not being cheap an Apple watch is neutral. Same with the bronze Christopher Ward I have.
They’re actually really rather useful and do make a mechanical watch seem a bit pointless. No messing about changing time zones (I can quite easily go through 10 zones in a couple of weeks), can always have Zulu on display, now unlocks your phone if you’re wearing a mask, dB level handy as it can be noisy at work and many more useful things. But they look s
t if you wear a suit/uniform. Really st. But then a NATO strap does as well. 
GT03ROB said:
....and don't get me wrong,.... I have a SS sports... I just wouldn't wear it here! Or even to work in the UK come to that!
Despite not being cheap an Apple watch is neutral. Same with the bronze Christopher Ward I have.
I agree with what you’ve written. It’s about having some sense of what’s appropriate, isn’t it?Despite not being cheap an Apple watch is neutral. Same with the bronze Christopher Ward I have.
I’ve a bi-metal blue faced sub, but wouldn’t wear it when visiting our offices in the Philippines - it’s insensitive to wear a watch that costs a year’s salary, not to mention being a target if out and about. Same if visiting Bangalore. Visiting a client in London, or our offices in first world countries, I wear it without thinking about it.
Crumpet said:
Yeah, the Apple Watch…..!
They’re actually really rather useful and do make a mechanical watch seem a bit pointless. No messing about changing time zones (I can quite easily go through 10 zones in a couple of weeks), can always have Zulu on display, now unlocks your phone if you’re wearing a mask, dB level handy as it can be noisy at work and many more useful things. But they look st if you wear a suit/uniform. Really st. But then a NATO strap does as well.
I have the same opinion on Smart watches, and I do own one myself (Samsung Watch 3) but I can't say I like them, I wear mine only for running now then I take it off again and it gets left in the kitchen. They’re actually really rather useful and do make a mechanical watch seem a bit pointless. No messing about changing time zones (I can quite easily go through 10 zones in a couple of weeks), can always have Zulu on display, now unlocks your phone if you’re wearing a mask, dB level handy as it can be noisy at work and many more useful things. But they look s
t if you wear a suit/uniform. Really st. But then a NATO strap does as well. I can appreciate how functional they are and that they are more reliable than my chosen daily Omega PO but I just don't like them at all as a constant wearer
DanL said:
GT03ROB said:
....and don't get me wrong,.... I have a SS sports... I just wouldn't wear it here! Or even to work in the UK come to that!
Despite not being cheap an Apple watch is neutral. Same with the bronze Christopher Ward I have.
I agree with what you’ve written. It’s about having some sense of what’s appropriate, isn’t it?Despite not being cheap an Apple watch is neutral. Same with the bronze Christopher Ward I have.
I’ve a bi-metal blue faced sub, but wouldn’t wear it when visiting our offices in the Philippines - it’s insensitive to wear a watch that costs a year’s salary, not to mention being a target if out and about. Same if visiting Bangalore. Visiting a client in London, or our offices in first world countries, I wear it without thinking about it.
I'm a consultant within the affordable housing and local government sectors, and you have to be a bit careful. Some of the guys I work with have pretty nice car and watch collections, yet none of us would turn up to a client meeting or client office driving a 911 or an Aston, or wearing a £10k Rolex as that would simply be inappropriate for the client who was paying our day-rate.
We all have a rep-mobile car and 'inoffensive' watches for the time we spend with clients.
Lord Marylebone said:
It also depends on what sort of work you do.
I'm a consultant within the affordable housing and local government sectors, and you have to be a bit careful. Some of the guys I work with have pretty nice car and watch collections, yet none of us would turn up to a client meeting or client office driving a 911 or an Aston, or wearing a £10k Rolex as that would simply be inappropriate for the client who was paying our day-rate.
We all have a rep-mobile car and 'inoffensive' watches for the time we spend with clients.
Another member of the offensive day rate club here. I admit to quite enjoying turning up on a bicycle to the poshest things I can scrounge an invite for. I've dumped a 100€ pub bicycle on the valet at a variety of five star things the Christmas drinks always seem to be at. Interestingly, the Alpine (legend GT) a good friend showed me round this weekend is the French sweet spot for car bling -- the locals love it and no-one has ever said anything bad. Aston would be off the scale bad these days I guess, brexit and that :')I'm a consultant within the affordable housing and local government sectors, and you have to be a bit careful. Some of the guys I work with have pretty nice car and watch collections, yet none of us would turn up to a client meeting or client office driving a 911 or an Aston, or wearing a £10k Rolex as that would simply be inappropriate for the client who was paying our day-rate.
We all have a rep-mobile car and 'inoffensive' watches for the time we spend with clients.
Back on topic -- tried a no-date mid-nineties sub this weekend, was genuinely impressed. Much lighter than my GS, flatter, smaller, generally very well-proportioned. Seemed quite discreet in black. Can quite understand the love, but perhaps not to the point I'll be 'playing games' with a dealer.
W serial Black sub 14060
i wear it a lot, it looks subtle on a nato and i don’t often feel like i’m gonna get stabbed. my mate (a girl) got assaulted outside a cafe in chelsea for her gold daytona, they didn’t get it but she not bashed about.
i wear a fake patek on holibobs - fk getting something stolen
i wear it a lot, it looks subtle on a nato and i don’t often feel like i’m gonna get stabbed. my mate (a girl) got assaulted outside a cafe in chelsea for her gold daytona, they didn’t get it but she not bashed about.
i wear a fake patek on holibobs - f
k getting something stolen z4RRSchris said:
W serial Black sub 14060
i wear it a lot, it looks subtle on a nato and i don’t often feel like i’m gonna get stabbed. my mate (a girl) got assaulted outside a cafe in chelsea for her gold daytona, they didn’t get it but she not bashed about.
i wear a fake patek on holibobs - fk getting something stolen
They'll only find out the Patek is fake after you've been mugged.i wear it a lot, it looks subtle on a nato and i don’t often feel like i’m gonna get stabbed. my mate (a girl) got assaulted outside a cafe in chelsea for her gold daytona, they didn’t get it but she not bashed about.
i wear a fake patek on holibobs - f
k getting something stolen I’m conflicted over the ‘fake watch for holiday’ thing.
In some respects it makes total sense. You get enjoy wearing what appears to be a nice watch on holiday, but don’t care if it gets lost, stolen, pinched by the hotel cleaner, bashed/scratched while manhandling suitcases or whatever.
But on the other hand, would you really want to risk getting mugged/assaulted/stabbed/robbed for a fake watch?
My ‘holiday watch’ is a Breitling Superocean 44. I really like it, but at the same time wouldn’t be devastated if it was lost or stolen (It’s worth about £2k), and I wouldn’t care if it got knocked or scratched as it is already has a few marks from wear. I also feel that the lesser value makes me massively less likely to be mugged for it than say, a £10k Rolex or something even more valuable.
It’s the sort of watch I can stick on while setting off on holiday, and then not think about at all.
In some respects it makes total sense. You get enjoy wearing what appears to be a nice watch on holiday, but don’t care if it gets lost, stolen, pinched by the hotel cleaner, bashed/scratched while manhandling suitcases or whatever.
But on the other hand, would you really want to risk getting mugged/assaulted/stabbed/robbed for a fake watch?
My ‘holiday watch’ is a Breitling Superocean 44. I really like it, but at the same time wouldn’t be devastated if it was lost or stolen (It’s worth about £2k), and I wouldn’t care if it got knocked or scratched as it is already has a few marks from wear. I also feel that the lesser value makes me massively less likely to be mugged for it than say, a £10k Rolex or something even more valuable.
It’s the sort of watch I can stick on while setting off on holiday, and then not think about at all.
Lord Marylebone said:
But on the other hand, would you really want to risk getting mugged/assaulted/stabbed/robbed for a fake watch?
I wouldn't wear a fake on holiday for that very reason. A £200 Citizen Eco Drive world time is my go to travel watch. A shame as I have the perfect travel watch in the Sky Dweller - but too risky in some parts of the world.Zoon said:
How ironic. Perfect travel watch that cannot be used for travel.
I went for a drinks with a mate the other day, he's in his twenties. I saw he was wearing what looked like a Datejust and it turned out to be a Skydweller (same case), I wouldn't have even batted an eyelid had it not looked from the side like he was wearing the exact same watch as me - gold maybe more eye catching.Gold Daytona on a girl, fine, that's an easy and more understandable target, stainless steel dive watch that every 3rd person seems to own? Nah.
Fake watches....
The owners know they are fake, they have nothing to offer other than looking like the real thing from a distance
If you know it’s fake then surely it means you are wearing it for what other people think it is?
https://youtu.be/EdLSDobE2bA
The owners know they are fake, they have nothing to offer other than looking like the real thing from a distance
If you know it’s fake then surely it means you are wearing it for what other people think it is?
https://youtu.be/EdLSDobE2bA
okgo said:
I went for a drinks with a mate the other day, he's in his twenties. I saw he was wearing what looked like a Datejust and it turned out to be a Skydweller (same case), I wouldn't have even batted an eyelid had it not looked from the side like he was wearing the exact same watch as me - gold maybe more eye catching.
Gold Daytona on a girl, fine, that's an easy and more understandable target, stainless steel dive watch that every 3rd person seems to own? Nah.
The second time zone ‘ring’ on the dial is quite a give away, even from a little distance away, as is the fact that a Sky Dweller has a very chunky 14mm deep case compared to a Datejust.Gold Daytona on a girl, fine, that's an easy and more understandable target, stainless steel dive watch that every 3rd person seems to own? Nah.
I only mention this because I think it is a mistake to assume that ‘professional’ thieves/muggers are not aware of what is what. They are some of the sharpest people around when it comes to spotting anything valuable, from a distance, and knowing exactly what it is within seconds.
I think it would be foolish to assume that criminals don’t know exactly what they are looking at when you walk down the street, or sit in a restaurant, with a watch of any kind on display, especially when it might be a big score such as a Sky Dweller.
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