Traveling to Italy, France and Spain.

Keep the watch tucked under a cuff. Get a cut resistant backpack that’s lockable. Keep a small amount of money in pockets and the valuables in a security pouch under your clothes.

Have a great adventure with your awesome watches!

As somebody born and raised near Barcelona, my advice would be leaving all these luxury pieces safe at home. The tourist areas of Italian, French and Spanish big cities are pickpocketing hotspots and the pickpockets know what to do to distract you and slip your watch off without noticing. Doesn’t matter if your watch is on a deployant, or with a stiff clasp, they’re trained for that.

Walking around with a luxury piece of a very characteristic and recognizable design (think a Cartier Pasha, or a Rolex GMT-Master II, or a Speedmaster, things like that) puts a target on your back. Pickpockets and thieves know the values of these watches in the market and they’ll take the risk of assaulting you.

Wear basic pieces, Seikos, Casios, things that don’t attract attention. If you’re willing to wear luxury pieces, wear understated ones from brands that generally fly under the radar (Grand Seiko, Montblanc, Longines…).

sorry man, but it is nearly impossible to pickpocket a watch.....a watch can only be stolen from a wrist when they fully grab you wrist....this is what the so called street magicians do....approach you on the sidewalk or at your table when having a drink......with he usual games like have you pick a card he will guess...and at 1 point he will do a trick where he will grab both your wrists and put pressure on both your wrists and release the strap when your attention is fully on the game......so just be aware of that and you´re OK........but pickpocketting a watch, no no, it´s as good as impossible.....pickpockets go for wallets and cell phones.

https://youtu.be/jAXEM8qhfMU

Just search “pickpocket watch” in YouTube and check by yourself how “impossible” it is.

dude, have you watched the video? exactly my point....that´s not pickpocketting, that´s exactly what I explained

As somebody born and raised near Barcelona, my advice would be leaving all these luxury pieces safe at home. The tourist areas of Italian, French and Spanish big cities are pickpocketing hotspots and the pickpockets know what to do to distract you and slip your watch off without noticing. Doesn’t matter if your watch is on a deployant, or with a stiff clasp, they’re trained for that.

Walking around with a luxury piece of a very characteristic and recognizable design (think a Cartier Pasha, or a Rolex GMT-Master II, or a Speedmaster, things like that) puts a target on your back. Pickpockets and thieves know the values of these watches in the market and they’ll take the risk of assaulting you.

Wear basic pieces, Seikos, Casios, things that don’t attract attention. If you’re willing to wear luxury pieces, wear understated ones from brands that generally fly under the radar (Grand Seiko, Montblanc, Longines…).

I've done pretty much the same countries this year as you are planning to do and I never had any issues regarding wearing more expensive watches.

As long as you approach everything with common sense, I wouldn't worry about watches, but the pickpocket situation is real so wallet and phone are a way more realistic target. But as I said - common sense...

Enjoy your trip (obviously with your watches! 🙂) And have a great time with your family!