How safe is wearing a luxury watch in your city?

It's not a problem where I live but I'd be worried about travelling with a really nice watch. To be honest that fear is one of the reasons I'd balk at buying a super-nice watch. That and I'll never have the money. :-)

Insure your expensive watches and wear them wherever you like.  Don't risk your life if an armed thief takes one from you.

I live in the suburbs of Utah, stand 6 ft, weigh 300 and look like a cop. 

So pretty safe.

My city has been named on Conde Nast's 22 top destinations for 2022. It previously headed that magazine's best small American city list.  I have been a prosecutor and a defense attorney here. Watches are stolen in burglaries, just like everywhere.  Hotels have safes for a reason. There is no reason to think that you can't  go to a restaurant or walk downtown with an expensive watch. My vow of poverty protects me, but I see Rolex and other nice watches with regularity.

In the actual suburb that I am in, I feel very safe. Less so in Detroit.

I‘d be more concerned about riding around in a car with the steering wheel on the wrong side. 😉

In Orlando, you are more likely to encounter someone on meth burning down a state landmark accidentally or get hit by lightning while getting bitten simultaneously by both a shark and an alligator than run into a highly organized luxury wristwatch robbery cartel.

That reminds me, I should probably get meth lightning alligator shark insurance, since I already insure my watches. 

I'll just put this out there...not far from home.

I remember that thread, Lmao.

Stealing a Hublot. Talk about desperate times! 😄

The Nordics are generally very safe, I’ve never been worried. Crime levels are generally low and we rarely see targeted watch robberies. 

In Hong Kong (where I live) I see everyone wearing Subs or Hublot, even the occasional RM11 or nautilus. even on the MTR (subway) or at work, seems more rare to have a Seiko here than a Rolex. This is one of the reasons I choose to look at unusual watches 'cos I want to be different 

My partner walks safely in public wearing his Patek Philippe and AP so yeah I would say it’s safe here in Singapore but I did once read about an domestic helper stealing few Rolex from her employers. It’s so sad to hear… 

That’s awesome 😂👏 🤘

Where I live?  It is really safe.  Some of the big cities like San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond, or Los Angeles?  I wouldn't wear one in public.

For China my guess is that the biggest danger is if a secret police or state politician likes your watch and you disappear shortly thereafter.  And maybe your kidney disappears as well if they’re diabetic.  
Most of the rest of the world, any place you think is unsafe, it probably is.  I’d also be most concerned when passing through a tourist hub that teems with plump victims.

In London, people going out are often targetted by thieves who seem to know they are wearing expensive watches even when they have them covered up. It is believed that they are spotted by someone at a restaurant or bar, and they notify the thief when the victim leaves the premises.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_KX8Rs7qaI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpNr7ovI7zM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN-Ml9dXLdU

I think most big cities will be similar: know that there are areas that are more crime prone, and that there are always desperate/antisocial people.

That being said, I'd feel more comfortable wearing expensive pieces daily in Seoul or Hong Kong, out and about. NY is still new to me, but I feel safe enough to wear my Cartier when I want to.

I mean I guess the question is sort of like "would you drive, knowing that you could be in a car crash at any given moment?"

Where I'm from, you cant mess with people who wear Rolex and AP. You'll find yourself 6 feet under if you do.

These videos are really hard to watch, it reminded me that story of a man who got killed for his Rolex when he was with his family. I think it was in London. Imagine this...

Being attacked is unfortunately a factor to take into account now when buying a watch, so you have to be careful how you show your watch. This is more problematic is summer as you cannot hide it under a cuff.

Living in London makes me wary of my surroundings and I would always look at crowded a train / tube is before jumping on it if it is late at night. Getting insurance on it is essential in these cities.

Once you start wondering whether you should wear a given watch on public transport/walking down the street/in shops, where you live, you have the answer.

It is very unfortunate, but the inability of Governments to ensure public security in countries like France or UK, means that you should keep a low profile, be it with you car, your watch or any kind of goods likely to attract attention from the wrong people.

Pretty safe here, but why tempt fate. I’ll just keep going out with a G-Shock square, or something else non-desirable to a would-be mugger. 🤷

Where I live I'm absolutely safe. (Well, I almost ran into a whitetail while jogging through the woods, but that is a different question.) The city where I work is like many American cities, meaning that you need to know the area. Some areas are fairly safe, others I only enter if I have a good reason.

But these are also areas where you might be at risk, regardless of the watch you wear.

Here in New York City, I worry not a jot. I've worn my Grand Seiko all over they city, including "sketchy" neighborhoods like the South Bronx. No one has ever said boo to me. I walk the streets at all hours, day and night. It makes me wonder about London and LA, where most of the robbery reports come from. 

I'm from the island, if we get enough New Yorkers together, we'd have the first meet-up 😎

Los Angeles is not safe. We have a DA that doesn't Prosecute any theft under 1K. Bad habits build when you are allowed to run wild. If you can't afford bail then there is none required. Defending the police is popular. People who commit crimes are somehow classified as victims... A Shiney watch isn't worth harming someone to keep. The person taking that Shiney watch doesn't have those same values. The watch is expensive but your life is cheap 

That’s very sad to hear… Hope you still find a way to enjoy your watches

Here in Manila I’d say it depends where you’re going - if you go to the city with big high-end malls you’re safe.  If you go to a slightly sketchy place I suggest wearing a GShock 

I live in a fancy suburb; many people don't bother to lock their doors.  I do remember that a couple of years ago there was a story about a car being broken into...