Travel

Get insurance and wear it 💁🏻‍♂️

It has been a few years but Turkey and the residents are just effing amazing to be around. The world seems to be a more dangerous place now than when we visited so obviously you need to use good common sense wearing any watch that might draw attention. My wife wore her Cartier Ballon Bleu while I actually wore a white dial ceramic Daytona that most people assumed was not genuine anyways. I was careful but while shopping in the Grand Bazar in Istanbul, it was my Prada shoes that were more troublesome, I received a great number of good natured banter and jokes about trading shoes, on and on. Most merchants even the real watch vendors regarded my watch as being just a decent fake. We did travel mostly where tourists congregate. I think a nato strap is a good idea, watches tend to pick up fewer scratches during travel when fitted with a fabric strap hugging your wrist snuggly.

However my wife wondering what I was doing just now suggests a plain black Swatch.

I wear a Seamaster on a bracelet in Mexico a few times a year. I don’t really worry about. What I do do is pay attention to where I’m at and what I’m going to be doing. Example at the beach, store or restaurant during the day no problem. After dark walking around or at the club, the Omega it’s probably is staying at the house. Have fun and safe travels

I do not own any "luxury" items. And even though the concern is valid, paying attention to surroundings, crowd behavior, and time of day behooves anyone while traveling.

Case in point:

Here in the US I always giggle at the tacti-bruhs edc-ing multiple mag changes and other doodads out the butt in their "discrete" (insert new reddit approved "tacticool-guy former Jedi-Assasin company) EDC kit....

....if you are going ANYWHERE that requires multiple mag changes in a civilian self defense situation, you need to reevaluate your decision making paradigm and pay more attention to your surroundings. Just my .02¢ and YMMV.*

*for the record, I'm all for self-defense, and CCW, but practicality always wins. And a sharp eye and mind work even when you have no tools. I'd wager 99.9% of those same tacti-bruhs kit weighs so much they rarely take it out. Again my .02¢. 🤘🏻🤙🏻😎

I do the same thing in any major city, wear it during the day, perhaps not in overly crowded bazaars etc, and at night if it's in a controlled environment (so not to a bar/ gig/ etc).

Wear it if you think it's safe, I don't know where you intend to go. I don't do insurance for luxury items. If someone robs me then the monetary value of the incurred loss is at the very bottom of the list of my concerns.

I've never been mugged or robbed in Mexico, and I 've been on subways, touristy places, night-clubs... dark streets in Mexico City 1, 2 , 3am. I have left my cellphone at least a dozen times at restaurants or retail establishments and out of 12 times I've lost it only once. Crazy thing I lost it a court-house inside an office where only judges and attorneys worked. 🙂 Go figure! One time I left it at a copy-center place --office depot-- and the phone was lost for like a week. When I went back the manager said they had found nothing -- then about a week after ---she claimed she found it.. and gave it back to me. I looked at the call logs and it was used DAILY until the chip was deactivated. Free phone calls for 13 days. circa 2010 🙂 🙂

I never had any issues in Mexico. I don’t do stupid things either. But it’s alway good to be aware. It’s when I’m not aware is when I feel there might be chance of something happpening.

Thats what ive heard, If you can make it through in a daytona, Im sure ill be fine! Haha! I am just going to wear it and keep my eye out the same way i would wearing it anywhere in the world

Daytonas are no biggie! There is a famous shop that sells: GENUINE FAKE WATCHES Rolex Omega in the Grand Bazar. We had so much fun interacting with the locals who speak better English than most of my so called uni educated buddies.

Just be aware and alert. Don't flaunt it around. Don't be on your phone in public. Long story short, don't make yourself look like an easy victim

Wear nothing happens.

I don't travel with watches that can catch unwanted attention, but there's nothing about Turkey that should cause you to be alarmed.

You can always take of your watch and put it in your pocket in the unlikely event that you find yourself in an uncomfortable position.

I never travel with only one watch (except for very short trip). In the plane I usually wear my Seiko GMT not because I’m afraid it’ll be stolen but because I’m afraid of scratching a more luxury watch! Be smart about where you go, be aware and you’ll be fine.

Nice watch!

I just got the same watch in blue. Why did I pick the AT?... Because I wanted a really nice "luxury" watch that had a screw down crown and water rating with a style that can be worn anywhere and with any attire. I've been traveling more and wanted one watch that I could wear to work, on vacation, in the pool, in the ocean, in the heat or cold, etc without having to remove it. Leaving it at home kind of defeats the purpose of having a watch like that in my opinion.

When I was in Turkey there were so many fake watches that it would be difficult to target the real ones for theft! Just take precautions and don't get into a situation in which you could be in danger or taken advantage of. Also stay away from the rug dealers 😂

I'd personally wear it on the steel bracelet. I wanted a steel bracelet watch instead of a strap as I think they are more hygienic and clean up better. Rubber straps are always a good option too though, and night be less "blingy" than the stainless steel AT bracelet.

If you’re chilling with locals you’ll have zero problems. Massively generalising, but the Turkish are big into cars and watches and all things shiny. They’ve got several thousand years of trading history between Europe and Asia, they’re natural and proud entrepreneurs. So don’t be surprised to see lots of really nice watches floating around. If you want to be safe, take a nato, but you won’t stand out wearing a SS bracelet.

As a side note: and probably obvious, but living in London, I’ve come to learn that SS bracelets are the easiest hint to people at a distance that you may be wearing a nice watch. So popping on a nato, rubber or leather strap immediately lowers visibility.

So you come from the USA and you´re afraid to wear watches on vacation? The most news about robbed watches are from the USA 😂. If you wear them at home you can wear them on vacation.

Insure and wear.

I just wear a casio because it’s light , cheap , and I don’t need to worry about it . I go to BKK as my wife is Thai and better not to flaunt wealth to those that don’t have it. Being sensitive to this I believe is just good manners.

I wore my SMP on holiday, no different to wearing it everyday imo.

I did, however, put it on the rubber strap so it looked a bit less flashy.

I read a tip about wearing a sweat band to disguise a watch if in short sleeves, if you wander into a sketchy area, which is probably something I would do in future.

I swear the EDC bros are mostly cosplay.

There are few places in America that are as dangerous that they think it is.

My EDC is:

• My wallet (which contains my transt card).

• My keys.

• My phone (which lets me in to my office).

• My watch.

• If going to the office, my laptop bag/man purse because it carries my other EDC item, umbrella.

@jackiewatches, nice AT38. I think the new “presidential-ish” bracelets really elevate the watch and makes more sense (with polished mid links and a butterfly clasp). Like I don’t really like polished mid-links on an Oyster-style bracelet.

Maybe I’ll get one of these, but I but how many sporty GADAs do I need?

Micro umbrella is always a good idea. Everyone always says a good waterproof jacket, which I also agree but an umbrella AND a jacket are better lol. And when traveling, I now ALWAYS have a micro toothbrush..I can do without a shower, shave, etc. Having bad breath and dirty teeth is gross....😜

Interesting read for those interested from an actual CIA case Officer and what he carried abroad all the time.

https://www.watchesofespionage.com/blogs/woe-dispatch/cia-case-officer-s-everyday-carry-edc

Of note, is the choice of always carrying a flashlight, and pen , thenadding a TQ over more obvious self defense options when abroad.

Again not anti CCW, carry most days myself, but if I don't carry due to laws, it by no means limits me, or makes me feel "naked"....EXCEPT when I forget a watch for some reason, then I'm fidgety all day 😂.

No not afraid, like i said in the post i was/am going to wear the watch anyway. I was just curious of peoples thoughts.

Interesting article, thanks for posting it. 🍻

I was going to post a similar question so I hope you don’t mind be using your question as a springboard for mine! I’m off to Ireland (Dublin) and N. Ireland (Belfast and Derry) this weekend for 10 days, and was wondering your collective thoughts on taking my Tudor GMT and/or my AT 41mm that has the adjustable hour hand. The GMT is S&G and a bit “blingy,” while the AT is on a blue rubber strap and will likely fly more under the wire. I’m thinking that I’ll take both, just because they make me happy, but was wondering if I’m missing any information or concerns about traveling to these specific areas with pricy watches. Thanks for your comments!

I never had a problem in Istanbul and many other cities in Turkey for that matter. I tend to limit travel watches to $2,000 no matter where I go, with the exception of Tokyo where it is super safe

It makes me nervous to travel with the luxury watches. I worry about leaving it at the hotel or the beach or TSA at the airport. Traveling involves so much juggling, it just feels like the perfect circumstance to lose a watch.

I’ve never been to Turkey, but I wore my Omega Speedmaster Professional Sapphire sandwich in Mexico City recently with no problems. Keep in mind that I stayed in Polanco(they had a Rolex store near my hotel). So I say go for it but exercise common sense.

It looks fine as is, doesn't really need a NATO strap