Wearing PP in Barcelona?

[ars1g09]

Understand these kinds of threads are much maligned here but am getting mixed messages, so thought to best ask people who actually have experience on this.

I've never hesitated to wear my PPs in major cities (london, paris, NY, berlin, tokyo, jakarta). I am going to Barcelona next week, and I didn't think twice about bringing and wearing my PPs until I was warned explicitly by a friend not to take any of my watches with me, due to the skills of thieves there (able to get a watch of your wrist in under 3 seconds).

What has been your experience with Barcelona? Will PP (5990, 5164) slip under the radar? Or is it not worth the risk?

Thanks in advance as usual.

[Burlington]

There was a video a couple of days ago of someone having their watch forcibly removed by someone in Barcelona posted on TRF.

Obviously it depends on where/how/when you’ll be out and about.

But I wouldn’t rely on the fact it’s a high end PP making it unrecognisable to would be thieves.

999/1000 it’s fine, but depends on now having this advice if you would always be looking over your shoulder vs. Looking at the architecture and if that would or wouldn’t affect the enjoyment of your time there with or without PP.

[uniqueMR]

Should be careful everywhere in the World. Never knows...

[nyc2la]

Make sure it’s insured. Then wear and enjoy, but always be aware and smart.

[shaunylw]

For me, never. I wouldn’t want to ruin a great trip by worrying about hiding what’s on my wrist. I’m going to Mexico early next year and i will likely leave watches Home. It would be more fun to bring them but i would rather not be a target.


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[metdrdg]

I lived in Barcelona for a while and though the city is amazing there are a ton of pickpocketers etc. I know this will get a lot of flak here but when I go abroad to places I’m unsure of I wear a knockoff Rolex I bought in Chinatown for $40. Keeps time fine and if I get robbed I can laugh it off.

[goog53]

I sent that video I saw on IG to multiple friends. It was crazy! Do not wear it. Why take the risk?

[Foxman2k]

Any links to that video?

[GB-man]

Leave it at home safe and sound. Bring a Seiko or tudor.

[RHIII]

I’ve worn my watches all over the world. Including Barcelona. Never had any kind of issue. Just pay attention to your surroundings.

I’d say if you have ANY hesitation. Leave it home.


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[Foxman2k]

Leave it st home. I have several g shocks and my Apple Watch for travel

[watchtabs]

Barcelona is probably the worse place in the world in terms of petty theft in relation to the touristy areas. Pick pocketing capital of the the world. I do love Barcelona, but be very weary. Specially around Las Ramblas and Park Guell.

[incontrol]

I had two of my children go to Barcelona when they were in college. Both were robbed in separate incidents. Find a nice inexpensive watch to bring. Leave the good stuff home.


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[jon_jon]

The question of "is it safe to wear a certain watch in certain part of the world" thread comes up all the time in the Rolex section, but not so commonly here in the Patek section. The general consensus seems to be that most petty thieves know about Rolex, but are less familiar with Patek. However with professional thieves, all bets are off.

In any major city, you have to be aware of your surroundings. If you are visiting the main tourist sites during the day time (e.g. Park Guell), it will be safer than being at Las Ramblas at midnight after having had a few drinks. In general, thieves target people who are more vulnerable.

I have worn my Aquanaut to Barcelona and felt perfectly safe. However no matter where I am traveling, my watches are underneath my long sleeve shirt cuffs after dark, unless I am wearing a Seiko.

[GoingPlaces]

No way, to many stories about Barcelona.

[uniqueMR]

Barcelona is joining ranks of Rome in regards to theft. I thought Rome was worse.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by uniqueMR

Barcelona is joining ranks of Rome in regards to theft. I thought Rome was worse.

Barca and Rome were the only places I have had trouble so I'd be very weary, but basically tourists are a mark anywhere, my cousin who is 6ft 4 was with me in Trafalgar Sq and I am clearly not a tourist, and while we took some photos his wife's bag was taken, we didn't see it happen but shows they are always on the prowl.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by AK797

Barca and Rome were the only places I have had trouble so I'd be very weary, but basically tourists are a mark anywhere, my cousin who is 6ft 4 was with me in Trafalgar Sq and I am clearly not a tourist, and while we took some photos his wife's bag was taken, we didn't see it happen but shows they are always on the prowl.

[blcblc]

Although it can happen anywhere, i would not suggest it because we’re not familiar with the place/city while traveling. I usually wear seiko. If anything bad happens, at least it doesn’t completely ruin my mood :)

[codecow]

I think you’ll be ok I heard the average time was 3.7 seconds.

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by codecow

I think you’ll be ok I heard the average time was 3.7 seconds.

Unless OP has a 5522 those are unstealable.

[giruto]

Don’t even think of wearing a fake Rolex, thieves know it and they might stab someone wearing a fake rolex

[codecow]

Originally Posted by GB-man

Unless OP has a 5522 those are unstealable.

This is true!

[Russell996]

I wouldn't walk/visit anywhere I wasn't comfortable wearing my Pateks.

They go everywhere I go, no point owning them if you can't wear them.

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by Russell996

I wouldn't walk/visit anywhere I wasn't comfortable wearing my Pateks.

They go everywhere I go, no point owning them if you can't wear them.

Brings back memories. Last time I was in Rome I was maybe 18 and couldn’t speak Italian to save my life. I left our hotel looking for espresso and breakfast and to explore a bit. My route back fortuitously took me down the steps right at dawn and it was just a beautiful moment.

[tng11]

I wouldn't. Yeah I know insure it and all that jazz, and I'm sure plenty of people visit wearing PPs without incident, but why make yourself a target unnecessarily?

[subtona]

The economy has been suffering for a while. A Rolex or a Patek can be easy money for a thief.

On my last trip there I watched a girl looking at some furniture that was on the street, it was fascinating to watch her climb over stacked pair of mattresses while she maintained a hand on her bicycle at all times during evaluation of the furniture 5 feet away.

My friends have had their phones taken from them while they were talking on them and you will be hard pressed to find a local leaving a handbag or cellphone on the table while eating.

I wore a Rolex for all of my travels since I have gotten one in 1991, the line for where is and isn’t safe has moved significantly.

Though Rolex are typically what is targeted, unlike years ago, the vast and accessible information available on the internet as to model and price, a 1 minute search could easily identify your watch and its value to a would be thief.

[soundserious]

Dumb thread: absolutely not safe.

[kuota_kalibur]

Used to be just rolexes. Now thieves know patek aquanaut and nautilus.
Im not sure about leather pateks though, maybe it's not too liquid for them.

Bring your hublot if you have any.

I know someone who recently went to Barcelona and they got his 5167. 5 guys vs 1 guy. What can you do...

[subtona]

Originally Posted by kuota_kalibur

Used to be just rolexes. Now thieves know patek aquanaut and nautilus.
Im not sure about leather pateks though, maybe it's not too liquid for them.

Bring your hublot if you have any.

I know someone who recently went to Barcelona and they got his 5167. 5 guys vs 1 guy. What can you do...

Remember the hublot ad campaign... the owner of the company got mugged and all they took was his hublot, as included pics of the guys black eye.