Wearing a Rolex While Traveling Internationally

[kenm]

I’ve worn Rolex traveling internationally for over 35 years, and never had a problem with customs entering any country, including the U.S. I believe the rules are that you have to declare over $10K in your possession entering the U.S. And if you do that, you pay import duty on a watch you already own. Or worse, if you don’t declare it, you may lose the watch. I guess I’ve been dumb and lucky over the years by not declaring any watch that I was wearing. It wasn’t that I was trying to be deceptive. I just never really thought about it. I usually wear a long sleeved shirt, which also allows me to get through security without taking the watch off.

But with the Rolex mania over the past few years, I’m thinking that customs officials (especially in the U.S.) are now much more tuned to this issue. The Rolex mania has made many people (not true collectors or aficionados like us) think of Rolex watches as asset instruments.

Has anyone here experienced problems wearing a Rolex while traveling internationally? Do you declare it or just hope for the best?