If it were me I wouldn't risk it and instead bring a watch that I wouldn't be too upset about getting stolen. (So a non expensive watch)

 

This comes up monthly. The answer is - yes, I'd wear a nice watch while travelling. We try to go on intl trips twice a year - been everywhere from India to Russia, and from Mexico to Greece - never an issue. Just like in US, you have to exercise common sense when travelling - aware of your surroundings, avoid bad areas, don't flash cash or watch and you'll be fine.
Watches are meant to be worn, and besides I'd never spend more, on material things, than I can afford to lose.

If theft is such a concern- get insurance. I recently added my nicer watches to Jewelers Mutual policy - works out to about $17/year for $1000 of insurance coverage.

PS. I do tend to take more of a diver\beater watch for beach vacation - but only because I don't need a nice watch while sitting on the beach or swimming.

 

It definitely depends on where you are going and how upset you'd be if it was lost or stolen.
Spain is a lovely place, but it is unfortunately known for it's pick-pockets... so I wouldn't wear a watch that I would be that worried about loosing.

 

Do you really have to worry about a pick-pocket slipping a watch off your wrist? Is that something that actually happens? I thought it was hollywood nonsense, I can't imagine how they'd pull that off.

 

You missed one option, which i would have chosen: i would wear it MOST countries in the world, barring a few exceptions.

Spain is a lot safer than most American cities. Watch out for pickpockets in the touristy parts of some cities and other than that, have at it. I'd be more worried about getting mugged in the US than Spain.

 

You missed one option, which i would have chosen: i would wear it MOST countries in the world, barring a few exceptions.

Spain is a lot safer than most American cities. Watch out for pickpockets in the touristy parts of some cities and other than that, have at it. I'd be more worried about getting mugged in the US than Spain.

This.

 

A timely question, in that I am on a trip now in Italy and Croatia and carefully considered my options before departing the US. I used to travel frequently for business and pleasure, primarily to Pacific Rim and W. European countries and occasionally to the Caribbean, and didn't think about what watch to wear - just threw on the GMT-II and used a little common sense. In truth I wasn't into collecting watches yet so I didn't have any options other than to substitute it for a G-Shock. The Horror.

On this trip though I was concerned about what would do best when hiking, swimming and getting into spots that are heavily infested with tourists (e.g., Dubrovnik; it's a zoo), so I decided on something that was tough, highly water resistant, near-impossible to steal off the wrist and yet still enjoyable to wear: an Aegir CD-2 on an Isofrane.

Having a collection of sorts now offers choices, and it's liberating to know I'm not exposing pricier watches to the abuses and risks of travel.

 

I'd be happy to wear my favorite watch anywhere and make memories with it, life is too short.

The only thing I may think twice about is if I had a special, super rare piece that is irreplaceable, that may have to stay in the safe.

 

this is my view. I'll generally take my PO on vacation as there is generally water involved. For work travel, or in the event I went anywhere I was really comcerned about, I'd wear my glycine airman. I wear the latter for its gmt function but it's also under the radar. With lots of WR its actually the perfect travel watch - except, to your point, I'd rather wear my PO while memories are made.

 

Get proper travel insurance and the whole thing is a non-issue. I wouldn't ware an irreplaceable collector's item - but a recent watch that can be re placed? Definitely.

 

Hmm I wouldn't. Spares my watch from being scratched by airport security.
I believe they still ask u to remove all jewelries and watches and pile them all on a small tray. ( In some airports, at least.)

 

I haven't run into this yet. I always take off my belt, watch, wallet and wedding ring and throw them nicely into my backpack (separate compartments to avoid scratching) before getting to the stay machine. Makes for a quick in and out of the security line for me, while keeping my stuff safe and sound.

 

I wouldn't wear an expensive watch to certain parts of LA or Miami.

New Zealand is just fine. Was just down there on South Island and it was amazing.

 

As long as the watch is replaceable, I don't see a problem with traveling with it. Just make sure the insurance covers the watch where you are going and enjoy the trip.

 

I will wear my cheapest one, seamaster pro, when I travel to Cozumel this fall. I think the submariner will be too conspicuous.

 

Life is too short to worry about that.

From all the watch I tense to use the submariner as a traveler watch(previous a Seamaster GMT), not the most expensive in my collection but it's very versatile and fits 99% of the situation(from business meeting, beach, friend's wedding, etc)

I don't really buy into the scratch and more accident prone story, you wear your watch a certain way, it doesn't matter it's in your backyard or half a world away. I am not going to venture into bad neighborhood with or without my watch so that's not even a concern for me.

Never any issue travelling with Panerai/Omega/Rolex in the airport, no magnetism issue, no TSA issue, what-so-ever.

 

I used to pre-take my watch off before going through airport security in the US. After reading some threads here on WUS, I found that almost nobody's watch rings an alarm. So I started to leave my watch on while passing through the scanner, without any problem at all.

I used to travel with cheap watches. But I always miss my "good"watches when I do that. I was overprotective of my expensive watches. So now I strap whatever I want onto my wrist and don't worry about it being involuntarily removed. I'm happier.

 

Why would you buy a watch and then worry about wearing it??

If you are worried about losing it, having it stolen, or what everyone else thinks about it get a Seiko 009.

I wear my watches daily, and wouldn't buy a watch if I would be too nervous to wear it.

As for holidays, always take a selection for whatever I might be doing, common sense prevails when on holiday, wearing your Patek whilst browsing a street market Downtown might be asking for a bash on the head, so that day wear your Seiko.

As for Europe being dangerous, come on guys I've seen the films about some U.S. Cities )

 

As for Europe being dangerous, come on guys I've seen the films about some U.S. Cities )

I'd have to agree - been to most European countries with the exception of Macedonia and Albania. I've never felt scared a single time and never got mugged, got stuff stolen from me etc. In the U.S. And Canada (used to live in Minnesota, where it was extremely safe, but everywhere else - SF, New Orleans, New York, Chicago) I've had at least one "scared sh**less moment per trip. I've had my wallet picket at a ballgame in Toronto, my brother got his shoes robbed by a homeless dude with a knife in New Orleans while I was walking about a hundred yards ahead of him, two women from our travel group got mugged in Manhattan, our car got broken into on a parking lot in Coconut Grove / Miami, - you name it. So if you feel safe in the U.S., you'll feel like Europe is like your mother's lap.

 

I have been to most European countries including eastern Europe and have never given it a thought. Never take your watch off and take only one, that way you will be fine.
The only time that I have had a watch stolen was when I took two with me and the bag that the spare one was in was stolen and that was my own fault. It was new and insured so no tears just hassle from insurers before I got the full cost back.
I all depends what one is used to. I may be going to the US next year and I admit to some concerns about personal safety never mind having a watch stolen which can be replaced.

 

I think in Spain you will be fine.

Parts of Brazil, maybe not so.

Be reasonable, exercise sound judgment, and all should be okay.

 

My Rolex BLNR has been from Beijing to Bogota with no issues. If nervous, get a jewelry rider on your home owner's insurance.

You truly are at much higher risk of getting mugged over your smart phone in any country. If you have no issues traveling with a phone you definitely should have no issues traveling with a watch.

As with anything, be careful wear you wander off to and how you flash your personal possessions. Don't look anybody in the eye.

 

OP: I'm looking at this from a different angle - the hassle.

If I were to be traveling where I would expect to be roughed up (like outdoors, or carrying lots of stuff, etc) then I would not. But for strictly business travel where you can expect to be sleeping in good accommodations and will experience nothing rougher than air turbulence or a badly-behaving client, then why not?

 

I went to Spain and a bunch of other European cities. Prior to my trip I was concerned about pick pockets, but they were not an issue since I generally stayed away from the heavy tourist crowds. My only issue was that the hotel in Barcelona was supposed to have an in-room safe, but it was actually a safe box behind the front desk...which all of the desk people seemed to have a universal key. That wasn't good with me, so I had to carry my other watch in my bag for a few days until we left the city.

Looking back, I would heed the advice of others and only bring 1. That way there is no need to store any watch, other than safely on your wrist.


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Would I wear an expensive watch while on a trip abroad? Yes

Would I wear an expensive watch while in the act of travelling (as in on a plane, boat, etc)? No. I'm distracted enough as is with check-in, airport security, watching my bags/boarding pass/passport, etc....last thing I need is to accidentally forget my watch at a security checkpoint.

 

5 years ago, i got lost along my way and ended up in a hot suburb of Paris (Pantin). I asked for directions to a group of teenagers but as soon as i turned my back, i received a punch in the back of my head lol. I started running like crazy but they never caught me. In fact, i don't even know if they tried to catch me. I think they expected me to fall over after that sucker punch.

Life's too short to live it in fear. I'd wear my Rolex in any part of the world.
Besides, what's the point of babying a GMT master ?

 

Ive traveled throughout SE Asia and South America with NO issues at all.

 

In the last four years I started wearing some rather expensive watches (+2K). Since then, I've traveled without any problems to:
Turkey (including Istanbul), Berlin, France, Italy, Spain, Morocco, Portugal, Turkey, Cuba, Barcelona, Dubai, Curaçao, Greece, France, Austria, Hungary.
Upcoming for the next 6 months are Berlin, USA & Canada, Caribbean cruise. Probably with my PO on the wrist.

Life's too short to worry about a watch!

 

I don't wear expensive watches to most places when I travel (outside of conferences) for the following reasons.

1) Even when I go to Japan I like to wander off the beaten path, which will occasionally land me in a bad neighborhood that I was not planning to be in
2) Most places without much violent crime still have pickpockets and I don't care to advertise that I'm a good mark (even in Japan or Switzerland)
3) I don't want a customs official bothering me for wearing a nice watch and asking me if I bought it overseas (happened to a friend a few times despite the fact that he bought it at home)
4) Because I like to go off the beaten path, sometimes I end up doing something that the watch I'm wearing isn't capable of handling or the ideal watch for the situation

My usual default travel watch is therefore this, which is great because it is also my beater and therefore can take surprise detours in my travel.

 

I think you need a new beater! Can you even read it?

 

I would love to be brave and say "I'd wear it anywhere" but I'm aware that there are some countries where human life is cheap and wearing a good watch is a bit risky.

 

This is a good point, losing your expensive watch isn't the worst thing that could happen to you in some places. If the only risk is the potential loss of a watch, then it is something that an insurance policy can protect you against, but the potential for grievous bodily harm is also something one needs to be mindful of.

 

Just use common sense. I've travelled to Guatelmala and Costa Rica with my Rolex. Like some of the other posters said, just take one watch and wear it all the time. In every country and every big city, whether in the U.S. or any big city in any country, there will be places you don't want to travel in, regardless if your wearing a nice watch or not. Nearly every place you travel should be safe. If you're in a place where you think your watch is not safe, then you're probably not safe either. And don't ride or drive with your arm hanging out the car window. Be extra aware when you're drinking and don't make fast friends in a bar.