Fratello Talks: Where Did All The Watches Go?

[@TheKoolkriz]

I am on the Tram/streetcar in Zurich. The Gentleman on my left is wearing a Datejust, the older gentleman in front of me is wearing a Royal Oak. I would not have seen that during my time in Los Angeles. To me it sends the message that it is safe enough to do these kinds of things here.

[@TheKoolkriz]

Oh and of course let’s not compare public transportation between the two.

[@satl3161]

London watch robbers are on another level with machetes and sh*t

[@aaronw4537]

Zürich is definitely special. I have seen more Rolexes there during one day than in my entire life before.

[@MartinIrwin]

Switzerland is the Japan of Europe

[@stastu7050]

Just visited Japan. Everyone was wearing everything. Next level. Safe place. Well done Japan.

[@x838nwy]

7:28 no, we don't chop hands off here.

[@Real_Natural]

Right, just hold criminals accountable and you will have more peace. What a dumb comment about Thailand. As if the choice is between the weak corrupt lawlessness of dying western cities or savagery. It's spineless people like him that ceded their sovereignty that resulted in him not being able to wear a luxury watch in London.

[@nikr1d3r32]

Oh you go straight up for the head! Got it. 😂

[@renaissancechambara]

The problem in many areas of London is the crime levels. I end up wearing a G-Shock for most places that I am going to.

[@nikr1d3r32]

No we got it 😂 nobody is confused.

[@StefanoMaggio]

I was in Lisbon for a few days this past June, and wore my JLC master chrono calendar. I don't think anybody knows what that is. But the thought is certainly always on the back of my mind. Last time I went to Milan, opted for an Auto Furlan Marri instead... it is sad though that this ideas should be entertained

[@NotThatSlow]

I was in Paris and London just last month and still felt like people were living their lives and wearing their watches. I ate dinner at St. Pancras across from a gentleman wearing a Datejust, watched a guy take off his Monaco and put it in a bin to get through security in Paris Gare du Nord, and saw plenty of Breitlings, Omegas, Tags, and Rolexes. I think all of our accounts lean towards anecdotal, so maybe there isn't as big of a difference because of the perceived safety aspect but rather a change in tastes?

[@FratelloMagazine]

As said, in restaurants and other "inside" places, RJ saw some watches, but on the street and on terraces, it was not easy to spot watches. At airports the same, there we often bump into many nice watches. So it is basically a matter of where you spot.. As explained in the video, there's a difference in the "street view" now and 10 years ago when it comes to watches. Understandable though, with the recent attention for (expensive) watches.

[@WestCoastAce27]

All my London friends stopped wearing watches. Sitting in their safes. Don’t even bring them to Dubai where it’s perfectly safe.

[@GoBrosb]

The one thing that strikes me is the abundance of smart watches! So many people have them (or no watch at all; they use their phone. Heathens!) I lived in Singapore for 13 years and could wear what I wanted, it was extremely safe. I'm now back in the UK and although I'll wear my high value watches in the small town I live or to attend events, I dress down my wrist when I travel to a large city. It's not worth the risk. But still, everywhere I go, the number of damn smartwatches amazes me! Who needs your wrist to remind you about emails?!

[@Sportvent]

I was at the Wind Up fair in San Francisco in May and the Ball watch reps were robbed at their hotel lobby. All 56 pieces were stolen.

[@bbrebozo6417]

Lawlessness not being punished in the western world is causing a lot of problems. It’s what happens when politicians are desperate for votes. The politicians have security escorts, while ordinary people don’t, so no consequences for the enablers.

[@WestCoastAce27]

Exactly. London finally started trying to catch thieves earlier this spring but it went on for years. Hopefully watch lovers voted wisely today in the UK.

[@user-bm2dk5re5r]

You are 100% correct! Sadly.....

[@Ivan_Ivanovich_Drago]

I am in Toronto. We had police officer issue a PSA on where to keep car keys to minimize chance of harm when your car is being stolen. If you are wondering - his advice is to leave them by the front door. We wanted to defund the police and let lawlessness sort itself out…

[@Number_006]

Imagine walking around a city carrying a huge wad of bills out in the open totaling $10k or 20k. How long do you think you will make it before someone robs you? This is essentially what people who are wearing a gold Rolex or Patek are doing. It is a reality every where and (imho) has *always* been a problem. In the past, if I visited Chicago or NYC (I grew up in NYC), my wallet goes into my front pocket and my watch will be a low or mid tier watch (and I will enjoy wearing it too!)

[@rodsalvador3608]

Went on vacation and wore a couple of Tudors the whole time. Not worried at all. You know which ones the thieves are targeting. Enjoy!

[@Mall_Watch]

An armed society is a polite society.

[@user-bm2dk5re5r]

100%

[@johnvsbear4247]

Ah yes, Americans are famously polite! 😂

[@user-bm2dk5re5r]

@@johnvsbear4247 100% true! Thanks for making that point about Americans and politeness. I have traveled the world and noticed Americans are polite to a fault (and yes, certain areas of their very large country seem to be a mess). For people down on Americans, I would invite them to share the great contributions their nation has made to the world since WWII ended. We have human prosperity like no other time in history, thanks to Americans leading the way to freedom for billions who don't even live in America, but enjoy the fruit of their sacrifices (which continue to this day protecting nations in Asia and Europe). That said, reel it in, cowboy. If you don't like that, or don't agree, I would simply say, as Jack Nicholson said in the movie A Few Good Men, "I would rather you just said thank you and went on your way."

[@michaelriera6277]

Just returned from a 3 week trip to Valencia Spain, Taragona Spain, Lyon France, Paris France. Pretty sure most citizens were not tooting around guns and my family and I felt very safe everywhere we went. In fact much safer than many places in the US. I’d say 80% of the men wore watches some smart watches but mostly “real watches”. There were lots of quartz and everything from Tissot, Breitling, Rolex, Panerai, Casio, Swatch, TAG, Omega, Timex, Seiko, Cartier, Featina, JLC anyway it was a beautiful mix of everything. I wore my trusty Breitling Colt 41 and a Tudor Pelagos, wife had a Rolex OP. By the way for all its guns, the US has a terrible record of specifically gun violence. So unfortunately the stats of safety by gun ownership doesn’t hold up. I’ve worked in NYC and Boston never an issue wearing my Rolex DJ, Cartier Santos my point is I think there is a whole lot of unnecessary fear mongering. Yes, there maybe some sketchy areas so have enough sense not to wear a watch that draws attention, but for the most part we still live in a civilized world where you can wear what you want, when you want it. Oh and you don’t need to walk around like a cowboy with a load gun.

[@colintipton3513]

I'm in Paris for the week and I have actually seen a decent amount of watches. No Rolex or anything flashy, but I've seen some Bell and Ross, JLC, and a few others. Way too many Apple watches too. I hate those things

[@jaydee-zw4ed]

With the Arken Alterum to change the strap to the adapter link, you "do not" knock-out the bolt. Behind the strap there is a small catch that you push away from the watch-head. Once it releases then you can punch the strap upwards... once you know how it's put together... it's easy to take apart.

[@richardn.5854]

Couple weeks ago I stepped off the Flixbus wearing shorts, a t-shirt and for silly reasons a Patek Annual Calendar. White metal and leather straps: you’ll do perfectly fine.

[@nikr1d3r32]

15:25 I’m more worried that big screen on wheels driving around and putting new ideas into criminal heads.

[@dionisiusnio]

In Singapore, you will be happy to see people just wear any watch they like in public, lot of local and tourist cartier santos, Rolexes,LV, hermes in public transport and street, even some have APs and patek on their wrist! And even almost every old people in chinatown wear rolexes especially gold/two tone datejust.

[@andhenny]

I commonly see one of three watches on peoples’ wrists: Apple Watch, gold-tone digital Casio or Timex, and a Rolex Submariner or Sea Dweller.

[@thetrainingcoop]

You talk about seeing few watches on the streets (in London at least) but then talk about watches like ‘normal’ Speedmasters not being a big theft issue, so when you’re seeing fewer watches on the street do you mean you’re seeing fewer Rolex’s and AP’s, or are you also not seeing more ‘common’ OMEGA’s, Brietling’s, Tudor’s, TAG’s, etc? Just curious to know if you think people are hiding all decent mechanical watches (say, with a retail value of $1000 and up) whether or not they need to, or just the ones noted as probably bigger theft targets? Thx.

[@robert-janbroer8936]

RJ here. Sorry for the confusion: I saw very few nice watches in London (on the street), including Rolex, TAG, Omega, Breitling etc. Much much less than I saw in the past. The other thing is that I personally don’t see a Speedmaster or basically any expensive watch not being a Rolex, AP, or other very recognizable brand as a risk myself in most cities here in Europe.

[@thetrainingcoop]

@@robert-janbroer8936thx very much for the response.

[@WestCoastAce27]

My London friends just stopped wearing watches, stopped the habit of picking a watch and putting it on at the start of the day.

[@tudor1314]

I see many more people wearing apple / smart watches nowadays

[@nikr1d3r32]

Three days later the Oris is still available and the discount code actually works (heavy discount 😂 it made me think)

[@knight0924]

I see many, many nice watches here in miami, especially if it’s a district with a lot of restaurants. Design district, coconut grove, Brickell, Miami Beach, Wynwood. You see it all here

[@WestCoastAce27]

3 words: concealed carry state.

[@knight0924]

@@WestCoastAce27 lol maybe! These areas are also littered with police, so unlikely people will try something 😅

[@mpw621]

I think I would be more concerned about carrying around an expensive camera in some sketchy parts of cities. Lots of apple and smart watches seen on people.

[@WristwatchWorkshop]

Thanks for the video (and comment shoutout!)

[@arthurm4726]

1916 company inventory is a fraction of what it was only a few months ago…obviously companies don’t want to carry too much inventory…..

[@rushilsaraogi3917]

I see quite a few in nyc, especially Rolexes

[@arthurm4726]

It helps if you wear a long sleeve shirt….just a suggestion.

[@zegervanaschvanwijck7749]

Why do you guys leave Nacho’s without a Fratello watch? Quit teasing him..

[@zegervanaschvanwijck7749]

Watches… but let’s talk about e-bikes or iPhones…. More theft.. more spread between haves and people for who that it’s to good to pass by. It’s also a “norm with certain youth groups” keeping you hands of other people’s stuff is less and less a thing it feels.

[@michaelriera6277]

Unnecessary fear mongering. Wear what you like when you want. If visiting sketchy areas then don’t, but for the most part we still live in a civilized society. You’ll be ok.

[@almeladze]

Why are you spreading paranoia? I just traveled through Spain and Italy for 3 weeks. People wore nice watches, I wore nice watches... No issues... I saw soo many rolexes... In the middle of Venice I wan into a group sporting a golden skydweller, a panerai submersible, a daytona and a diamond bezeled lady datejust (either in white gold or platinum) for example. a number of pepsis, you name it... come on guya!

[@zegervanaschvanwijck7749]

The English are left handed… I think you looked at the wrong wrists??

[@axelr9378]

Without wallet with cash, everyone has a phone. Shoes and watches are the only valued things you have. It is à very localized threat. Outside Paris London Nice Cannes and some towns it is ok. I teach sometimes wearing à bluesy submariner or my datejust rolesor jubilee and diamonds in the dial and it's ok. I have a sage in a bank so at least half of my collection is in the safe. It is OK. I don't see many watches except close too shops where you can see watch enthousiasts. My pupils are not really into smart watch so i see crappy cheap quartz watches all Day long.

[@WestCoastAce27]

Sad commentary. Vote wisely. Note: it’s also driving - don’t hang your arm out if you have an expensive watch. World #10 Grigor Dimitrov had his Bianchet torn off his wrist - this Spring in Barcelona. 1st moped drives by and bumps the sideview mirror; when he stopped at the next light to realign it the 2nd moped pulled up and yanked it off.

[@user-bm2dk5re5r]

Living in the Western United States, most of us are polite, courteous, and armed. I was at a private A. Lange & Sohne event not long ago and they had two guards there. It made me chuckle because I knew that about half of the attendees have a conceal carry permit. Places like London coddle criminals. As a society, we get what we vote for.

[@MartinIrwin]

Yawn.

[@JamesAlexander14]

I guess the answer to protect yourself in London from any crime, is to not visit the hovel in the first place!