Watches at Risk Around the World
A guide to cities where wearing luxury watches can be dangerous
There’s something alluring about wearing a high-end timepiece in public. The feel, the shine, the look. But there’s also something naïve about assuming everyone around you admires craftsmanship. Sometimes they’re admiring value. And in the wrong place, that’s all it takes. Around the world, entire networks have sprung up to target collectors, tourists, or anyone who dares to let their sleeve ride up at the wrong time.
If you think you’re immune because you’re careful, or because you’re in a “nice” part of town, think again. Below are ten cities where wearing your prized Rolex, Omega, or Patek Philippe is like dangling bait in front of a hungry fish.
Wristwatch Risk Index (WRI): A weighted composite score out of 100 that takes into account a city’s general crime index, watch theft reports, and violent crime rates.
10. Ibiza, Spain - WRI: 60
Ibiza is party central, where celebrities and tourists mingle until dawn. But what happens when you combine dark streets, intoxication, and very expensive accessories? Crime.
Luxury watches here aren’t just jewelry; they’re signals of wealth in a place where opportunists are everywhere. Stories surface every summer of tourists stumbling out of clubs only to find their wrists bare by morning. Some thefts are violentothers are subtle, carried out by so-called “friendlies” who cozy up in bars before disappearing with your property. It’s not just theft either: entire organized crews reportedly arrive in Ibiza during high season with one missiongo home with as many watches as possible. The hangover is bad enough. Losing your AP Royal Oak at the same time? That’s a different kind of pain.
9. Barcelona, Spain - WRI: 65
Barcelona is famous for Gaudí’s architecture and the energy of Las Ramblas. But talk to locals and they’ll warn you: it’s also the European capital of “street snatch thefts.” Tourists are distractedby art, by food, by wineand that’s exactly when thieves strike.
Wristwatches are particularly attractive targets. Thieves on mopeds have been known to zoom past and rip watches off wrists in broad daylight. In crowded metro stations, nimble hands unclasp bracelets while victims think they’re just being jostled. The police do their best, but the sheer volume of petty crime means cases pile up. Barcelona might look like a postcard, but if you’re wearing a Submariner down La Rambla, don’t be surprised if someone else notices it before the Sagrada Família does.
8. London, UK - WRI: 68
London isn’t just Big Ben and double-decker busesit’s also one of the global capitals of watch crime. Police reports describe coordinated gangs dubbed “Rolex Rippers,” men and women who work in teams, shadowing victims leaving restaurants, hotels, or nightclubs. A bump on the shoulder, a quick distraction, and suddenly that Daytona is gone before you even notice your wrist feels lighter.
Central areas like Soho, Mayfair, and Covent Garden are notorious. Thieves know tourists come to shop, to party, and to show off. They also know the resale pipeline for luxury watches is thriving. Watches disappear into pawnshops, back-alley markets, or overseas channels within hours. London’s paradox is that it’s safe enough to walk almost anywherebut not necessarily safe to walk anywhere with a status symbol gleaming under the streetlights.
7. Salvador, Brazil - WRI: 73
Brazil has long been a place where street theft is part of the urban landscape, and Salvador is one of the more precarious cities in that regard. Busy beaches, vibrant nightlife, and crowded festivals make for a perfect storm of distraction and opportunity.
Wristwatches here aren’t just targeted in dark alleys. Thieves strike in daylight, on packed sidewalks, even mid-festival. Police campaigns warn tourists specifically about wearing flashy accessories, and for good reasoncriminals in Salvador are skilled at quick, surgical thefts. If you’re planning to enjoy Carnival with a prized Patek on your wrist, consider leaving it locked up in the hotel safe instead.
6. Memphis, Tennessee, USA - WRI: 75
Guess the romance of “Walking in Memphis,” is easily lost here. Sorry Marc Cohn, but Memphis consistently appears near the top of U.S. crime rankings, particularly for violent crime and property theft. It’s not unusual for locals to mention break-ins, carjackings, and muggings as part of the city’s rhythm.
Luxury watches add a dangerous wrinkle. Unlike a wallet or phone, a high-end watch has a resale market that thrives both online and underground. Criminals know this. In neighbourhoods where theft is already rampant, a Rolex or Omega adds another reason for confrontation. In Memphis, it’s not just about being careful where you goit’s about being careful how you go, and what you’re carrying when you get there.
5. Caracas, Venezuela - WRI: 80
Caracas often ranks among the most dangerous cities in the world, with soaring rates of robbery and violent crime. Here, the danger isn’t just about watchesit’s about being visibly wealthy in any way. Still, a luxury watch is an especially risky item.
Armed robberies are a known hazard, sometimes taking place in broad daylight. Stories circulate of car windows smashed at traffic lights and victims forced to hand over their jewelry on the spot. In such an environment, a luxury timepiece isn’t just a target; it’s practically an invitation. Caracas is beautiful in its own right, but wearing a gleaming Swiss watch here is like walking down the street holding a neon sign that says “rob me.”
4. Durban, South Africa - WRI: 82
Durban is a city with golden beaches and an edge of danger. Tourists often come for the surf and sun, but crime statistics tell another story. Snatch-and-grabs are common, especially near nightlife spots and transport hubs.
Watches are perfect loot in Durbanlightweight, easy to resell, and instantly recognizable as valuable. Organized crime is part of it, but so are lone thieves looking for quick cash. Even in tourist zones, the advice is consistent: don’t flash valuables, and keep your wrists covered. Durban offers beauty and chaos in equal measure. A Rolex here is less a statement of taste than a beacon for trouble.
3. Johannesburg, South Africa - WRI: 85
In Johannesburg, there’s a name everyone knows: the Rolex Gang. This is not urban legendit’s a real group, with imitators in other South African cities. Their specialty is following victims from airports, hotels, or upscale restaurants and striking when you least expect it.
The city has one of the highest violent crime rates in the world, and watches are high on the list of targeted items. Why? Because they’re valuable, easy to conceal, and harder to trace than electronics. Residents often warn visitors not to display wealth at allno flashy jewelry, no expensive phones in public, and definitely no wrist candy. Johannesburg is a place where vigilance isn’t optional, and a Rolex can mark you faster than any tourist map ever could.
2. Pretoria, South Africa - WRI: 89
Pretoria, like Johannesburg, has a reputation for violent crime, though its setting feels calmer with government buildings and jacaranda-lined streets. But beneath that charm lies risk. Travellers and locals alike tell of muggings where watches are specifically demanded.
Thieves here are opportunists. They watch for glimmers of wealth in malls, parking lots, or even cafés. A visible watchparticularly a brand known for its valuetips the scale from anonymity to danger. Police presence helps in certain areas, but crime in Pretoria often feels like a shadow you can’t quite escape. Wearing a watch that costs as much as a car just makes that shadow darker.
1. Pietermaritzburg, South Africa - WRI: 92
Not as internationally famous as Johannesburg or Cape Town, Pietermaritzburg nonetheless has one of the highest crime indices in the country. For locals, street theft is routine. For visitors however, it’s a shock.
Here, expensive watches aren’t common, which ironically makes them stand out more. A gleaming Breitling or TAG Heuer is immediately recognizable as out of place, and therefore valuable. In a city where desperation runs high, criminals don’t need to be part of a syndicate to take action. Sometimes all it takes is a passing glance, an isolated street, and the wrong accessory.
Luxury watches are supposed to represent success, taste, and heritage. But in certain places, they represent opportunityto the wrong people. Whether it’s a quick snatch in Barcelona, a coordinated gang in Johannesburg, or a bump-and-grab in London, the pattern is the same: you’re walking around with thousands of dollars on your wrist.
The lesson isn’t to stop wearing watches. It’s to be strategic. Know your surroundings, cover up when necessary, and remember: the line between pride and peril is thinner than the bracelet holding your watch in place.
