What watch for Brazil?

[easty-5]

I am heading over to Brazil (25 miles south of Rio) next Tuesday for work for a few months before I start working rotation over there.

Im not going to take a nice watch with me for obvious reasons. I have quite a few cheapies in my collection but I'm not too sure of taking them either as they don't look cheap. Would I be okay taking a Fossil chrono with bright orange rubber strap or is it too "look at me"? How about a Tauchmeister Diver (sub-a-like) with blue or orange Bezel?

Any ideas on what I should take and what I should avoid? It may get the occasional knock at work so can't be too fragile.

[proby24]

I'd take something super basic to start and you can feel out the land in your first month. I must confess I have never been to Brazil and it does have a bad reputation. However, I travel around 'Emerging Markets' in SE Asia and not once have I felt that wearing an expensive watch would be a problem. Worn my Rolex and Breitling all over the region, the jungles of Sumatra (Aceh Province), Jakarta and Kuala Lumpar, rural Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), Vietnam and Cambodia. I have also worn my Breitling throughout Africa (though I took it off in Jo'Burg!).

Often these developing nations are quite different from media perception!

[simonsev]

This is the one I take everywhere when travelling on fieldwork, this picture was taken in Mato Grosso Province Brazil, I also always have my G-Shock as backup for when lurking in the more "interesting" area's.

However my experience in Brazil was that so many people had good quality fake Rolex's that it would not matter what you wear, no-one gives a second look and in general, outside of the big city hotspots it was all very civilized and probably safer than London.

041.jpg

FridaystealthGW-M5600014.jpg

[Fas]

Spent a lot of time in Sao Paolo and Brasilia, always worn my Omega. Never been an issue.

[kaiserphoenix]

Id definately advise against wearing a nice watch. I have alot of family in Brasil and whilst the economy has developed substantially over the last 10 years, it still has a very high crime rate and a watch like an Omega, Rolex will get immediately noticed. Just make sure you dun display your wealth!!

[adzman808]

Just spoke with my Brazilian gf and she says your saftey is based a lot more on the location you're visiting rather than the watch you wear.... Go to the wrong place at the wrong time and you'd get mugged for a sekonda let alone a omega

Like the other poster said, the trick is not to advertise, taking care, being careful, wearing long sleaves is the way forward, BUT if the worst happens don't be a hero, stay clam and give them what they want..

Where exactly are you going?

[Newbear]

I was in Brasil a few weeks back. I had no trouble at all - quite the reverse everyone I met was charming, helpful and friendly. I was further south than you - in Santa Caterina. I was also being taken around by local people and guided by their knowledge of more or less safe areas. This, of course, makes a big difference.

As for watches, I took a Casio Edifice EQW-M710DB-1A1ER. It's a great travel watch because of the world time and a number of other useful functions. It's also quite smart enough for everyday wear in an office environment and tough enough to take knocks. I also took a vintage Seamaster for more dressy occasions.

[colin]

I hate these 'I'm going outside of my village and don't want to get robbed for my watch' threads. Just exercise some common sense and you'll be fine.

And if you really don't want to get mugged for your watch, don't wear a watch.

[W44NNE]

You're thinking so much about your watch but in reality, you should be thinking about the adventure you're undertaking! Buy yourself a cheap £10 watch from somewhere and enjoy your time there!

[kaiserphoenix]

I hate these 'I'm going outside of my village and don't want to get robbed for my watch' threads. Just exercise some common sense and you'll be fine.

And if you really don't want to get mugged for your watch, don't wear a watch.

In general yes I agree that with common sense, most people will be fine. But in Brasil (im from Sao Paolo) things are abit more complex than that. As I mentioned, violent crime rates have gone down and the quality of the police force has definately improved so that is good news as the county gets wealthier, but still, its not the same as say walking alone in East London in the middle of the night, which itself is preceived to be dodgy in places, Sao Paolo is on a whole different level as firearms gets involved.

But on the whole people are friendly and hopefully you will have a good time :)

[verv]

I hate these 'I'm going outside of my village and don't want to get robbed for my watch' threads.

that made me properly laugh.

[colin]

In general yes I agree that with common sense, most people will be fine. But in Brasil (im from Sao Paolo) things are abit more complex than that. As I mentioned, violent crime rates have gone down and the quality of the police force has definately improved so that is good news as the county gets wealthier, but still, its not the same as say walking alone in East London in the middle of the night, which itself is preceived to be dodgy in places, Sao Paolo is on a whole different level as firearms gets involved.

In the past 18 months I've been to India, Pakistan, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, the US, South Africa, various parts of former-Soviet Europe, and China, to name but a few places. Most of those are not exactly known for their peaceful atmospheres and low crime statistics, especially in the cities/areas I visit for work. But do you know how many times I got robbed?

None.

Things are not actually more complex, as you suggest. If the OP demonstrates a bit of common sense, he will be just fine. And that principle applies globally. Don't start thinking Oh God I'm going to Brazil and will surely get robbed!'

[NORVAL]

Just my experience.
Do not take a watch with a bracelet ( metalic ). This will call for major attention.
Use rubber or leather, on a Seiko.
Drink a lot of caipirinhas and feast your eyes, best looking girls in the world.
Enjoy.
Pedro

[.olli.]

OP
I spent a few weeks here and there in Brazil for work (Sao Paulo and Rio), and it is an amazing place, as mentioned above you will meet lovely people.
I never had any issues when I was there, however I did follow the advice of the locals, which is to avoid displaying any sign of wealth.
Make sure you know where you're going, some areas can be safe in the day time but to be avoided at night, best advice you can get will be from local people colleagues etc...

[switch107]

OP
I spent a few weeks here and there in Brazil for work (Sao Paulo and Rio), and it is an amazing place, as mentioned above you will meet lovely people.
I never had any issues when I was there, however I did follow the advice of the locals, which is to avoid displaying any sign of wealth.
Make sure you know where you're going, some areas can be safe in the day time but to be avoided at night, best advice you can get will be from local people colleagues etc...

I travel every year to Brazil and always take 2 watches - beach watch (G-Shock, Timex) and casual (IWC, Panerai or Cartier). My wife wears Omega or Cartier for travels and never have an issue.
People in Brazil are either wealthy and wear good watches (eg. Sao Paulo) or don't pay attention in other places.
I feel more secure in Sao Paulo then in London.

[Chinnock]

G-Shock 'em I say!

[Kaiser]

I used to work for a company that had operations in Brazil. When we were sent there for the first time we had a sercurity briefing regarding how to behave there. One part of the briefing was not to wear an expensive, or expensive looking Watch ! The recommendation was to wear something from Casio ( digital ) that would not look too expensive, and not flashy in any way. The guy doing the briefing said that the risk of robbery was really not all that great, but that you may become a target for kidnapping if you looked to have money, or be attached to a wealthy company. I took his advice and had no problems in the three weeks that i was there. The guy that replaced me after the three wekks did not take his advice, wore a higher end Watch, and Oris I think, and was robbed on the street. There is still a risk in Brazil for things like that.

[kaiserphoenix]

I travel every year to Brazil and always take 2 watches - beach watch (G-Shock, Timex) and casual (IWC, Panerai or Cartier). My wife wears Omega or Cartier for travels and never have an issue.
People in Brazil are either wealthy and wear good watches (eg. Sao Paulo) or don't pay attention in other places.
I feel more secure in Sao Paulo then in London.

This is very dangerous advise. In Brasil, thieves frequently carry firearms, in London they might have a knife. In Brasil, there are real Favelas and they do come out to rob people frequently, we just don't hear about it (again, being in the right place helps).

I was robbed once in my car when I stopped at a red light and had to hand over my wallet (which I had already prepared in advance in case I was robbed).

London is by no means the safest city, but in Brasil there is real threat to life so its different.

having said that, crime levels are coming down and the police are much better paid and better equipped now so Im sure if you follow the good advice you will be fine.

[.olli.]

I feel more secure in Sao Paulo then in London.

Glad you only had good experience while you were there (just like I did) but I think this is giving you a false sense of security.

You feel more secure in Sao Paulo, and that's your perception, but the reality is Sao Paulo is far more dangerous than London.

The risk of being a victim of violent crime, gun crime or abduction is far greater than in most places in the world. With that respect it is on another planet compared to London... of course these problems are not the norm, even in Sao Paulo, but you are putting yourself at much greater risk by displaying any sign of wealth.

I was there on business, and met a lot of wealthy people, CEO level of mid size companies. Most of them were driving very boring cars, no doubt they could afford tasty luxury cars, but they wanted to avoid attracting attention and put themselves and their families at risk unecessarily.

So my advice to the OP would be to avoid wearing anything too fancy, so he can relax and enjoy this fabulous country. why take the chance, the very fact that he is asking the question shows that he perceives a risk.

My 2 "centavos" worth...

[DrBox]

When I was (backpacking) in Brazil, I was paranoid about getting mugged, so kept it to a G-Shock and had no problems. Bumped into quite a few people who had been robbed though, so my advice would be to keep it as low profile as possible. Oh, and always carry some muggers money just in case...

[easty-5]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm going to be over there from Monday till 22nd September and then on a 5/5 week rotation. Working just south of Rio on FPSO new builds (Oil & Gas). I'll just take the most boring watch I can from my collection or look for a cheap Casio of some kind.

My first time over there so I am rather excited :)

[yonsson]

Isn't the answer the same as always..? If you really love something, don't risk it.

[bigbaddes]

cant comment on south america except juarez in mexico but have done lots of rough europe, asia and the us.
timex or casio for the most part. for the really bad areas you should have an escort (no not that sort) anyway so it may not matter so much.

but for your first recce, best stick to something cheap looking - that goes for clothes, shoes, phone, sunglasses, luggage yadda yadda.