Is my cunning plan cunning enough.

[jwg663]

For all those recommending that the OP wear a Casio, a Seiko or somesuch: Picky Me is an elected representative (el presidente of the owners' association, or something) in his pueblecito.

He must have an upmarket watch to reflect his status & standing in the community. Remember, his Omega just doesn't cut it.

[M4tt]

You could just buy one of our host's watches. Nice and easy to wear, well regarded and cheap enough. Mind you, if there really was a market that I didn't dare wear the watch of my choice to due to the excessive crime, I'd probably not be there in the first place.

Which Constellation do you have that you don't like? Perhaps a photo?

Alternatively, in the spirit of a historically popular succession movement that has not aged well, you could just wear a fake Rolex and donate the money saved to the fundraiser?

[Suds]

Why bother with a watch, your phone will do everything you need.

But hey, that just starts another discussion - an i-phone 14 is just as likely to be targeted.

Mick, the obvious answer is to do what the toffs did in Victorian London - get your wife to walk with a sword stick so she really defend your honour.

[Passenger]

For all those recommending that the OP wear a Casio, a Seiko or somesuch: Picky Me is an elected representative (el presidente of the owners' association, or something) in his pueblecito.

He must have an upmarket watch to reflect his status & standing in the community. Remember, his Omega just doesn't cut it.

Pride usually comes before a fall especially once past a certain age.

With his status in mind, the answer is obvious, hire a bodyguard for trips to the dodgy Sunday Market! Then everyone will know how important he is and he can wear whatever.

[Mick P]

OT, but saying an Omega Constellation is 'heap of muck' is quite insulting to the many tz'ers on here who hold Omega in high regard. You are a watch brand snob who has no interest in watches IMHO. Don't expect any help from Omega afficionados on the forum or any other watch lovers.
Enjoy your holiday though whatever you decide & stay safe.

I said in my opening statement that the Omega felt like a heap of muck compared to a Rolex. On reflection I accept that it was inappropriate to say that and apologies for any offence caused.

I wore the Omega Constellation Manhattan almost every day from the mid 1980s up to Jan 2014 when I treated myself to an Explorer as a birthday present to myself. I have since become a self confessed Rolex fan and prefer them to any other brand and that includes Pateks.

I am going to give the Omega another try and will adopt a more positive attitude to it. I had it fully serviced by Omega last year so I may as well use the thing and I am usually out in Spain for about 5 months each year, so it will get a fair amount of use.

Let's see how it goes.

[Raffe]

The "high risk" area was a Sunday market in a coastal town. I have since found out that there have been several incidents of elderly ladies having their handbags stolen but the good news, if you can call it that, is that violence is hardly ever used.

I now never wear any watch in those areas.

Bloody forriners, wherever you go. Even in good old Blighty.

Might as well lay down and die.

[Mick P]

Bloody forriners, wherever you go. Even in good old Blighty.

Might as well lay down and die.

I am the foreigner when in Spain, just a bloody tourista.

[ODP]

Stop worrying about how you present yourself to your peers. Wear a Casio.

This. Why is a Rolex so important to you?

[Mick P]

This. Why is a Rolex so important to you?

I find the 5 digit watches a thing of beauty but not over keen on the six digit stuff- too blingy.

[ODP]

I find the 5 digit watches a thing of beauty but not over keen on the six digit stuff- too blingy.

Quite agree with you there.

However, if I was too frail to feel safe wearing one I would wear something different. Maybe wear it around your house where it is safer?

[Pitfitter]

Go somewhere other than Spain?
On holiday I often don’t bother with a watch, I eat/drink with help of my stomach timing, or check the sign outside a pharmacist.

[Mick P]

Go somewhere other than Spain?
On holiday I often don’t bother with a watch, I eat/drink with help of my stomach timing, or check the sign outside a pharmacist.

I have a holiday home in Spain and also I feel naked without a watch on my wrist.

[wileeeeeey]

I have a holiday home in Spain and also I feel naked without a watch on my wrist.

Moonswatch, Sinn, Christopher Ward, CWC, Marathon, Seiko.

I would probably go for a Sinn 556i. Beautiful, timeless watch but too small for my wrist

[Neil.C]

In your situation Mick I would wear a nice Seiko.

Forget the status symbol Rolexes, I have. All sold.

[Kingstepper]

Go somewhere other than Spain?
On holiday I often don’t bother with a watch, I eat/drink with help of my stomach timing, or check the sign outside a pharmacist.

Not sure that works in all countries.

[M4tt]

I said in my opening statement that the Omega felt like a heap of muck compared to a Rolex. On reflection I accept that it was inappropriate to say that and apologies for any offence caused.

I wore the Omega Constellation Manhattan almost every day from the mid 1980s up to Jan 2014 when I treated myself to an Explorer as a birthday present to myself. I have since become a self confessed Rolex fan and prefer them to any other brand and that includes Pateks.

I am going to give the Omega another try and will adopt a more positive attitude to it. I had it fully serviced by Omega last year so I may as well use the thing and I am usually out in Spain for about 5 months each year, so it will get a fair amount of use.

Let's see how it goes.

No, you are right, the eighties Constellation Manhattan is a heap of muck and possibly the lowest point that SSIH hit before Hayek saved them. I withdraw my Omega offence. Perhaps you might consider any other Constellation from any other period?

[zelig]

In your situation Mick I would wear a nice Seiko.

Forget the status symbol Rolexes,..

Quite - when we holidayed in Barcelona I took the two on the left...



One for exploring, one for the pool.

z

[P9CLY]

The "high risk" area was a Sunday market in a coastal town. I have since found out that there have been several incidents of elderly ladies having their handbags stolen but the good news, if you can call it that, is that violence is hardly ever used.

I now never wear any watch in those areas.

Ok sounds bloody awful.Just stay in sipping Sangria,not too much or you might stumble and damage whatever watch is safe to wear indoors.

Although I can suggest a G-Shock if stumbling might happen.

[Suds]

I gather the impression that most people consider this a ‘1st world problem’ maybe?

[xxnick1975]

A lot of fuss about nothing really

Plenty of sensible suggestions

Here's another

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/top...ink_source=app

Sent from my M2101K6G using Tapatalk

[jukeboxs]

A lot of fuss about nothing really
...

Precisely, like a stuck record.

[Nealywheelie]

I said in my opening statement that the Omega felt like a heap of muck compared to a Rolex. On reflection I accept that it was inappropriate to say that and apologies for any offence caused.

I wore the Omega Constellation Manhattan almost every day from the mid 1980s up to Jan 2014 when I treated myself to an Explorer as a birthday present to myself. I have since become a self confessed Rolex fan and prefer them to any other brand and that includes Pateks.

I am going to give the Omega another try and will adopt a more positive attitude to it. I had it fully serviced by Omega last year so I may as well use the thing and I am usually out in Spain for about 5 months each year, so it will get a fair amount of use.

Let's see how it goes.

Fair reply, thank you. Have a great time at your hacienda.

[OldHooky]

1. Holiday somewhere else
2. Where the bloody thing
3. Wear it on a Nato
4. Wear something else - a "substitute" on a bracelet, will still attract unwanted attention, so a G-Shock/Garmin etc is probably the safe choice
5. Don't wear anything at all

But in all honesty, why go back there if there's such a risk?

[Nealywheelie]

1. Holiday somewhere else
2. Where the bloody thing
3. Wear it on a Nato
4. Wear something else - a "substitute" on a bracelet, will still attract unwanted attention, so a G-Shock/Garmin etc is probably the safe choice
5. Don't wear anything at all

But in all honesty, why go back there if there's such a risk?

Because he has a property there.

[Mr Curta]

Because he has a property there.

Should have got a great big turnip in the country.

[Suds]

Apologies Mick, ive just come off a ukrainian thread on another forum. Let’s cut the crap - your wife fought off a previous attacker, you say you couldn’t live with the guilt if your wife was hurt in that (or any subsequent) attack, your wife has recently sufferred a severe stroke- F#@“%§$€¥ away maybe?

[MartynJC (UK)]

I have the answer! If you must wear a Rolex, Mick - get yourself a second hand Cellini? The robbing turds won't recognise it.

(I had my Rolex Submariner taken off my wrist in Barcelona back in 2014 - didn't notice until I got back to the hotel - insured so got a replacement but still really a b*gger of an experience).

NB - I can recommend Portugal - no one cares a rats dooda what your wear.

[TaketheCannoli]

You're desperate for everyone to know you have a Rolex collection but don't want any undesirables to notice. That's fantasy land I'm afraid. Your brand snobbery (and just general snobbery) is clouding your view here. You had an awful experience but you're still prepared to take risks by wearing expensive trinkets.

Why not wear them in the house, in friends houses and places you know to be safe? At any other time, wear a Smiths or a Seiko (you'll probably vomit the first few times) for a very low risk and low stress life. The medium risk option would be to wear your Rolex everywhere but on leather or a nato.

Your tolerance for risk will ultimately make your decision.

[MB2]

Wear and enjoy your Rolex, but not to the Sunday market?

[Chris_in_the_UK]

A lot of fuss about nothing.

[M4tt]

A lot of fuss about nothing.

I'm sure there will be photos one day...

[Suds]

I’m certain Mick has just posted this for some ‘sport’ - rainy day in Spain perhaps

[Saint-Just]

I’m certain Mick has just posted this for some ‘sport’ - rainy day in Spain perhaps

I thought the rain in Spain stayed mainly in the plains.

[adigra]

I think you should wear two Rolexes at least, one on each wrist. Rolex shirt and cap as well. YOLO!

[Mick P]

I think you should wear two Rolexes at least, one on each wrist. Rolex shirt and cap as well. YOLO!

Nearly half of the expats wear gold Daydates, so status symbol they are not. This is probably why the ringers go there.

[Suds]

Nearly half of the expats wear FAKE gold Daydates, so status symbol they are not. This is probably why the ringers go there.

50/50 chance of hitting it big

[Mick P]

50/50 chance of hitting it big

I don't think they are the fake wearing type to be honest, a lot of them are ex police.

[dabear]

Wear the Rolex, with pride. It is insured isn't it? Don't go to dodgy areas... problem solved.

Insurance won’t but of much use if you get mugged and seriously injured.

Nowadays you need to be mad to wear Rolex or a gold watch in Spain. In my line of businesses there is a big annual conference in Barcelona, and every year several participants got mugged and some got watches stollen. Last year I was with a Huawei smartwatch or Seiko Monster, no way I am risking an expensive watch there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jwg663]

I don't think they are the fake wearing type to be honest, a lot of them are ex police.

Comedy gold.

[learningtofly]

I don't think they are the fake wearing type to be honest, a lot of them are ex police.

LOLZ

[ODP]

Nearly half of the expats wear gold Daydates, so status symbol they are not. This is probably why the ringers go there.

I’m sure they’ve all appeared on “bargain brits in the sun”. Perhaps without a Rolex you feel inferior to your peer group?

[Passenger]

I thought the rain in Spain stayed mainly in the plains.

Even the Spanish skies weep when Mick rolls into town.

[Passenger]

Nearly half of the expats wear gold Daydates, so status symbol they are not. This is probably why the ringers go there.

You're not selling the place, it sounds awful, please which part are you describing, so I know to never, ever go there?

[oldoakknives]

I hope to be off to Spain in a few weeks and it appears to be a hot spot for Rolex theft even though the country has an overall low rate of crime.

I wore my old Omega Constellation on the last visit and to be honest it felt like a heap of muck compared to a Rolex.

I want to wear a good watch up with Rolex but even my Explorer1 is instantly recognisable as a Rolex and I am therefore still an easy target.

So I am thinking of a JLC Reverso. The quality probably exceeds Rolex and when I am in a high risk area, I can wear it with the flip side turned over, so only a steel plate is on view. I could even get JLC to apply black enamel to make it look like a cheap wearable computer or whatever it is called.

It seems plausible to me, does anyone think otherwise?

Wear long sleeves.

[blackal]

Wear a gumshield.

Fixed.

[Chris_in_the_UK]

I’m sure they’ve all appeared on “bargain brits in the sun”. Perhaps without a Rolex you feel inferior to your peer group?

Red chino brigade.

[Jambo]

I don't think they are the fake wearing type to be honest, a lot of them are ex police.

I know a fair amount of ex-coppers, not many of them are wearing Rolex’s. 😂

[Suds]

I don't think they are the fake wearing type to be honest, a lot of them are ex police.

Ah, they were senior ossifers, Masonic Lodge (nudge nudge, wink wink)

[verv]

Radiomir.

not immediately identifiable

[JGJG]

I know a fair amount of ex-coppers, not many of them are wearing Rolex’s. 😂

He didn’t say ex-coppers, he said ex-Police, I like to think of Mick flexing with Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland.