Luxury Watch Discussion: Daily Wear & Lifestyle

patrick_y · 2022-07-07T23:26:42Z

A Rolex owner was robbed in Danville, CA, sparking a WatchProSite discussion on watch theft, personal safety, and the future of collecting luxury timepieces.

patrick_y

WPS member · Horological Meandering forum

25 replies2721 views0 photos

Patrick_y's original post brings to light a concerning incident in Danville, California, where a Rolex owner was robbed at gunpoint outside a supermarket. This event sparks a vital discussion within the WatchProSite community about the evolving risks associated with wearing luxury timepieces in public. Patrick_y's detailed account and subsequent reflections prompt collectors to consider the broader implications for personal safety and the future of watch collecting.

Danville is a nice town in Northern California. An upper middle-class town, Danville is known for its good schools, warmer weather, and The Blackhawk Museum - a very famous classic car museum. The average home in Danville is $2.6 million (according to Zillow.com). The local area used to be a big Harley Davidson motorcycle market as well. Birds chirp.

But unfortunately, in front of the Trader Joe's supermarket in the Town of Danville, a man was supposedly robbed of his Rolex watch 01-July-2022 in the afternoon daylight as he exited his vehicle. Two armed young juvenile teenage children approached the victim at gunpoint, took a Rolex valued in the neighborhood of $40,000 USD, and escaped in a getaway vehicle where there a third suspect (aged 18 years old) who was the getaway driver.

Considering that the man was robbed as he was exiting his vehicle, he was likely targeted beforehand. I can think of at least three possibilities: 1, Perhaps the suspects noticed the victim's watch as the victim was driving or parking and decided to follow him. 2, Perhaps the victim drove a nice car that caught the eye of the suspects and they chose to rob the victim without knowing he had a nice watch. 3, Perhaps the suspects knew this victim had a nice watch and they followed the victim from the victim's home/office/other until he got out of the car.

Especially concerning was that two guns were involved. One was a Glock, a type of handgun; the other an "AR Style" weapon which would indicate a large military style weapon.

This and the fact that underage teenagers are recognizing watches as targets - is a concern worth noting.

The story does have some good news. Police have three suspects in custody related to the getaway vehicle. Hopefully the police have the perpetrators to this incident.

Here's the full story:

www.sfgate.com

www.ktvu.com

NBC San Francisco news incorrectly reported that the Trader Joes supermarket itself was robbed.

Key Points from the Discussion

Rolex watches have become highly liquid assets, easily converted into cash, making them prime targets for criminals. This trend, coupled with watches transitioning from tools to symbols of wealth, contributes to increased theft.
The rise of social media, where individuals often display their valuables, inadvertently makes them targets. Additionally, affluent towns and cities are perceived as prime locations for criminals seeking wealthy individuals.
To deter the sale of stolen watches, collectors should insist on purchasing timepieces only with their original box and papers, verifying their authenticity through watermarks and matching serial numbers. Avoiding transactions with unknown sellers is also crucial.
The increasing recognition of luxury watches by underage perpetrators, as highlighted by the involvement of teenagers in this robbery, signals a disturbing shift in criminal targeting strategies.
Some collectors are finding themselves hesitant to wear even their less expensive but recognizable watches, like a Submariner, in public due to unwanted attention, despite their quality and intended use as sports watches.
The current climate raises questions about the future of watch collecting: will enthusiasts stop wearing their valuable pieces in public, or will the passion for collecting diminish if such incidents become more commonplace?

The Discussion

Gelato Monster

Jul 8, 2022

I believe GMT and Daytona are the favorit.

Motty

Jul 8, 2022

There’s a lot to unpack here and these type of stories. 1) Rolex became a stock which can very easily be non traced converted into cash. 2) watches are unlike ever before which used to be a tool, now it’s a symbol of wealth and a jewelry. 3) driving flashy cars equals to rich people which equals to flashy watches (in todays age, not 10 years ago). 4) social media makes the world so open, that people post on instagram pics of their watches and valuables which makes them a target. 5) upper class t

AuHavrePro

Jul 8, 2022

No Rolexes for me foreseeably . Good to see people were apprehended in connection to this case. Cheers, Filip

patrick_y

Jul 8, 2022

Rolexes are indeed virtually liquid like cash. And I agree to all of your statements. Danville is mostly conservative, I would guess. But still. California is overall fairly liberal. But I hear people in San Francisco are so fed up with the crime that they plan to vote Republican (Conservative) soon. Many people whom I personally know in San Francisco consider themselves to be liberals, yet many of these same friends plan to vote conservative soon.

patrick_y

Jul 8, 2022

I guess it's kind of like don't drive a fancy bright yellow Ferrari into a really bad neighborhood... You may get unwanted attention. But... If one cannot enjoy a Rolex in a good neighborhood like Danville - that's really bad news. Then again, Highland Park is a very upper class suburb of Chicago, and it very unfortunately endured the latest mass shooting. No place is safe!

Dr No

Jul 8, 2022

. . . but this story does. 😡

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