Upper east side is certainly not a high crime area but when it comes to stealing luxury goods from defenseless people I can't think of a better place in NYC. Just saying, no one is scoping out the dive bar around the corner from me on the lower east side for a snatch and grab of rolexes and jewelry.
But if it makes you feel better not wearing a hype Rolex or AP while spending time in the touristy areas wouldn't hurt. In this case I would wager the location was more of a risk than the watch...
I haven't been able to put a ding/dent in a ti watch and scratches tend to be very light, visible in the finish but not actually digging into the metal. This means any decorative polishing or brushing tends to hold up better over time. Color may also be an advantage if you like the slightly darker s