Is it safe to wear your Rolex in New York City in 2021?

I’ve lived in New York City for 13 years and owned at least one Rolex at all times. I would walk all over the city without a care in the world, wearing my Datejust or Daytona. I never once thought twice about what watch I would wear. Fast forward to 2021 and crime is up in the city I love. Just last week, one man was shot and another robbed of his Rolex while outdoor dining at trendy NYC restaurant Philippe Chow (read about it here). My friends and family who know I am a watch lover and collector all forwarded me the story and warned me to be careful about wearing my nice watches in the city. Fortunately, I have not personally experienced any of this crime, and it does look like crime is down from its height in 2020 (link here), but it does make me ask the question: is it safe for me to wear my Rolex out and about in NYC? The answer is a little bit complicated.

Philippe Chow after the shooting. Photo Courtesy of Sam Costanza/New York Daily News.

Us watch lovers buy our timepieces to enjoy and not to lock in a safe in our apartments. The pandemic unfortunately has resulted in higher crime in New York as well as other cities. It has also caused watch prices, and Rolex prices in particular, to skyrocket. These two factors have converged to at least make me think twice about wearing a high-end timepiece all over the city.

While this article is not meant to deter people from wearing their watches out and about, I do want people to be smart about it. If I am walking around the city for long periods of time, especially late at night (and by myself) I will opt for my G-Shock CasiOak and not my Royal Oak. Likewise, I am more likely to wear a nicer timepiece if I have a long sleeve shirt or jacket on that will hide my wrist (I guess I can be happy that Fall and Winter are coming).

My suggestion would be to just be smart about it. If you aren’t sure where you are eating (and are eating outside on the street) wear something less expensive. If you are going to an upscale bar, a friend’s place, or a nice indoor restaurant, wear that Daytona or Day-Date. Definitely do not walk through Central Park in the dead of night wearing your green dial Nautilus!

Do I think it is safe to wear a Rolex in NYC in 2021? I actually do. While crime is up, the chances that something happens to you personally is still very low. But do I think you should take precautions, think about what you are doing, and whether you absolutely need to wear your Rolex to do it? Most definitely.

I’d love to start a conversation about this topic in the comments. So let me know what you think!

Be smart and stay safe!