“No. I’m not taking off my Rolex!”

Togri v. 2.0 · Oct 17, 2018

I am never asked to remove my watch going through security, so I never do.

albertob · Oct 17, 2018

Togri v. 2.0
I am never asked to remove my watch going through security, so I never do.

Lucky you 😀

BlackTalon · Oct 17, 2018

ioaniro
Doesn't this qualify for the I live in my small world and don't give a crap about others category? I get why people refuse to take off expensive watches for checks but if most people would argue that at the queues the waiting time at check-ins would be unbearable . I usually wear normal priced watches if I travel and know I'll go through security at some point. Just because we like to wear expensive watches doesn't mean we need special rules for them. Am I wrong?

I lost a pair of sunglasses going through airport security last year. The line was long, the screeners'were impatient/ stressed, etc. I had my stuff spread in 3 bins, and when I was getting wanded one of the 'helpful' staff grabbed stuff from various bins and tried to consolidate. After I grabbed all my stuff and made walked down a few gates I realized I did not have my sunglasses. I went back to the screening area and they were no where to be found. Having things like that happen make me vary wary when I go through security screenings (which I also have to do regularly going into gov't buildings around DC).

The fact is no one gives a crap about your stuff except you. They do not have a vested interest in making sure you watch doesn't get bounced around, moved, etc., and to the screeners nothing has any value so they have no desire to be careful.

JamieG · Oct 17, 2018

BlackTalon
The fact is no one gives a crap about your stuff except you. They do not have a vested interest in making sure you watch doesn't get bounced around, moved, etc., and to the screeners nothing has any value so they have no desire to be careful.

Exactly this. It is my choice to wear any of my watches and there is no way I’m letting it out of my sight at airport security.

I might be tempted to zip it in a jacket pocket or inside a laptop bag but having seen,on more than one occasion, jackets get pulled out of trays and banged around as they rearrange stuff I feel less inclined to do so.

It’s much safer on my wrist and any debate lasts less time than it takes the little old chap in front remove his belt (cos he forgot) or the lady to remove her shoes with lots of metal work hanging off of them.

I have no issues if they take a little more time over me tbh. Oh and I probably take 16 - 20 flights per annum so it’s not like I don’t know the procedure

ext1 · Oct 17, 2018

When I used to have DSOTM, it didn't set off the metal detector, and I always made sure to wear it under a long sleeve so airport people didn't know I was wearing a watch. (So I slipped another one in my jacket, which was separate from my bag, which had another watch....😗) (I know some people haven't had problems carrying multiple watches, but I always raise questions, so this is what I do.)

Larry S · Oct 17, 2018

I have never been challenged in an airport and I’m a very frequent flier. This was to get into a tourist attraction, albeit one I have great reverence for. There were not enough bins, bins were dumping over in the scanners and people were just throwing stuff into them while being barked at by security. I had no backpack etc to put the watch into. It was bad enough that I had to stuff two phones, my camera, belt and wallet into my hat. Lots of stories about what happenes to watches and other valuables in security. This was my fourth Sagrada visit. Never seen this before. Ps ... in the process of visiting the Gaudi houses on Passeig De Gràcia... not a single sport model was in inventory at the Rolex boutique.

quito · Oct 17, 2018

WatchVaultNYC
Which is why I only wear my watch once I get past security. Before that its in my carry-on

Ditto! Those people are not gentle with beloved watches.

kkt · Oct 17, 2018

superfly
I have found that removing a watch at airport security is completely optional.

I've had TSA agents in the US say, "I wouldn't take a watch like that off" and similar.

Just FWIW.

Then why the heck do they TELL you to?

Syrte · Oct 17, 2018

Fritz
When I travel I wear something I can live with loosing.

Seiko or Citizen divers are the usual choice, tough and replaceable.

I do the exact same. A lesson learned after a pair of favorite sunglasses got stolen from my coat pocket in my hotel room, once upon a time in a touristy area of Peru. And a couple of instances of checked luggage getting stranded only reinforced the method.

JamieG · Oct 17, 2018

kkt
Then why the heck do they TELL you to?

To minimise the chances of the scanner going off...

Or it might be there’s a chance they score a BLNR off of some unsuspecting sap

boogedyboo · Oct 18, 2018

I find that it is usually not worth the risk to wear a nice watch going through security.

Wear a beater (or no watch at all) with your nice watch in your carry-on.

Uniqez · Oct 18, 2018

For the airports in the US - TSA pre-check is a way to go. I have never been asked to remove the watch. For tourist attractions - it is better to get a beater watch on.
@Larry S - imagine they would've get upset and denied entry for you.

Larry S · Oct 18, 2018

Uniqez
For the airports in the US - TSA pre-check is a way to go. I have never been asked to remove the watch. For tourist attractions - it is better to get a beater watch on.
@Larry S - imagine they would've get upset and denied entry for you.

Then I won! Got in and watched Mrs S experience the Cathedral for the first time. She was blown away.

Archer · Oct 19, 2018

I've been through security checks at sporting events, entertainment, airports, etc., and I've never been asked to take my watch off...not once...ever...

Any "extra" watches I might bring along are in my carry on bag (inside a small watch case) when flying, but I always have one on my wrist, and it's never been a problem.

Robbyman · Oct 20, 2018

I take a Rolex pouch with me and put it in there, keeping a close eye on it. Only at an airport though where they know who everybody is around you. Impossible to get away with anything.

Rglaz · Oct 20, 2018

I only wear a watch that can be replaced. I stash it in a service pouch inside my carry on. SOME TSA guys want the watch OFF so I dont count on getting away with wearing it through the scanner. i.e. I leave the real collectible ones behind in a safe place

haqq777 · Oct 20, 2018

Surprised quite a few guys have never been asked to take their watches off at the airports. I am a frequent flyer. Have been flying domestic and overseas since I was 17 years old. I can venture to say that more than 50% of the time I have specifically been asked to take watch off my wrist and put it in the bin. And folk at TSA stateside are pretty nasty about it as well. Have also been 'randomly' selected every other trip I make so there is that too.

Larry S · Oct 20, 2018

Only once or twice. One time I left security only to realize I’d not picked up my watch. Fortunately I ran back and the nice TSA person had my watch waiting. Also fortunate it was a “cheap” victorinox. Had the situation been orderly a Sagrada Familia, I’d have not put up a fight. It was pandemonium, very disorganized .. trays were not sliding well though the scanner.

Sherbie · Oct 20, 2018

Travelled all over the world constantly the past 28 years and what frustrates me most is the absolute lack of consistency at security gates - even in the same country, all airports are different - some want shoes off, some dont, some want ipads out ( others only want pc’s), same with liquids etc etc.

No one knows what to do now and thats what slows the lines down.

I havent taken a watch off now for the past 6 years, and never get asked to do so either. Ditto bracelets

BenjaminT · Oct 20, 2018

Rglaz
I only wear a watch that can be replaced. I stash it in a service pouch inside my carry on. SOME TSA guys want the watch OFF so I dont count on getting away with wearing it through the scanner. i.e. I leave the real collectible ones behind in a safe place

Yep, that's what I do. Plus I take my shoes and belt off voluntarily. By doing so I pass the detector 100% w/o being delayed by usage of this wand. That means I am faster than the xray and can take control of my carry on before someone else has a chance.