Traveling with nice watches

[prwdmd]

I usually like to bring 1-2 nice watches with me on trips unless I'm going to a 3rd world type country. I'm leaving for Bordeaux France in a few weeks and I'm trying to decide which watches to bring. Now typically if we were visiting a large European city I'd def go with something more low-key... i.e. something in steel and no Rolexes and nothing gold. This trip we will be doing mainly wine tours and eating at nice restaurants in the French countryside... not even spending any time in Bordeaux city other than to land.

Would my 44mm ROO rose gold be to flashy for French wine country? My other option would be a 42 mm IWC Chronograph Classic in rose gold for a more reserved look. I also plan on brining one of my 44 mm Panerai's for a casual watch. Or maybe just stick with one Panerai and call it a day? Wish I had a 41 mm Royal Oak chronograph in steel... that would be perfect for this trip.

Do most of you go more low-key with timepieces when traveling or do you just bring whatever you want?

Looking forward to your feedback.

[jeffahn]

I think precious metal is fine in most European locations - cities or countryside.

Now, the main train stations in places like Rome or Paris? I'd probably not wear it around there, but I'd still bring it if I wanted to enjoy it for a nice dinner out or, in your case, a nice day wine-tasting.

I'm assuming you have them all insured? If so, bring what you like, and be selective in the situations you wear them.

[Daryl]

I don't own a PM watch but

I always bring my BLNR on our Europe trips. no one seems to care :)

enjoy your wine tasting :)

[lapince]

Ok, I'm french, from Paris, and yes the 44 AP is a little too flashy for this trip, would be fine for the Riviera, so I wouldn't consider it, though they probably have had their share of visitors with such watches, but the french taste for this would be not to take it

[Hairdude1]

If your uncomfortable leave it. If not go for it.

[KarlS]

Wear what I need depending on where

[KarlS]

Or

[AshAP]

My best pal has a house just near St. Emillion and he got a shock when he first moved there as very few people are interested in material possessions. He and his wife both felt uncomfortable wearing Pateks (his wife's had diamonds) so they sold them. He now wears a SS black themes Offshore and his French pals think it's just a sports watch albeit a nice one.

[KarlS]

Unless people are interested in watches they neither care nor know what you are wearing!! However I think diamonds/emeralds or any bling in a rural environment may raise a few eyebrows

[Lordofrolex]

Originally Posted by KarlS

Wear what I need depending on where

What case is this?

[KarlS]

Scatola

[prwdmd]

Originally Posted by lapince

Ok, I'm french, from Paris, and yes the 44 AP is a little too flashy for this trip, would be fine for the Riviera, so I wouldn't consider it, though they probably have had their share of visitors with such watches, but the french taste for this would be not to take it

Thank you! This is what I was thinking but just wanted to make sure I was making the right choice. Sounds like my original plan to take the Panerai and a gold IWC Portuguese will be the way to go. The IWC is much more traditional in styling so I think would suit that environment better.

[prwdmd]

Originally Posted by AshAP

My best pal has a house just near St. Emillion and he got a shock when he first moved there as very few people are interested in material possessions. He and his wife both felt uncomfortable wearing Pateks (his wife's had diamonds) so they sold them. He now wears a SS black themes Offshore and his French pals think it's just a sports watch albeit a nice one.

Yes we are staying about 20 min outside St Emilion. Good to know. Thanks.

[AshAP]

Originally Posted by prwdmd

Yes we are staying about 20 min outside St Emilion. Good to know. Thanks.

If you are that close to St. Emilion it's worth driving to Pomerol and visiting Petrus. It's amazing to see how such world famous vines are next to the road!

[Samui]

Well this is the perfect opportunity to get the royal oak. I think I would take the 44mm.

[masyv6]

If they're insured/you aren't worried about them being stolen....bring em!

[porschedude]

Hey your from Nashville! There's a couple of us that meet up for lunch once a month and talk watches.

[Muzz]

Personally I would wear my Panerai but that is just me.

[Token74]

I recently did a bit of wine tour around France which included Bordeaux and St Emilion, and I chose to wear a Daytona which for me fitted in nicely. In my experience the French appreciate 'fine' but not 'flash'.

In one of the chateau we stayed in, one of the local guests had an old Ferrari 308 which was wonderful. It was pretty tatty and from speaking with him, had been his everyday car since he bought it new! In the UK, it would have looked much better in pristine condition, but somehow in France it was just perfect the way it was.

Based on my experience, a battered classic SS model would be far more appreciated in that region of France than a nicely polished headline maker.

Go to Saint Tropez however, different story entirely!


As an aside, if you can find the time for a bit of extra travel, go and visit Remy Martin - we did a lot of wine tours but the Remy Martin visit blew my mind!

[lapince]

Exactly we appreciate fine but not flash, that's perfectly describing it, that's probably why I won't ever be able to wear a full gold watch, I find some stunning, but way too flash for me...

[sea-dweller]

I usually wear a Rolex with GMT function, then carry a G Shock in my bag.

[Tomas Eriksson]

Le Brassus is almost only a daytrip away from Bordeaux... Go for ROO, they have similar taste in France as in rest of Europe.

[Rolex addict]

When I travel to Europe, it's usually a cycling vacation which means I wear the Timex.

[gtnator]

Originally Posted by Rolex addict

When I travel to Europe, it's usually a cycling vacation which means I wear the Timex.

Not a sport Rolex?

[Rolex addict]

Originally Posted by gtnator

Not a sport Rolex?

You've never crashed a bicycle!! The amount of goat, cow, horse, etc. manure on the roads in the Pyrenees and Alps is incredible. Greatly increases the chance of a crash going downhill. Throw in the dynamics of riding in a group and it's just not worth the risk.

[masterserg]

Originally Posted by KarlS

Or

I like these rolls, but don't the watches bump into each other?

[KarlS]

Originally Posted by masterserg

I like these rolls, but don't the watches bump into each other?

I do worry about that but they are on quite tight so don't move but I tend to use this a bit more for that reason

[KarlS]

Interchanges with this

[masterserg]

^^ MUCH nicer IMO!

[jon_jon]

I would be yourself and wear whatever you feel comfortable wearing normally. I think most wine tours are fairly laid back and IMO most people don't pay much attention to what kind of watches other people are wearing.