Going to Brazil, which watch should i take?

[jeangtd]

Hi Guys,

Im travelling to Brazil for two weeks, no bussines just vacations, sight seeing and relaxing. i am talking a dressy watch with me, i think its going to be the JLC to go out to dinner and stuff like that but i want recomendations on what to buy to wear the rest of the time. something not too bulky, dual time zone, alarm and waterproof, ive got no problem at all with a digital watch, just havent had one since the 90's and dont know what good options are there.

thanks in advance

[McLovin]

G-Shocks are cool

[drockadam]

Originally Posted by McLovin

G-Shocks are cool

x2! There was a large thread about safety in Brazil a while back. Take a look at it sir!

[jeangtd]

I hail from Colombia, South America and travle monthly to caracas, venezuela jajajajajaj it doesnt get worse than this

[jeangtd]

i searched for the word brazil as a thread title and got nothing, can you please point me in the right direction

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by jeangtd

i searched for the word brazil as a thread title and got nothing, can you please point me in the right direction

Here:

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...ghlight=brasil

[jeangtd]

Originally Posted by McLovin

Here:

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...ghlight=brasil

sounds like home. its not nice living like this but you get used to it.

[masterserg]

G-Shock ... or Polar / Garmin if you are a runner ...

[aero]

How Nice you are comming here !

As you can noticie, I am Brazilian and I wear most of the time me Rolexes or Breitlings. Buy I live in a city that holds more than 12 Million persons around and for sure I will attract bad persons all around.

I read the posts about the folks who came here ( and returned safely to US with their watches ) and decidem to tell what happens here :

The problem is showing off too much. I use me watches all the time, when I walk , riding a bycicle, driving, the key is know where you are. Buy sometimes i put the watch in me pocket when in transit from home to the theatre, restaurants, bars, nightclubs...

Most important is do what makes you confortable. And if will make you more confortable, in the major cities you will find lotes of persons who speacks english and will help you in and case you need.

Needing any assistance, feel free to send me a private message. I liverpool in Sao Paulo, and you can think about a city like NYC, Paris, Rome, HK. Nice places to eat, to see, good nightclubs ( nightlife here is awesome ) , Nice people and the most beautiful women you can imagine.

Hoje you have a nice time here,

Aero

[Lrd2sea]

Very true, Aero.

Sao Paulo was one of the most exciting city I visited - Shops, buildings, street life, food, interesting people, beautiful women,...
Good advice from a local for good reference - Take what ever watch you want to take, but use common sense.

When I was out on the streets, other than in some famously-peaceful countries, I watched my back and tried to be ready to react at all times.

[Lrd2sea]

Originally Posted by masterserg

G-Shock ... or Polar / Garmin if you are a runner ...

Jaja, if you are runner you can probably wear your Rolex, PP, or similar, for you probably are capable of outrunning the robber(s) when needed.

[DiverAsia]

After getting a gun pulled on me in Mexico City for my Submariner, I now wear a Swatch chronograph when down South.

[vintagewaferthin]

I would only bring my armitron orange plastic down south just to be on the safe side and leave my valuable vintages at home. You don't want the risk of being killed for your watch.

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by vintagewaferthin

I would only bring my armitron orange plastic down south just to be on the safe side and leave my valuable vintages at home. You don't want the risk of being killed for your watch.

Yeap, or getting it stolen out of your hotel while wearing your g-shock to the beach.
I take one watch on vacation, always on my wrist, 24/7. If I'm not safe with that watch in town at 1AM then I guess it shouldn't come with me or I shouldn't vacation there to begin with. Jus sayin.

[jeangtd]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

Yeap, or getting it stolen out of your hotel while wearing your g-shock to the beach.
I take one watch on vacation, always on my wrist, 24/7. If I'm not safe with that watch in town at 1AM then I guess it shouldn't come with me or I shouldn't vacation there to begin with. Jus sayin.

you have a point. truth is that you can get mugged at a lot of places. for example, i live in Bogota, Colombia. its not the safest place on earth and i walk around with any watch, two tone sub included. but i know when to take it off just to avoid a situation, and i rarelly take it off, almost never. but i dont know sao paulo, i wouldnt know when its ok and when i should put it in my pocket, or if these guys coming my way dont belong in this neighbourhood and i should be alert or not.

[Jakey]

None, go naked and use the Sun or Moon as an indication of the time. With this top tip you will be fine

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by jeangtd

you have a point. truth is that you can get mugged at a lot of places. for example, i live in Bogota, Colombia. its not the safest place on earth and i walk around with any watch, two tone sub included. but i know when to take it off just to avoid a situation, and i rarelly take it off, almost never. but i dont know sao paulo, i wouldnt know when its ok and when i should put it in my pocket, or if these guys coming my way dont belong in this neighbourhood and i should be alert or not.

Exactly, this is key. I would wear my Rolex or whatever any where in NY or the worst parts of Atlanta, GA, but I'm a native in those places. I know how to look like I belong and act accordingly. I would not have any idea how to "belong" in Detroit even though I'm essentially from a similar environment.
Once you're marked as an outsider, criminals will target you first because they know you're only there for a limited time, may not know local assistance protocols, may not want to waste your limited time doing legal mumbo jumbo in a foreign language and that for a foreigner it's always very difficult to clearly identify "natives"(you know, they all look alike) because your senses are overwhelmed by the experience of a foreign land. Ok, sounds like I just described why not to go on vacation to a max security prison....

As far as travel is concerned, a good tool I always use in planning a trip is the State Departments website for travel advisory:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p...a/pa_1766.html

and for example, look up a country like Brazil, like this:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p...072.html#crime

^I pulled this paragraph from the crimes section:
In May/June 2012, armed groups in Sao Paulo targeted restaurants, robbing patrons during busiest parts of the day. These criminal events are not isolated to one area of the city and target both rich and poor neighborhoods.

They update the info pretty often to give you an relatively accurate idea of recent issues.
Good luck with the watch selection and enjoy you're vacation. Just use common sense, it's the 5th principle of patrolling, and you'll be just fine.

[jeangtd]

Originally Posted by rashid.bk

ok, sounds like i just described why not to go on vacation to a max security prison....

jajajajajajaajajajajajaja

[z32turbo]

I just wear the TT SubC

[ldogg53]

Originally Posted by DiverAsia

After getting a gun pulled on me in Mexico City for my Submariner, I now wear a Swatch chronograph when down South.

Never been robbed when traveling, but in my line of work I sometimes go to places like Sao Paolo, Caracas, BsAs, Bogota, Cartagena etc. For those trips I have a cheap $100 Fossil watch. Neutral, generic, cheap. My life and $$ are more important to me than having on a fine timepiece on my wrist for a few days when traveling.

[jeangtd]

Originally Posted by ldogg53

Never been robbed when traveling, but in my line of work I sometimes go to places like Sao Paolo, Caracas, BsAs, Bogota, Cartagena etc. For those trips I have a cheap $100 Fossil watch. Neutral, generic, cheap. My life and $$ are more important to me than having on a fine timepiece on my wrist for a few days when traveling.

Hey! hope you enjoy my country, I go to Cartagena at least 6 times a year and live in Bogota.

[mrarchiegoodwin]

Originally Posted by aero

How Nice you are comming here !

As you can noticie, I am Brazilian and I wear most of the time me Rolexes or Breitlings. Buy I live in a city that holds more than 12 Million persons around and for sure I will attract bad persons all around.

I read the posts about the folks who came here ( and returned safely to US with their watches ) and decidem to tell what happens here :

The problem is showing off too much. I use me watches all the time, when I walk , riding a bycicle, driving, the key is know where you are. Buy sometimes i put the watch in me pocket when in transit from home to the theatre, restaurants, bars, nightclubs...

Most important is do what makes you confortable. And if will make you more confortable, in the major cities you will find lotes of persons who speacks english and will help you in and case you need.

Needing any assistance, feel free to send me a private message. I liverpool in Sao Paulo, and you can think about a city like NYC, Paris, Rome, HK. Nice places to eat, to see, good nightclubs ( nightlife here is awesome ) , Nice people and the most beautiful women you can imagine.

Hoje you have a nice time here,

Aero

Reminds me of living in Sao Paulo as a child. Grandpa wore a Patek. But that was a much simpler time. It's huge and complex now. Stay well.

[subtona]

it is a tough town, but so is columbia as you've said....

where something obscure perhaps vs the always recognizable submariner.

or perhaps, i have been wearing my SD on an isofrane strap to play it down a little.

stay safe

[cookie7]

Been there, a Kevlar vest and a body guard would be good

[h999r]

Every country or city has a ghetto side that we have to avoid. Even in LA , or any cities in US has a ghetto side. When you talking about Rio and you stay at the nice area nothing bad will happened to you. We have to know the area when you are wearing your nice watches.