The holidaymaker was targeted by a gang of four outside his 5-star hotel in Spain

According to official reports, the lone holidaymaker was near the 5-star Mercer Hotel in the Gothic Quarter on Calle Lledo when he was attacked by a gang of muggers. The man had just finished lunch at a nearby restaurant shortly after 2 p.m. when the attackers approached him.

Barcelona police officers, the Mossos d’Esquadra, are looking for four men who carried out the attack, during which the tourist was slightly injured. He had his Swiss-made Hubolt watch stolen, which according to unconfirmed reports was actually a luxury Black Caviar Bang model.

This elegant timepiece requires over 2,000 hours of work and is encrusted with hundreds of tiny precious diamonds. The limited-edition timepiece reportedly cost the American $1 million.

A Mossos d’Esquadra spokesperson said: ‘I can confirm that we are investigating the violent theft of a designer watch worth £685,000 following a complaint from a tourist.

“The person who reported the crime said he was surrounded by a gang of attackers who snatched the watch from his wrist.

“The incident reportedly happened around 2:20 p.m. Tuesday. No arrests have yet been made.”

According to a businessman from Ibiza: “They act quickly, without speaking or being noticed to surprise their victims.

“They are very well prepared. Previously it happened at night, but now they strike at any time of the day.”

Image: Haute Horlogerie