A fashion designer had a diamond-encrusted Richard Mille watch, valued at more than €160,000, cut from his wrist outside a London restaurant, Southwark Crown Court was told.
Ali Eldahouzze, 22, and Abdel El Habchi, 30, deny one count of robbery. A third man, Younes Djoudi, has pleaded guilty to the charge.
The prosecution stated that the victim, Romanian entrepreneur Catalin Botezatu, sustained lacerations on his wrists from the cutting of the watch strap. The incident occurred on January 28 shortly before midnight as Botezatu left the Latin American restaurant Amazonico in Berkeley Square.
According to barrister Arizuna Asante, Djoudi was seen walking past Botezatu, who was smoking outside the restaurant, before later reappearing with Eldahouzze and El Habchi. Asante indicated that the men appeared to be observing the victim and the restaurant, suggesting they may have noticed or recognized the distinctive watch.
The trial is ongoing.