THE WATCH REGISTER database is the global leader for due diligence and crime prevention in the luxury watch market. We hold the world’s largest, most established, international database of lost, stolen and fake watches, containing data compiled over 30 years. We provide expert-audited theft checks for watch traders and buyers, as well as specialist watch recovery services to victims and insurers.
THE WATCH REGISTER operation is headquartered in London and is part of the Art Loss Register (ALR), the world’s largest private database of lost and stolen art, antiques and collectibles (www.artloss.com). Our founding shareholders are Lloyd’s of London and the leading global auction houses Christie’s and Sotheby’s, who remain major clients to this day.
Our database was established with the purpose of protecting the market from stolen property and enabling insurers and victims to recover their losses. Since the foundation of the ALR in 1990, the company has been responsible for the recovery of lost and stolen property worth hundreds of million of pounds. The experience gained by the ALR over 30 years enables THE WATCH REGISTER team to offer an unrivalled recovery service for victims of theft and due diligence tool for the watch trade.
THE WATCH REGISTER database is independent of any brands or retailers. Our sole purpose is to protect the pre-owned watch market, assist victims of theft and support the police.
The Database
THE WATCH REGISTER database combines a 30-year heritage with specialist expertise and leading technology. All watches registered in our database and all searches conducted are expert-vetted to ensure accuracy and validity. The quality of our data and monitoring allows us to provide the most reliable watch theft check available. Our search Certificates are a legally recognised proof of due diligence and show evidence of a good faith transaction.
The database currently lists over 80,000 lost and stolen watches, and is growing rapidly. The database contains data on over 850 different brands and watchmakers, including Rolex, Omega, Cartier, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, Richard Mille, Breitling, TAG Heuer, IWC, Jaeger LeCoultre and many more. The database also includes vintage, antique and pocket watches.
Our database covers a broad range of incidents and risks including robberies, snatches, burglaries, frauds, postal losses, accidental losses and fakes.
This summer we are launching a state-of-the-art new database which combines specialist algorithms with expert intervention. The system will be semi-automated, enabling instantaneous results to searches round the clock to all users globally, whilst continuing to provide the human oversight and support from our expert team which is the hallmark of our service.
The Expertise
The success of our operations relies on the expertise of our team. We provide end-to-end support from the point of loss all the way to recovery.
From experience, we know that every step in the process of identifying stolen watches requires human oversight and expertise. For this reason, all of our data entry and our serial number checks on watches are expert-vetted to ensure quality control. Our specialist team is on hand to provide customer support by telephone and email. The diligence and knowledge of our staff ensures that the search results we provide to our clients are of the highest standard.
From the moment a lost or stolen watch is found, our specialist recoveries team steps in. We make immediate attempts to secure the watch and facilitate its recovery, by liaising proactively with police, insurers, sellers and the victim. To read more about our recovery service click here.
Please contact us to discuss any enquiry relating to your loss registration, database search or recovery with a member of our team.
The vision
We believe that the pre-owned watch market should be a place where everyone can trade with peace of mind.
Our mission is to ensure that every sale of a pre-owned watch is checked against our database and every loss is registered.
This creates the greatest obstacle to the sale of stolen goods, thereby increasing the chance of detection and reducing the incentive for thieves.
In an industry where one third of sales are for second-hand watches, collectors should feel safe wearing their timepieces and buying should be risk-free.
Maturity of practice, maturity of data
Search the database
Check if a watch is lost, stolen or fake
- Buy and sell with peace of mind
- Avoid financial loss
- Protect your reputation
- Search Certificate as evidence of your theft checks
Serial number checks on Rolex and all other brands. Search by SMS, Whatsapp or via the website. Results within minutes.
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Register a loss
Ensure the best chance of recovery
Your watch will be registered on the largest international theft database used by dealers, jewellers, pawnbrokers and auction houses to identify stolen watches. We will actively search for your watch on the global pre-owned watch market until it is recovered.
50% of our recovered watches are found within 1 year of the theft, and 35% within 6 months.