Watch Register catalogues luxury watches worth $1.9bn
These are stolen and lost timepieces
The Watch Register, marking its 10-year milestone, has reported a massive surge in registered watches with unique serial numbers, soaring by 236% in the past year. The globally acclaimed database, renowned for its role in combatting watch crime, now houses over 100,000 such timepieces.
A decade since its inception, the Watch Register has revealed that the collective worth of missing or stolen watches catalogued on its platform stands at a staggering $1.9 billion. This revelation underscores the gravity of luxury watch theft on a global scale.
The commemorative report, written by Adrian Hailwood, an independent watch consultant, delves into the database’s evolution and illuminates prevailing challenges in thwarting watch crime.
Notably, the proliferation of disparate watch registration services is a significant hurdle, complicating data coherence and impeding recovery efforts.
The report advocates for unified action in response to the escalating threat of luxury watch theft.
Collaboration needed
Collaboration among insurers, auction houses, manufacturers, and law enforcement agencies is imperative to establish a consolidated global registry, enhancing consumer confidence and trade integrity.
Katya Hills, Managing Director of The Watch Register, stressed the urgency of a cohesive approach, drawing from the parent company’s rich legacy in safeguarding valuables. She asserted the necessity of a singular due diligence platform to combat watch crime effectively.
Headquartered in the UK, The Watch Register hunts for stolen watches across international markets, harnessing advanced search algorithms and a skilled investigative team.
With an impressive record of retrieving four watches daily on average, the database is a vital resource for industry stakeholders.
As the fight against luxury watch theft intensifies, The Watch Register remains steadfast in its mission to protect consumers and preserve the integrity of the global watch trade.
Through relentless vigilance and collaborative efforts, it strives to stem the tide of illicit activity and safeguard the cherished timepieces of enthusiasts worldwide.
The Watch Register database is a global leader in due diligence and crime prevention in the luxury watch market. It holds the world’s largest, most established, international database of lost, stolen, and fake watches, containing data compiled over 30 years.
The company provides expert-audited theft checks for watch traders and buyers and specialist watch recovery services to victims and insurers.
Featured image: The Watch Register holds the world’s largest, most established international database of lost, stolen, and fake watches. Credit: Chris Lutke
Last Updated on 10 months by Arnold Pinto
