Having a watch stolen is a stressful, disorienting experience. Whether your timepiece was taken during a street robbery, a burglary, or has simply disappeared, the steps you take in the first 24 to 48 hours can significantly affect your chances of getting it back. This guide walks you through exactly what to do — in the right order.
Step 1 — File a Police Report Immediately
Contact your local police force and file a theft report as soon as possible. Do not wait. Filing quickly serves multiple critical purposes:
- It creates an official record of the theft, which is required for any insurance claim
- Police can flag the watch in national stolen property databases
- A crime reference number is essential documentation for your insurer
- Swift reporting means police can act on CCTV or witness information while it is still available
When filing the report, provide the watch's brand, model, reference number, and serial number. Request a written copy of the crime reference number before you leave or end the call.
Step 2 — Locate Your Watch's Serial Number
The serial number is the single most important piece of information for recovering a stolen watch. Without it, there is no way to definitively identify your specific piece. Check these sources:
- Original box and papers — warranty cards and chronometer certificates usually display the serial
- Insurance documents or appraisal certificates
- Purchase receipt or invoice from the original authorised dealer
- Photographs you may have taken of the watch — the case back, between the lugs, or documentation
If you cannot locate the serial number, your brand's authorised dealer may be able to assist if you can provide proof of purchase. For Rolex, the serial appears on the inner bezel ring at 6 o'clock on modern pieces, or between the lugs on older models.
Step 3 — Register It on StolenWatchCheck
As soon as you have the serial number, register the theft on StolenWatchCheck. This adds your watch to our global stolen watch database — visible to dealers, pawnbrokers, auction houses, and law enforcement worldwide. Registration is free and takes under two minutes.
From the moment your watch is registered, any professional who runs a check on that serial number will see it flagged. Many recovered watches are identified at dealer trade-in desks or during pre-auction verification — often months or even years after the original theft.
Our data shows that watches registered within 24 hours of theft are significantly more likely to be recovered than those registered weeks later. The critical window is 3–6 months, before the watch is moved, modified, or sold abroad.
Step 4 — Notify Your Insurer
Contact your watch insurer immediately after filing the police report. Most policies require notification within a defined window after a theft — failing to do so can invalidate your claim. When you contact them, have ready:
- The police crime reference number
- The watch's serial number, reference, model, and brand
- Proof of purchase or ownership documentation
- Any photographs of the watch
- An estimated value (based on recent market prices if the watch has appreciated)
Many insurers will add the watch to their own recovery databases and coordinate directly with law enforcement and our registry. Ask your insurer to confirm they have registered the loss with their industry database.
Step 5 — Alert the Secondary Market
Stolen watches often resurface on secondary market platforms within weeks. You can proactively alert the market:
- Report the theft to major online watch marketplaces (Chrono24, WatchBox, eBay) — provide the serial number to their fraud teams
- Contact reputable local dealers and pawnbrokers with the watch details — many will flag it voluntarily if it comes in
- Post in relevant watch communities (WatchUSeek, Reddit r/Watches) — community members are often first to spot re-listed stolen pieces
- Alert any specialist watch auction houses in your region
What Are the Chances of Getting My Watch Back?
The statistics are encouraging if you act quickly. Approximately 50% of watches registered on our platform are recovered within the first year. The most common recovery scenarios are:
- A dealer runs a pre-purchase check and the serial number returns a match
- A pawnbroker identifies the watch before accepting it
- An auction house spots the watch during pre-sale verification
- A private buyer checks the serial number before completing a marketplace purchase
The more places your watch is registered and the wider the alert network, the higher your chances of recovery. StolenWatchCheck is cross-referenced by professionals worldwide — registering costs nothing and dramatically improves your odds.
Report Your Stolen Watch Now
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