The luxury market is under attack! Theft and fraud are persistent threats, but there's a powerful tool to safeguard your precious collection.
In this two-part series, we delve into the world's leading luxury watch and jewelry databases and how they can be your secret weapon against theft and fraud. But here's where it gets controversial: should you have to take these measures to protect your assets?
Over the past five years, watches and jewelry have gained immense popularity as investment-worthy assets. Unfortunately, this has made them prime targets for theft and fraud in the thriving secondary market. While you can take precautions like smart traveling, secure home storage, and specialty insurance, there's an additional step you can take right now: registering your collection with a top-tier database.
Introducing The Art Loss Register, founded in London in 1990. It's the largest private database of lost, stolen, and looted art, antiques, jewelry, and collectibles. As watch and jewelry thefts surged in the 2010s, Katya Hills, Founder and Managing Director of The Watch Register, saw an opportunity. Rolex had restricted its lost-and-stolen database access, leaving a gap in the market. Hills stepped in, creating The Watch Register within The Art Loss Register's portfolio.
The platform offers rapid serial checks, crucial for quick buying decisions. For just $16 per check, or as low as $2.50 for higher volumes, you can verify serial numbers via WhatsApp, iMessage, or text message. But The Watch Register doesn't stop at fraud prevention. It also aids in loss recovery, charging a fee only upon successful recovery.
With a vast database, The Watch Register collaborates with law enforcement, insurance companies like Hodinkee Insurance, and victims to locate and return stolen items. The recovery rates are impressive, with a 26% increase in located watches in the first half of 2025 compared to 2024. However, the key to recovery lies in having detailed information, especially the serial number, securely stored separately from the watch.
While insurance is essential, reporting lost or stolen watches to The Watch Register promptly is crucial. Hills advises, "The sooner you report, the better your chances." The platform has achieved recoveries within hours, and even watches stolen 25 years ago have been returned.
To learn more about The Watch Register and register your timepieces, visit their website. And for all your insurance queries, we're here to help. Stay tuned for part two, where we explore the Richemont group's Enquirus database.
Do you think registering collections with databases is an effective way to combat theft and fraud? Share your thoughts in the comments!
