Stolen Watches Remain a Routine Risk for Retailers

By JCK News Desk | May 01, 2026

One in five dealers of pre-owned luxury watches say they’re approached several times a week with timepieces they believe might be stolen, according to a survey of retailers worldwide.

The Watch Register, an international database of lost and stolen timepieces, reported that nine out of 10 retailers in its survey said they’re presented with suspicious goods at least once a month: the 20% who said it happens several times a week, plus another 71% who pegged frequency at several times a month. Only 2% of survey respondents said they never encounter watches they suspect were stolen.

The study found that while most retailers use stolen-watch databases as part of their due diligence, the practice is not consistent. About a third of the retailers surveyed reported checking every transaction, while others said they do so selectively. The Watch Register described this gap as a vulnerability that allows stolen goods to continue circulating through legitimate sales channels.

“Checks need to become standard practice for every transaction, not just for items where suspicions are raised, if the risk is to be reduced further,” said Katya Hills, the company’s managing director.

Some 78% of dealers in the survey said they actively promote their use of stolen-watch databases to encourage customer trust. According to the Watch Register, this reflects growing pressure on retailers to demonstrate safeguards as consumer awareness of watch-related theft increases.

Despite those efforts, financial exposure remains significant. More than half of respondents—53%—said they’ve suffered losses after unknowingly acquiring stolen watches. Retailers in the survey estimated purchasing stolen watches an average of four times over the past three years. The Watch Register noted that losses may only surface years later, when a watch is flagged during a subsequent resale.

The Watch Register—which is part of the Art Loss Register—operates independently of watch brands and retailers, and claims to be the largest global database of lost, stolen, and counterfeit watches. Its services are used by watch dealers, jewelers, auction houses, insurers, and law enforcement to help identify stolen property and facilitate recoveries.

The company says it has identified over 5,000 lost and stolen watches since its launch more than a decade ago. In the past year, stolen watches it pinpointed were traced across 34 countries, spanning multiple continents.

“Our research shows very clearly that the issue of stolen watches for retailers is persistent and global,” Hills said.

The JCK News Desk uses AI to help research and produce the first draft of articles. This story was then reviewed by staff writer David Blomquist.

(Photo: Getty Images)