Honest Question: Rationale for Posting Serials of Stolen Watches?

[PPA]

Hi Everyone,
Just an honest question:

I'm wondering why it's best to publish the serial numbers of watches that have been stolen, versus reporting just to the manufacturer?

I'm thinking on one hand - the more visible the serial is, the better.

However won't that just make the thieves go further underground with a particular stolen watch?

Thanks in advance for your insights.

[imperio]

Originally Posted by PPA

Hi Everyone,
Just an honest question:

I'm wondering why it's best to publish the serial numbers of watches that have been stolen, versus reporting just to the manufacturer?

I'm thinking on one hand - the more visible the serial is, the better.

However won't that just make the thieves go further underground with a particular stolen watch?

Thanks in advance for your insights.

Most thieves probably don't steal watches for keeps, and posting the serial number of a stolen watch (hopefully) makes it more difficult to sell.

[Burlington]

Allows the serial number to be searchable by a would be purchaser.

Would be interesting to hear about a confirmed time this has stopped the onward sale of one / led to recovery.

[Kyle3130]

To advise the community in hopes to restore the watch to its rightful owner.

[69mach351]

In general, the more eyes out there, the better. A lot of watches flow through a lot of hands and the secondary luxury watch market is not so big that it is inconceivable to think that it may pass by someone who is aware of it. Sure it takes some luck, but if I was out a few grand (or more), I would rather put myself in a position to be lucky, than not.

Reporting to the manufacturer will get the watch back to the owner if it is ever serviced or sent in. The only downside to that, is that someone who probably thought they were getting a legitimate watch (somewhere down the line), loses that watch.

[FlGreenie]

Here’s my very recent story of buying a stolen Rolex. I located a Daytona 116520 (pre ceramic bezel) via Chronos. Price was in the ballpark for the year and quality, there were no papers. I made the deal, received the watch and as is my practice, took it to my AD upon receipt to have them open it and check the movement. All checked out at the surface level only the crystal did not have the etching of the crown under the glass at the 6, yet the movement checked out. I decided to sent it into Rolex to have an authentic crystal put on. That’s when the call came from Rolex legal. The watch had been reported stolen and the crooks had altered the serial number on the rehaut. But Rolex checked the serial number and determined it didn’t exist and then compared it to the movement; I now learned that the serial number is also engraved on the movement of each watch. So, while the watch was authentic, it was ‘hot’. Rolex put me in contact with the real owner. I’m in South Florida and the watch was stolen in LA. Rolex explained that they would retain the watch until any dispute over who ‘owned’ the watch was resolved. I told the real owner that I did not want it as it was rightfully his, and then I went to work on the jewelry store. After a few rounds of increasing threats, I received a full refund of my money, and now the watch is heading back to LA. Lesson learned: I will never buy another Rolex without the full papers and matching serials


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[milov]

Originally Posted by FlGreenie

Here’s my very recent story of buying a stolen Rolex. I located a Daytona 116520 (pre ceramic bezel) via Chronos. Price was in the ballpark for the year and quality, there were no papers. I made the deal, received the watch and as is my practice, took it to my AD upon receipt to have them open it and check the movement. All checked out at the surface level only the crystal did not have the etching of the crown under the glass at the 6, yet the movement checked out. I decided to sent it into Rolex to have an authentic crystal put on. That’s when the call came from Rolex legal. The watch had been reported stolen and the crooks had altered the serial number on the rehaut. But Rolex checked the serial number and determined it didn’t exist and then compared it to the movement; I now learned that the serial number is also engraved on the movement of each watch. So, while the watch was authentic, it was ‘hot’. Rolex put me in contact with the real owner. I’m in South Florida and the watch was stolen in LA. Rolex explained that they would retain the watch until any dispute over who ‘owned’ the watch was resolved. I told the real owner that I did not want it as it was rightfully his, and then I went to work on the jewelry store. After a few rounds of increasing threats, I received a full refund of my money, and now the watch is heading back to LA. Lesson learned: I will never buy another Rolex without the full papers and matching serials


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I would like to believe that most members of this community would do as you have done. But thank you anyhow, for demonstrating such fine upstanding behaviour.

[blam3344]

thank you for sharing your story, and it will definitely serves as a warning to all the members at the forum. My question is how about for some "unfortunate buyers" who could not recover the loss of buying stolen watch, what other consequences might be facing under the same situation ?