Rolex Theft by Home Break-in

[brandrea]

Congratulations Paul, home again

[cop414]

A huge congratulations Paul, I was going to pm you as I knew the time was close. Looks great back on your wrist, wear it in the best of health.

[stap]

I’ve never bothered to read through a 600 post thread before, but I did for this one. What an amazing story and testament to the power of positivity. Congratulations on getting your watch back!

[77T]

Originally Posted by cop414

A huge congratulations Paul, I was going to pm you as I knew the time was close. Looks great back on your wrist, wear it in the best of health.

Thanks Tim
And for the gift idea for the couriers. The WDC-Indy guy was appreciative - he’s a single malt guy. The UK-USA guy gets to Indy tomorrow and I’ve got one of his special spirits bagged and ready.


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[77T]

Originally Posted by stap

I’ve never bothered to read through a 600 post thread before, but I did for this one. What an amazing story and testament to the power of positivity. Congratulations on getting your watch back!

Yeah it’s a daunting thread to wade through and props to you. Thanks - for your time doing so.

I’m hoping to remain mindful that it’s better to light the candle rather than curse the darkness.


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[Chewbacca]

This is superb news Paul!!!! So happy for you.

[77T]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

This is superb news Paul!!!! So happy for you.

Much appreciated - it really hasn’t fully sunk in yet.


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[HiBoost]

Originally Posted by 77T

Well, the Platona has landed. It is in perfect condition.

Well I don't want to say you are "the luckiest guy in the world" because of course that guy would not have had his home broken into in the first place, but skipping past that part, wow, so lucky!! The condition is amazing. I scrolled the last 6-7 pages with anticipation waiting to see how it would look. For some reason I just assumed a thief and the subsequent hands it would pass through would have really beaten it up, but I guess not!!

Huge congrats to you on the recovery. I wasn't following the market as closely in 2017 but I'm guessing this is worth notably more now than it was then? If so that's an even more unique wrinkle to the saga - getting some stolen property back, in perfect condition, and worth even more than when you lost it. Certainly can't happen very often. Super happy for you!

Did I miss an update or does it still need a service? I saw the part where you said RSC UK couldn't do it given the circumstances...

[77T]

Originally Posted by HiBoost

Well I don't want to say you are "the luckiest guy in the world" because of course that guy would not have had his home broken into in the first place, but skipping past that part, wow, so lucky!! The condition is amazing. I scrolled the last 6-7 pages with anticipation waiting to see how it would look. For some reason I just assumed a thief and the subsequent hands it would pass through would have really beaten it up, but I guess not!!

Huge congrats to you on the recovery. I wasn't following the market as closely in 2017 but I'm guessing this is worth notably more now than it was then? If so that's an even more unique wrinkle to the saga - getting some stolen property back, in perfect condition, and worth even more than when you lost it. Certainly can't happen very often. Super happy for you!

Did I miss an update or does it still need a service? I saw the part where you said RSC UK couldn't do it given the circumstances...

It doesn’t really need the service but I did that for the other Rolex we recovered. It’s more of a fresh start and a small token to Rolex for the help they’ve faithfully supplied to me as I chase and then recover watches.

I don’t know, like you said, what knocks it took. But I also get a 2-yr warranty so that’s a benefit.

The first dealer in UK cleaned it up when he went to sell it onward. He didn’t know it was stolen until months later when a buyer took it to Rolex UK. He said it was dirty and scratched so he cleaned it well.

I do get the “luckiest” part. I have to say life did deal me some pain right at that moment in 2017.

However, after that I learned some good things, some humble lessons, and got lots of support from authorities, neighbors, and this community - thanks for all of that everyone.


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[JacksonRain]

More wrist shot please!!!! Huge congrats again. Be well

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[77T]

It’s dark here now but I’ll do more shots in the daylight this coming week


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[Harry_S]

Best thread ever. So happy for you Paul.
Thank you so much for keeping us informed all the way.

[brucethemanlee]

congrats on the return!!

[Robf52]

Sorry to hear; terrible.

[Boaters]

Glad you got it back .. What an ordeal never give up

[hutch300]

This is an incredible reunion! I hope the day date is next!

[BayAreaTech]

Glad to hear that you have received some of your pieces back! Would love a follow-up on if the insurance helped protect your investment? I've personally insured all of my watches with USAA. Looking to see if others have had a good experience dealing with insurance companies after an event.

[HeartRolex]

I’m so sorry this happened. My heart breaks for you. Please be sure to register the stolen watches here. https://www.thewatchregister.com/ See the “Private Individuals” section.

[77T]

Originally Posted by Robf52

Sorry to hear; terrible.

Appreciate the sentiment - it’s all been better since that day in December, 2017. This reunion with the Platona is one of the best.

Originally Posted by Boaters

Glad you got it back .. What an ordeal never give up

That’s the spirit I hope anyone can take away from the journey whether they lost a Rolex to crime or to a mishap.

Originally Posted by HeartRolex

I’m so sorry this happened. My heart breaks for you. Please be sure to register the stolen watches here. https://www.thewatchregister.com/ See the “Private Individuals” section.

Thanks - I’ve pondered the watch register since this happened. Would be interesting to know how well it really works. The police and Rolex have done great this far.

Originally Posted by hutch300

This is an incredible reunion! I hope the day date is next!

Appreciate that and have the same hopes.

Originally Posted by Harry_S

Best thread ever. So happy for you Paul.

Thank you so much for keeping us informed all the way.

Thank you - it’s been a long thread and am happy all the members here have been so supportive. By keeping the conversations positive we are able to keep it open. It was this thread that allowed the ultimate honest dealer and buyer to know the theft report was legitimate. It helped smooth out the process.

Originally Posted by brucethemanlee

congrats on the return!!

Much appreciated

Originally Posted by BayAreaTech

Glad to hear that you have received some of your pieces back! Would love a follow-up on if the insurance helped protect your investment? I've personally insured all of my watches with USAA. Looking to see if others have had a good experience dealing with insurance companies after an event.

Thanks for your reply.

At the time, I was trading watches on a monthly basis. My State Farm homeowner’s policy didn’t cover that activity. So, except for my wife’s missing Diamond dialed OP there was no insurance coverage for the other watches.

Your question is well-meaning about other people’s incidents but I’d prefer we avoid veering into the controversial topic of insurance companies.

It’s a worthy topic - but better served in a separate thread. I’ve seen those threads go haywire before and I need to keep this one open to help with ongoing efforts to recover my vintage Day-Date and the ladies OP.

But for all other aspects of the incident, State Farm was very helpful. For example, a brand new iMac and an older MacBook Air were taken and never recovered. They allowed me to replace them with the top line MacBook Pro which cost more than those two combined.


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[1st amg]

Wow Paul, I missed this thread revival. This is absolutely incredible news. I remember when this happened back in 2017. Very very happy for you....what a story and what a finale. Love this.

[77T]

Originally Posted by 1st amg

Wow Paul, I missed this thread revival. This is absolutely incredible news. I remember when this happened back in 2017. Very very happy for you....what a story and what a finale. Love this.

Thanks much - it’s actually an intermezzo I hope!

Still hunting the 1803 & ladies OP but I hope those eventually come home.


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[RTG]

Originally Posted by 77T

Well, the Platona has landed. It is in perfect condition.

It and I are at Indy for a week’s worth of races and am so very grateful to the dozen or more people who helped.

Rolex USA, Rolex UK, the Kent UK Police plus Jewelers here in US, in the UK and motorsports associates too.

Happy, happy day!

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Incredible tread! That timepiece has some real history now. Maybe never take it off. Amazing it doubled in value between theft and return. Crazy world, crazy life.

Wear in good health.

[minute_man]

So very happy for you, Paul! This was a big one Hope the other two make it home one day as well...

[77T]

Another shot as requested - this time at the IMS Museum before the racing begins with Qually on Tuesday.

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[77T]

Originally Posted by minute_man

So very happy for you, Paul! This was a big one Hope the other two make it home one day as well...

Thanks - yes the email from Rolex was amazing and then the path to reunion was another interesting “path less traveled-by”!

Originally Posted by RTG

Incredible tread! That timepiece has some real history now. Maybe never take it off. Amazing it doubled in value between theft and return. Crazy world, crazy life.



Wear in good health.

Thanks - I understand - I’ll have to take it off so I can get it to Rolex in another week or so.


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[Chiboy]

Congrats Paul! I remember reading this whole thread way back when. I missed the good news in August, but re-opened the thread this morning and saw the good news. That's truly fantastic! So glad you got two pieces back. Wow!

[lmcgbaj]

Simply amazing. Wow. Congrats.

[AK797]

Many congrats, mate! TBH I did think a guy like you Paul would somehow find a way to get the watches back with a bit of luck ofc, you're a closer.

[ronsetoe]

Wow fantastic read and congrats on getting a few back? Are you going to get it appraised because market value is insane right now

[japer]

Wow, that hurts! Just today is was wondering where to hide the watches, do not have a safe. I feel for you, can’t believe people just go in a house and steel what someone has worked sp hard for!