Stolen Rolex questions???

[hacampbell1360]

HI,

I am curious and would like to know how to determine if the watch is not previously stolen or had been reported stolen. I am interested in purchasing pre-owned Rolex and would like to avoid this situation when I bring my watch to RSC for service.

In any case, what would happen to me or my watch if it had been report stolen before O owned it?

Any insight on this subject would be appreciated,

[Red Series 3]

It is not returned to you! They ask for the watch to stay for at least 24hrs for authentication.
If it is found to have been reported lost or stolen it is seized.
I have been told that Rolex Authorised Dealers can call up and they will be told on the spot if it is on the stolen lost register.
So make friends with an AD It is hard for me everytime i walk into an AD i end up buying elsewhere. The dealers in Sydney just don't seem to care enough to offer any discount. They show great service.
But not enough to justify spending nearly double the money on the same item.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by hacampbell1360

HI,

I am curious and would like to know how to determine if the watch is not previously stolen or had been reported stolen. I am interested in purchasing pre-owned Rolex and would like to avoid this situation when I bring my watch to RSC for service.

In any case, what would happen to me or my watch if it had been report stolen before O owned it?

Any insight on this subject would be appreciated,

Well today as long as you buy from a reliable source you have more chance of being struck my lightening than buying a stolen Rolex.Many things get stolen today and if you do the sums with things like TVs and many other domestic products.The amount of Rolex watches in the annual theft of all commodities is quite a tiny amount, afraid the Internet today provides many Rolex myths.

[Tools]

In the USA, if you buy, find, or are given a stolen watch, it will be returned to the original owner..

You do not get "compensated" for your purchase as some people would hope...

Rolex notifies the reporting authority (your police department, etc) if a stolen watch comes in to them..

[hacampbell1360]

I bought a pre owned GMY Master IIc from a gentleman not too long ago. I never thought about this until last night when I read about a thread that someone on TRF got scammed. Chances are, the watch is not stolen because he gave me his home address and his work. We met at my local watch repair shop for inspection, however the watchmaker was not in. I bought it anyway because he was sincere and did not back down at any of my requests.

I just want a piece of mind. I want my watch authenticated to make sure it is mine when I bring it in for service. What should I do?

[HL65]

As Padi said above-buy from solid seller!! Always buy the seller!!

[Tommer]

Originally Posted by Tools

In the USA, if you buy, find, or are given a stolen watch, it will be returned to the original owner..

still waiting for that miracle for my wife's stolen date-just.....

[Singslinger]

Originally Posted by hacampbell1360

I bought a pre owned GMY Master IIc from a gentleman not too long ago. I never thought about this until last night when I read about a thread that someone on TRF got scammed. Chances are, the watch is not stolen because he gave me his home address and his work. We met at my local watch repair shop for inspection, however the watchmaker was not in. I bought it anyway because he was sincere and did not back down at any of my requests.

I just want a piece of mind. I want my watch authenticated to make sure it is mine when I bring it in for service. What should I do?

I'm not sure what the procedure is in other countries but in Singapore, the only way to get peace of mind is to take the watch in to the authorized Rolex service center and pay the nominal fee (around US$60) for authentification.

However, Rolex will only verbally tell the owner that the watch is genuine/not stolen and the receipt only states the fee paid was for "service''. If the watch has been reported stolen, it is immediately confiscated.

Alternatively, you could wait a few more years, then take the watch in for a routine service as this would also confirm the watch is authentic and not stolen.

Bottom line: no one other than Rolex has the serial numbers of stolen watches.

Hope this helps.

[ParisDakarBmw]

You must be careful. Each state has laws for theft by recieving, theft by possesion, theft by retaining, possesion of an item with an altered serial number, and so on.

Your first line as a buyer is to only buy from a trusted seller. If there is some doubt, contact the local police department to see if it's stolen. Unfortunately the general public doesn't have access to the National crime information computer. You could check it out before you purchased it, but that's not really an option.

Rolex will take the watch if it's on the "hot sheet". If law enforcement find you with a stolen item.... I hope you have a good story! You could either be a party to a crime, or a victim of theft by deception.....

I would, and do make a complete list of who I purchase an item from. In 3 years if there is an issue, I can show a set of emails, and a paper trail

[Blue Lantern]

Originally Posted by hacampbell1360

I bought a pre owned GMY Master IIc from a gentleman not too long ago. I never thought about this until last night when I read about a thread that someone on TRF got scammed. Chances are, the watch is not stolen because he gave me his home address and his work. We met at my local watch repair shop for inspection, however the watchmaker was not in. I bought it anyway because he was sincere and did not back down at any of my requests.

I just want a piece of mind. I want my watch authenticated to make sure it is mine when I bring it in for service. What should I do?

When you bought it, did it come with the original warranty paper? That typically gives people peace of mind, since it's unlikely that the watch and papers would be stolen together. That's part of the reason that some buyers only look for watches with the full set of box/papers.