How to check if a watch is stolen
Buying a stolen watch, even by accident, can cost you the watch and the money. A few checks before you pay make that far less likely.
Before you buy
Ask for the serial number and reference, and ask to see the watch's papers and service history. Be cautious if the seller is vague, in a hurry, or unwilling to meet in person.
Check whether the watch is already registered on TIMEVAULT®. It is free, needs no account, and gives a yes-or-no answer without revealing who owns it. For a loss-register check, an optional paid search is run by the Watch Register.
If your watch goes missing
Report it to the police first and keep the crime reference. Then mark the watch as lost or stolen in your TIMEVAULT® account. The watch's passport page then shows that it has been reported, so a would-be buyer is warned, and our team is alerted.
What a check can and cannot tell you
A clear result means no matching report was found. It cannot prove that a watch is not stolen, because not every theft is reported to every register. Treat it as one safeguard among several.
Questions
How can I tell if a watch has been stolen?
Check the serial number against loss registers, check whether it is registered to someone else, ask for papers and history, and be wary of prices that seem too good. A registry check does not replace common sense.
Is the TIMEVAULT® check free?
Checking whether a watch is registered is free. The optional loss-register search run by the Watch Register is £5.
What should I do if I have bought a stolen watch?
Stop and contact the police with the details of the sale. Do not try to resell the watch.
Can I mark my watch as stolen on TIMEVAULT®?
Yes. Report it from the watch's page in your account. Its passport page then shows that it has been reported lost or stolen.
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