The numbers behind lost and stolen watches in circulation

The Watch Register, which is the global database for stolen watches in circulation, has released some intriguing data.

It says that more than 10,000 luxury watches with unique serial numbers were registered as lost or stolen in 2025 on its database, bringing the total number from the past decade to over 113,000 (equating to roughly £1.7 billion / $2.3 billion.

This backdrop, along with the fact that provenance has never been more important for buyers of pre-owned watches, has led to an increase in online checks on The Watch Register’s database. Users can check if a watch that’s listed for sale has been reported stolen, and the numbers making this check have gone up 29% year-on-year.

The US in particular has seen a large spike in interest for The Watch Register, with a 78% increase in US-based clients.

“This is evidence of the global pre-owned watch market actively using our database as a tool to fight watch crime,” said Katya Hills, managing director of the Watch Register.

Unsurprisingly, Rolex is the brand most targeted by thieves, representing half of the lost or stolen watches from last year, and 44% of the checks on the database.

Using its specialist recovery team, The Watch Register claims that half the stolen watches that are located are returned to the rightful owner within a year, and 35% within six months.

“The speed at which many of these watches are now being identified shows how effective global data sharing has become in disrupting the market in stolen watches,” Hills added.