Question 1

What should I do first if my watch is stolen?

Accepted Answer

File a police report immediately and obtain a crime reference number. Ensure the serial number of the stolen watch is added to the report. Then contact Watch Recovery International — we can assist in dealing with the police and registering your watch with the manufacturer and relevant databases.

Question 2

How much does stolen watch recovery cost?

Accepted Answer

Most clients pay a percentage of the recovered watch value only if we successfully recover their timepiece — a no-recovery, no-fee arrangement. We also offer hourly rates. If you were insured, your insurance company will likely cover our fees. We have agreements with many fine art and specie insurance companies.

Question 3

Won't the police recover my stolen watch?

Accepted Answer

With respect to law enforcement, police departments are understaffed and underfunded. Most will issue a crime reference number and that is the last they want to hear from you. We have countless examples of stolen watches held by Swiss manufacturers waiting for Interpol intervention that will never come. We operate where police cannot or will not.

Question 4

I think I found my watch online. Should I contact the seller?

Accepted Answer

Do not notify the seller that they are selling your watch. Contact us immediately. Many sellers, if tipped off prematurely, will return the stolen watch to whoever they acquired it from and it may never be seen again. We specialize in approaching possessors at exactly the right moment, after a backup strategy is in place.

Question 5

Can you help if my watch was stolen by fraud?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We maintain a database of bad actors in the watch world who have committed fraud. These cases are treated differently by law. We strongly recommend our Watch Escrow Service for any private sale transaction to prevent fraud.

Question 6

Do you work with insurance companies?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We work directly with insurers, their loss adjusters, and legal representatives. When an insured watch is recovered, the insurance company pays our fees, not the theft victim. We assist in ensuring the recovered watch is offered back to the original owner.

Question 7

Is my information kept confidential?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Every case is handled with the utmost discretion. We never share your personal information, case details, or the fact that you are a client without your explicit written consent. We are happy to sign a non-disclosure agreement prior to consultation.

Question 8

How long does watch recovery take?

Accepted Answer

We have recovered watches within a few weeks of engagement. However, timelines depend on the cooperation of parties, law enforcement involvement, and the jurisdiction of the theft and current location of the watch.

Question 9

Do you work with watch dealers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We work with dealers who discover that a watch purchased for resale has been flagged on a manufacturer's stolen watch database. We can help clear wrongly-listed watches so they can be legally and rightfully sold.

Question 10

What is the Watch Escrow Service?

Accepted Answer

Our Watch Escrow Service holds funds independently during private watch transactions until authenticity and title clearance are confirmed. This prevents fraud for both buyers and sellers in private watch sales.