Luxury watches have never been more valuable, and unfortunately, never more targeted. If your Rolex has been stolen, you are not alone. This has become a global issue with an increasing number of thefts in Canada, particularly in major cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal. For some, it’s a brutal robbery on the street. For others, it’s a house break-in or a disappearance while traveling.
We understand what that kind of loss feels like. At Toronto Watch Exchange, we don’t just deal in timepieces, we deal in memories, milestones, and life moments. And when a watch gets stolen, it’s not just about the value. It’s the personal story behind it that hits the hardest.
So what now? Here’s exactly what to do, not just surface-level advice, but the kind of actionable steps that have actually helped owners recover their watches, file successful insurance claims, and protect themselves for the future.
What to Do First If Your Rolex Was Stolen
Report it to the police, right away
Speed matters. File a police report as soon as possible. In Toronto, use the Toronto Police Service online portal, or visit your local division. If it happened outside your city or while traveling, report it in the jurisdiction where it occurred. You’ll need to include:
- Rolex serial number and model reference
- Clear, recent photos of the watch (front, back, clasp)
- Description of any engravings or unique traits
- Where and how the theft happened
- Receipts or original paperwork, if available
Without a police report, you can’t file insurance or register your Rolex as stolen on any major database. It’s the foundation for everything that follows.
Call your insurance provider
If you’ve insured your Rolex, notify your insurer immediately. Many people think their standard home or renter’s policy covers luxury watches, but most policies have low limits unless you’ve added a personal article rider or a separate high-value item schedule.
Ask these questions for your stolen Rolex:
- Is my Rolex covered for theft outside the home?
- What documents do you need?
- How much of its current market value will be reimbursed?
Insurers like Chubb (through WAX or Hodinkee), Jewelers Mutual, Aviva Canada, and Intact often work with third-party loss experts and registries. In fact, some of the most successful recoveries have been led by insurers partnering with The Watch Register.
Register Your Rolex as Stolen: Why It Matters
Stolen Rolexes are moved fast. Some leave the country within days. Others get flipped online or through shady networks. Getting your serial number into the right hands increases your odds of recovery, and might stop the thief from ever cashing out.
Here’s a full list of places where you can and should register your stolen Rolex. This is one of the most important things you can do.
Where to Check a Rolex for Theft, Fraud, or Recovery Status
Registry / Platform |
Website |
Public Access |
Used By |
Recovery Service |
Notes |
Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Watch Register | thewatchregister.com | No | Dealers, insurers, law enforcement | Yes | Industry-leading managed database with full human review and match follow-up | Paid |
| Enquirus (Richemont) | enquirus.com | Yes | Cartier, Piaget, Jaeger-LeCoultre | No | Open platform for any watch with serial number; accepts public submissions | Free |
| Stolen Watch | stolenwatch.ch | Yes | Swiss/EU dealers, collectors | No | Publicly browsable database; good for EU-market Rolex and Omega models | Free |
| Alpha Hands Registry | alphahands.com | Yes | Collectors, vintage dealers | No | Resource-heavy blog and list, helpful for legacy stolen watch reports | Free |
| Lost & Stolen Register | lostandstolenwatchregister.com | Yes | Private sellers, pawnshops | No | Fee to search; accepts police reports and public flags | €5/search |
We always suggest registering your watch with several reputable watch registries. These registries provide different levels of support, ranging from public searchable platforms to controlled databases that interact directly with dealers, law enforcement, and insurers. Although not all provide active recovery services, registering your watch with several registries maximizes your exposure and enhances the possibility of identification should it resurface, even years from now. Watches have been recovered after decades due to adequate documentation and routine registration on websites.
Post Alerts to Watch Communities
If your Rolex has been stolen, let the watch community know. Post to forums and groups with images and the serial number:
- rolexforums.com
- Watchuseek
- Reddit r/watchexchange
- Facebook groups such as “Grey Market”
Include the circumstances of the theft, and mention if police reports or registry listings have been filed.
Also, check public marketplaces for stolen Rolex
Search for your Rolex’s serial number directly on Google. Enter it in quotes, like “G123456” + “Rolex”, and see if anything comes up on listings, forums, or resale sites. Check:
- Facebook Marketplace
- eBay
- Chrono24
- Kijiji (especially in Canada)
- Local classifieds
If you see it listed, take screenshots and forward the information to your local police department and The Watch Register. Never attempt to buy it back or contact the seller directly.
What Rolex Will (and Won’t) Do
Here’s the part many owners don’t know until it’s too late: Rolex does not offer a public registry for stolen watches. You cannot call them or check a serial number before a sale.
They will, however, accept a Missing Watch Report by fax or mail. If your Rolex is brought into a Rolex Service Centre, and it’s on their internal stolen watch list, it may be flagged and held. But that’s it. There’s no communication beyond that, and it doesn’t prevent a thief from selling your Rolex online, at a pawnshop, or abroad.
To submit your watch to Rolex’s internal list, request the Missing Watch Form from Rolex USA or Canada. In the US, fax it to: 212-980-2166, Attn: Lea DiLuca. Include your police report, proof of ownership, and as many details as possible.
Why Rolex Watches Are a Target
Let’s be honest. Rolex watches are basically cash on the wrist. A Rolex Daytona or Submariner can be flipped in minutes for thousands. There’s almost always a buyer. This is why thieves are targeting them more than ever before. It’s happening in the streets, in upscale neighborhoods, hotels, and even inside homes.
In the past few years, Toronto has seen a surge in watch-related robberies. Thieves know what to look for. They track social media. Thieves recognize wrist profiles. They know where you shop and what you wear.
It’s not just violent robbery either, it’s fraud. People are insuring fake watches. Reselling stolen ones. Passing off counterfeits with matching serial numbers. The Watch Register now reports that 10% of all matches they find are counterfeit watches. Over 40 million fake watches are sold every year. That’s why serial numbers alone don’t always protect you. You need a full recovery process and verification behind the scenes.
How to Prevent Rolex Theft (And Be Prepared If It Happens)
We always advise our clients to treat luxury watches like luxury vehicles, secure them, insure them, and never leave them vulnerable.
Document every detail
- Take clear, high-res photos of your watch, its box, cards, bracelet, serial, and model number
- If you don’t have papers, photograph the rehaut (for newer models) or the lugs (bracelet must be removed carefully)
- Save all of it to Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox, somewhere secure
Store it wisely
Don’t leave it in your drawer. Use a high-quality safe that’s bolted down. Or consider a safety deposit box if you’re not wearing it often. If it’s kept at home, include photos of the safe and serial numbers in your insurance files.
Don’t overexpose
Be aware of how much you share on social media. Flaunting watches online can make you a target, especially if you geo-tag locations. When traveling, ask yourself, do I really need to bring it?
Choose real insurance
The cost of real watch insurance is worth every penny. Even if your Rolex was a gift or inherited, get it appraised and added to a rider or a dedicated plan. In Canada, look into:
- WAX Insurance (powered by Chubb)
- Jewelers Mutual
- Broker-managed plans through TD, Aviva, or Intact
Premiums are usually 1–2% of your watch’s market value annually. Make sure you’re covered for full replacement cost, not just what you paid.
How to Check if a Rolex Is Stolen Before Buying
Many of our clients aren’t victims, they’re doing their homework before buying a pre-owned Rolex in Canada. If that’s you, here’s how to avoid a huge mistake.
- Ask for the full serial number from the seller, no serial = no deal
- Run it through at least two watch databases: The Watch Register, Enquirus, or StolenWatch.ch
- Google the serial number in quotes, like “9A994101 Rolex”; scams have been flagged online
- Always ask for full paperwork: box, card, receipts, service records. A “watch only” deal is not worth the risk.
- Be cautious of sellers who rush the deal, avoid questions, or refuse meeting in person
- Avoid watches with only partial documentation unless you’re verifying through a service like ours
At Toronto Watch Exchange, we run full due diligence on every Rolex we handle, whether you’re buying from us or just looking for help authenticating a piece.
Real Stolen Rolex Recovery Stories That Give Hope
A Rolex stolen in Athens turned up in London a year later. A woman’s graduation gift Rolex was recovered 25 years after it was swiped in the UK. The Watch Register has even helped police disrupt organized gangs of thieves by tracing just a single lonely Rolex back to 35 more in a high-profile heist.
These are not fairy tales. But what they all had in common was that the watch was properly documented, registered, and reported.
What If You Recover Your Stolen Rolex? Can You Sell It?
This happens more than you’d think. A Rolex is recovered by police, through a pawnshop, or flagged during resale. Now what?
If you get your Rolex back, here’s how to clean the title:
- Confirm with police or The Watch Register that it’s no longer flagged
- Contact Rolex to remove it from their internal stolen list
- If your insurance paid out, you may need to buy the watch back from the insurer, as they now legally own it
- Keep every document that shows the return and ownership status
- When reselling, disclose the history, even if it’s fully resolved. This builds trust and protects you
We help clients navigate these situations often. Whether it’s paperwork with Rolex or negotiating with your insurer, we’re here to support every step of the resale of Rolex.
How We Support You at Toronto Watch Exchange With A Stolen Rolex
We’ve had too many collectors come to us afterward, devastated, with no idea where to begin. That’s why we’ve formed alliances with recovery companies, insurers, and verification software. If you’re purchasing a pre-owned Rolex, we’ll do due diligence on its serial number, guide you through verification, and ensure you’re aware of what you’re getting.
And if you are a victim of a theft, we’ll direct you towards all the resources you can utilize, from international registries to police contacts. Your watch is deserving of a second chance at coming back home.