Luxury watch thefts are on the rise, according to new data.
The Watch Register’s database includes about 80,000 missing timepieces, Bloomberg reports. The London-based company maintains “the world’s largest, most established, international database of lost, stolen and fake watches, containing data compiled over 30 years,” according to its website.
The total value of watches in the databases is about $1.3 billion, Bloomberg reports. Rolex is the brand appearing most often in the database, accounting for 44% of the watches registered as stolen or missing.
The database grew by more than 6,800 timepieces last year, Bloomberg reports. The was a 60% spike from the year before.
The increase corresponded with the rising values of second-hand luxury watches during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Family Legacy, New Chapter: How Wilkerson Turns 89 Years of History Into Future Success
After 89 years of serving the Albany community, Harold Finkle Your Jeweler faced a pivotal decision. For third-generation owner Justin Finkle, the demanding hours of running a small business were taking precious time away from his young family. "After 23 years, I decided this was the time for me," Finkle explains. But closing a business with nearly nine decades of inventory and customer relationships isn't something easily managed alone.
Wilkerson's comprehensive approach transformed this challenging transition into a remarkable success story. Their strategic planning handled everything from advertising and social media to inventory management and staffing — elements that would overwhelm most jewelers attempting to navigate a closing sale independently.
The results speak volumes. "Wilkerson gave us three different tiers of potential goals," Finkle notes. "We've reached that third tier, that highest goal already, and we still have two weeks left of the sale." The partnership didn't just meet financial objectives—it exceeded them ahead of schedule.
