Foto rolex.com.
According to the international Watch Register database, about 10,000 watches were entered into the system during the year – on average, one model was registered as lost or stolen every hour. The total database has reached 114 thousand units.
Key risk factor of the secondary market
The largest share in the statistics is occupied by Rolex. The brand accounts for 51% of all reported thefts and losses in 2025. In addition, 44% of all serial number checks in the system are linked to models of this brand.
The high concentration is explained by the brand’s liquidity and steady demand on the secondary market, news.am writes. Rolex remains one of the most resaleable assets in the luxury watch segment, which increases its attractiveness for criminal schemes.
Against the backdrop of growing thefts, activity to verify the origin of watches is also increasing. In 2025, the number of online serial number checks exceeded 280,000, up 29% year-on-year.
The number of companies connected to Watch Register for transaction support increased by 42% compared to 2024.
At the end of 2025, 1,375 watches were identified as stolen or missing – 21% more than a year earlier (1,136 cases). This indicates an increase in the effectiveness of control tools and coordination between market participants.
Enhancing transparency as a factor of market sustainability
Experts note that the current dynamics reflects a dual trend: on the one hand, high investment interest in luxury watches supports turnover and prices, while on the other hand, it increases criminal risks.
Under these conditions, origin transparency becomes a critical element of the market infrastructure. The increasing use of digital registries and mandatory checks in transactions is gradually shaping due diligence standards in the segment of highly liquid luxury goods.
The growing number of identifications and verifications indicates the gradual institutionalization of the secondary market, which is increasingly oriented towards compliance and risk management principles.
