If your Rolex is lost or stolen, acting quickly and methodically is essential. The steps below will help protect you with insurers and greatly reduce the chances of the watch being resold.
1. Contact the police immediately
Report the theft to the police as soon as possible. You will be issued with a crime reference number, which is essential for insurance purposes and for notifying Rolex and industry databases. Be ready to provide the model, reference number and, if known, the serial number.
2. Notify Rolex
Once you have a crime reference number, contact Rolex directly or via an authorised dealer and ask for the watch to be flagged as stolen. Rolex will not recover the watch for you, but flagging it means it may be identified if it ever returns to the authorised network.
3. Register the watch as stolen
With the crime reference number in hand, contact The Watch Register (formerly the Lost Watch Register) and have the watch added to their database. This is widely checked by UK dealers, auction houses and insurers, and is one of the most important steps you can take.
4. Gather proof of ownership
At home, gather anything that proves ownership of the watch. This may include original box and papers, purchase receipts or invoices, emails, photographs, valuations, and any service history, service receipts or service invoices. Having this ready will make the insurance process far smoother.
5. Notify your insurance company
Contact your insurer and provide the crime reference number along with all supporting documentation. Clear records usually result in a quicker and less stressful claim.
6. Raise awareness carefully
Some owners also choose to post details of the stolen watch in large UK Facebook groups focused on buying and selling Rolex watches. While this should never replace official reporting, it can help raise awareness within the trade if done sensibly and without sharing personal information.
