Stolen watch database

A stolen watch database records the serial numbers of watches reported lost or stolen so that dealers, pawnbrokers, and others can check a watch before buying it.

The Watch Register, for example, describes itself as a global database of lost, stolen, and counterfeit watches, with searches available to dealers and pawnbrokers through paid credits.^[1]

A clean search isn't proof a watch isn't stolen, since not every theft is reported, but a match is a clear signal to stop and follow your local rules on suspected stolen property.

When to run a check

Run it before you pay, not after: once the money has gone, a match leaves you holding a watch you may have to give up. Watches bought from private sellers, walk-ins and online strangers deserve a check every time, because you know the least about where they came from.

Record each search on your intake record: the date, the database and the result. If a question comes up later, that note shows you took reasonable care.

A database search is separate from any duty to report purchases to the police, which some cities impose on dealers who buy from the public. Where they apply, see do you need a license to sell watches?