The Numbers Tell a Blunt Story
The Watch Register, the world's largest database of lost and stolen watches, now holds records for 105,000 missing timepieces. Thirty percent of those entries were added in just the last two years. In 2024, the database recorded an average of 21 high-end watches reported lost or stolen every single day, up from 19 per day in 2022 and 2023, and 12 per day in 2021. That's not a spike. That's a trend. In the first half of 2025 alone, The Watch Register located 607 missing watches through its global network, a 26 percent increase over the same period in 2024. The recovery rate is improving, but so is the volume of thefts. Police in London report at least four stolen watches per day, and that figure reflects only cases formally reported to the Metropolitan Police. Many victims, especially tourists, never file reports. Paris saw a 31 percent increase in luxury watch thefts from the beginning of 2022 through 2024. In the United States, Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Houston, and New York lead the list of hotspots. In Europe, London, Paris, and Rome top the charts, particularly in nightlife zones and high-traffic tourist areas.Why Watches, Why Now
Luxury watches have become investment assets. Certain models from Rolex, Audemars Piguet, and Richard Mille trade on the secondary market for two to three times their retail price. Katya Hills, who founded The Watch Register in 2014, points to this inflated resale environment as a key driver. "Often the value of the most desirable sports models of luxury brands can be two to three times higher on the pre-owned market than brand-new," Hills says. "So that creates a very lucrative environment for criminals selling on stolen goods, and it's a market that's heavily reliant on cash." Watches are small, portable, and difficult to trace once they cross borders or enter gray-market channels. Unlike handbags or jewelry that might require disassembly or melting down, a stolen Rolex Submariner or Cartier Tank can be cleaned, polished, and resold within days through dealers who don't ask questions.How the Gangs Operate
These aren't lone pickpockets. They're organized networks with roles, reconnaissance, and escape plans. In May, Spanish National Police, Italian authorities, and Europol dismantled a sophisticated ring operating across Marbella, Malaga, Barcelona, Ibiza, and Palma de Mallorca. The gang, linked to Neapolitan crime groups known as Paranzas, traveled from Italy using false documents and rented or imported vehicles for quick getaways. Teams of three to five members conducted surveillance in hotels, restaurants, beaches, and luxury shopping districts. They identified affluent tourists, tracked their movements, and executed snatch-and-grab robberies, often ripping watches directly from victims' wrists before fleeing on motorcycles or scooters. Stolen pieces moved out of Spain through established international channels. Twelve suspects were detained in Naples; 31 arrests have been made across Europe in connection with the investigation. Last July, Italian police arrested 13 members of another gang operating across Saint-Tropez, Milan, and Ibiza. Their haul was valued at more than $600,000. The pattern was identical: scout victims in advance, tail them on motorcycles, wait for the right moment, strike, and vanish. A common tactic involves using a decoy, often a woman, to engage the target inside a venue. While the victim is distracted or feels at ease, accomplices wait outside. As the person leaves, they're ambushed. Sometimes it's a grab. Sometimes it's a knife. Compliance is expected; resistance can escalate to violence.Which Watches Are Targeted Most
Rolex dominates the stolen-watch reports across databases and police records. Cartier ranks second on The Watch Register's list, with the Cartier Tank by far the most commonly stolen model from that brand. TAG Heuer and Omega also appear frequently, along with Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Richard Mille, which command six-figure resale prices. Thieves recognize models from across the street. They know which pieces are worth the risk. If you're wearing a stainless-steel Rolex Daytona or a rose-gold Cartier Santos, you're advertising a $30,000 to $150,000 asset on your wrist.What Travelers Need to Know
Law enforcement in London, Paris, and major U.S. cities now treat luxury watch theft as a distinct crime category. Officers advise travelers to minimize visible displays of wealth, especially at night, in crowded tourist zones, and in nightlife districts. If confronted, comply. Do not resist. The watch is insured; your safety isn't replaceable. Practical steps: Register your watch's serial number with The Watch Register and your insurer before you travel. Photograph the caseback, dial, and any unique markings. Use a dedicated insurance policy that covers theft abroad; standard homeowners or renters policies often cap jewelry claims or exclude international travel. Consider leaving the watch at home. If you're traveling to a high-risk city and don't need the piece for a specific event, wear a less conspicuous alternative. If you must bring it, use hotel safes or dedicated vault services when you're out at night. Avoid posting real-time photos on social media that show both your watch and your location. Thieves monitor Instagram, TikTok, and watch forums to identify targets and track their movements.The Bigger Picture
Collectors and dealers accept theft risk as part of the landscape in 2025. Investment hype, social media visibility, and skyrocketing resale values have turned watches into mobile targets. The criminals are professional, the infrastructure is international, and the market for stolen goods remains strong. Travel writers and consumer advocates frame it simply: wearing a conspicuous luxury watch materially increases your robbery risk in certain destinations. The choice is yours, but the data is clear. This isn't fearmongering. It's fieldwork. Thousands of victims, hundreds of arrests, and a database of 105,000 stolen watches later, the reality is this: if you're traveling with a high-end timepiece on your wrist, you're carrying what organized crime wants most. Plan accordingly.More travel news
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About the Author
Jeff Colhoun
Jeff Colhoun is an acclaimed travel writer, photographer, and filmmaker, whose work is respected both in the United States and internationally.
