To find your Rolex's serial number remove the strap at the 6 o'clock position and the serial number will be engraved on the case between the lugs. It is 5-7 digits and may start with a letter. It will NOT have letters in the middle. Rolex watches made from 2005 onwards will have the word 'Rolex' repeated around the inner bezel, with the brand logo at the 12 o'clock position and the serial number at 6 o'clock.
Paul Thorpe writes on a subject that is close to all Rolex enthusiast’s hearts…
Years ago I could send a FAX to Rolex with a list of serial numbers taken from watches that I wanted to purchase.
Within an hour or so, a FAX would be returned to me from Rolex, stating that all the serial numbers were clear on their ‘lost and stolen’ register which in turn cleared me to go ahead with the purchase. What a great service from a world class watch company...
Copies of that FAX could then be supplied to the next owner, offering them assurance that their watch had never been the subject of theft or loss, or indeed an dodgy insurance claim.
In their wisdom, and for reasons only known to themselves, Rolex suddenly stopped offering this service in about 2011 (from memory) to both the trade and indeed the general public.
At first, it was thought the cessation was only temporary whilst Rolex moved their service centre from Bexley to West Malling. The weeks quickly turned into months, and it started to become clear that the ‘lost and stolen’ service had gone, and probably, forever.
There are a number of theories why Rolex stopped offering this service. The most popular belief is that the cost of running the service became to high. But I’ve never subscribed to that theory and I’ll tell you why…
As far as I’m aware there were only two employees working the L&S register.
Over the years I put hundreds of serial numbers through the Rolex system and I only ever dealt with the same two ladies during all of that time. It didn’t seem to be a huge department at all.
Tapping a serial number into a computer doesn’t take a rocket scientist nor does it require a lot of man or women power.
So for a company the size of Rolex, this doesn’t make any sense to me at all. Besides, if finances were an issue, charging callers just £1 a time would earn Rolex a fortune.
I believe the reasons behind the death of the L&S register are a tiny bit more sinister.
There’s little doubt in my mind that Rolex’s decision was taken in an attempt to push Rolex buyers through the door of authorised dealers and away from the independents. To encourage the public to buy new, rather than used...
I guess you could say ‘’who can blame them?” but if my theory is correct that it is a very short sighted attitude. Certainly not one fitting of a world class brand that prides itself in being among the very best in every way.
Let’s get this right, Rolex are really only interested in two things. (1) selling new watches and (2) servicing old ones. That’s how they make their money, period.
But their is a very strong flip side to that argument. In ceasing the L&S register you could say Rolex are in danger of diluting the value of pre-owned Rolex watches and therefore, at the same time, diluting their own brand.
After all, the value of a new Rolex is what it is ONLY because of the value of a used one, and vice-versa. Its a perpetuating cycle and neither market should be compromised.
These days, dealers like myself participate in extreme due diligence to ensure that all the watches we buy are clean and come from absolutely impeccable sources.
This includes ID checks, ID presentation, history, previous sales records, etc. etc. etc. All of which is fine, but what about the poor unsuspecting public?
If Rolex wish to make pre-owned watches harder to sell, then where does that leave their brand?
Five years after the end of the L&S register the move doesn’t appear to have done them any harm. But there have been a number of cases where people have been caught out when a simple phone call would have saved them a lot of time, trouble, heartache and indeed, money…
A little tip. If you Google the serial number of a Rolex, there’s a fair chance that its previous owner will have put their watch and its serial number on the internet if its been stolen.
To some degree, Google has become the modern L&S register. Its certainly not fool proof, but it’s a good place to start.
And if your watch is ever stolen, make sure you place the serial number and details on a Forum somewhere, and it will then show on a Google search. Use a keyword rich search term, such as ‘Rolex Submariner stolen serial number XXXXXX’
The same goes when you're checking for authenticity. Fake watches invariably carry a generic serial number. For example, there are hundreds of fake Omega’s out there bearing the same serial number.
Try this, just for fun… Go to Google and type in “Omega Seamaster serial number 30198259” and see what happens. Good old Google eh?
Rolex, take note!
Thanks for looking.
Paul Thorpe...
It is rare that a manufacturer makes a list of stolen pieces publicly available. Many do, however, maintain lists for internal use, and of those, some will look up whether a timepiece is stolen at the request of a collector, and others will only check against their database when the watch is in for service. Details on various manufacturers and their policies are included below. I have received this information directly from each manufacturer. Note that those wishing to register a watch as stolen with a manufacturer will need to submit a police report.
Rolex Watch Serial Number Check Location
Since many of you are wondering…
My understanding is that years ago Rolex provided a service where collectors could contact the company to confirm whether a watch was registered as stolen in their internal database prior to purchase (to be registered as stolen requires a police report). Rolex has since stopped this practice, and now will only check if a watch is stolen when it is brought to Rolex to be serviced. If the watch is not registered as stolen, the watch will of course be returned (and you will then have paperwork showing you as the owner, at least in Rolex’s eyes). If the watch is registered as stolen, it is held for the authorities.
In addition to the below, always refer to the Alpha Hands stolen watch registry or other stolen watch registry to search prior to purchase, even in addition to contacting the manufacturer directly, if applicable per the below.
The following manufactures maintain a public listing of stolen watches:
Breguet
Jaquet Droz
Rolex Watch Serial Number Check Iphone
The following have provided a listing of their stolen timepieces upon request:
de Bethune
The following do maintain stolen watch databases, but do not make them available for the public to directly search. Collectors can, however, reach out to the company and the company will search to see if they have the watch recorded as stolen. The below companies do not charge a fee to search for a particular watch at a customer’s request.
Audemars Piguet
Blancpain
Glashuette Original
MB&F, email info@mbandf.com
NOMOS
Stowa
Vacheron Constantin (to register a watch as stolen, Vacheron requires a copy of the police report, date and location of theft, and reference numbers of the timepiece: case and movement serial numbers)
The following maintain an internal database of timepieces, but do not make available to search, nor do they support collectors who wish to know if a watch has been registered as stolen in their database. They will check watches that come for service against their stolen watch database.
Breitling
Bremont
Chopard
Corum
Louis Moinet
Panerai
Ulysse Nardin
Van Cleef and Arpels
Zenith Watches
The following maintain a database of stolen timepieces, but will only provide information on a “case by case” basis:
Hublot
The following do not maintain a database of stolen timepieces:
Bulova/Citizen/Wittnauer
Omega
Rolex Registry
I have reached out to, but not heard back yet from:
Bell & Ross
Girard Perregaux
Grand Seiko
Greubel Forsey
HYT Watches
Longines
Maurice Lacroix
Oris
Patek Philippe
Piaget
Tiffany
Urwerk