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How to check if purchased Breitling was ever stolen
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Author:  Macytray [ Sat Jul 20, 2013 1:30 am ]
Post subject:  How to check if purchased Breitling was ever stolen
I have recently bought a Breitling second hand and I wanted to know if there is a database you can search to see if it is stolen? Thanks
Author:  Blockheed [ Sat Jul 20, 2013 3:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How to check if purchased Breitling was ever stolen
Its limited to watch fan base databases as far as I know. Most watch makers don't maintain lists due to cost and possible legal action. If you have the original papers and box then it likely to be a genuine sale.
Author:  vintage [ Sat Jul 20, 2013 3:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How to check if purchased Breitling was ever stolen
Not that I know of. I acquired a stolen Steelfish last year off Ebay and Breitling UK had a record it was stolen but I didn't check there until I was contacted about the watch after posting a pic online. I sent it to Andrew Michaels in the UK for his disposition back to the original owner and Andrew was kind enough to reimburse me although he had no obligation to. I bought an Aerospace Advantage two weeks ago from a reputable online retailer and after posting a pic on a forum was contacted by the original owner who had reported it stolen in Hawaii this past April. Retailer was surprised but offered an immediate refund so I sent it back this week and, hopefully, it will get back to it's rightful owner soon. Funny that both of these pieces were limited editions. Just the nature of the beast I suppose, you pays your nickel and takes your chances. :( For modern watches it doesn't matter if they come with paperwork or not although if they have paperwork and boxes the chances are less it was randomly acquired.
Author:  Macytray [ Sat Jul 20, 2013 3:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How to check if purchased Breitling was ever stolen
Thanks. It does come with original papers other than it doesn't have an original purchase receipt which is what concerned me, but I don't know much about watches as I'm buying as a gift for my future husband as a wedding present.
Author:  Blockheed [ Sat Jul 20, 2013 5:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How to check if purchased Breitling was ever stolen
vintage wrote:
Not that I know of. I acquired a stolen Steelfish last year off Ebay and Breitling UK had a record it was stolen but I didn't check there until I was contacted about the watch after posting a pic online. I sent it to Andrew Michaels in the UK for his disposition back to the original owner and Andrew was kind enough to reimburse me although he had no obligation to. I bought an Aerospace Advantage two weeks ago from a reputable online retailer and after posting a pic on a forum was contacted by the original owner who had reported it stolen in Hawaii this past April. Retailer was surprised but offered an immediate refund so I sent it back this week and, hopefully, it will get back to it's rightful owner soon. Funny that both of these pieces were limited editions. Just the nature of the beast I suppose, you pays your nickel and takes your chances. :( For modern watches it doesn't matter if they come with paperwork or not although if they have paperwork and boxes the chances are less it was randomly acquired.


Wow that is really unlucky, unless you turnover a significant nos of watches I guess.

Was it just the original owners word? they could have sold the watch legit and then later claimed it was stolen...
Author:  vintage [ Sat Jul 20, 2013 5:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How to check if purchased Breitling was ever stolen
Blockheed wrote:
vintage wrote:
Not that I know of. I acquired a stolen Steelfish last year off Ebay and Breitling UK had a record it was stolen but I didn't check there until I was contacted about the watch after posting a pic online. I sent it to Andrew Michaels in the UK for his disposition back to the original owner and Andrew was kind enough to reimburse me although he had no obligation to. I bought an Aerospace Advantage two weeks ago from a reputable online retailer and after posting a pic on a forum was contacted by the original owner who had reported it stolen in Hawaii this past April. Retailer was surprised but offered an immediate refund so I sent it back this week and, hopefully, it will get back to it's rightful owner soon. Funny that both of these pieces were limited editions. Just the nature of the beast I suppose, you pays your nickel and takes your chances. :( For modern watches it doesn't matter if they come with paperwork or not although if they have paperwork and boxes the chances are less it was randomly acquired.


Wow that is really unlucky, unless you turnover a significant nos of watches I guess.

Was it just the original owners word? they could have sold the watch legit and then later claimed it was stolen...


I really like the limited editions so pick them up whenever I see an interesting one at a reasonable price. I proudly posted the Aerospace on another watch forum and a few days later there's a reply on the forum indicating the watch was stolen along with a pic of the matching chronometer certificate. I PM'd the poster and he still had the original boxes and paperwork which I didn't get. Hard to argue with that. I have no idea whether he was reimbursed for his loss or not but since receiving stolen goods is against the law I elected to send it back whence it came. The store that sold me the watch occasionally buys from wholesalers and estates so evidently acquired the watch and didn't check it with the local PD which did have a report of theft on it. Hated to send it back but it was the right thing to do.
Author:  Blockheed [ Sat Jul 20, 2013 6:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How to check if purchased Breitling was ever stolen
Its great that you got reimbursed and I applaud your own actions, after all you'd acted in good faith.

OP, one place to check would be - http://forums.watchuseek.com/f90/
Author:  Watch nut [ Sat Jul 20, 2013 6:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How to check if purchased Breitling was ever stolen
There is a site WATCHSEARCHER.COM I got this with an eBay watch I purchased, then I started looking up a couple of mine. You can print out this cert. once it gets checked they send you an email.Image
Author:  vintage [ Sat Jul 20, 2013 6:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How to check if purchased Breitling was ever stolen
Watch nut wrote:
There is a site WATCHSEARCHER.COM I got this with an eBay watch I purchased, then I started looking up a couple of mine. You can print out this cert. once it gets checked they send you an email.Image


"Created on 22 May 2013 and valid until 20 May 2013"? I tried this site with the first stolen watch I had out of the UK with no results even though BUK had a record of it.
Author:  Watch nut [ Sat Jul 20, 2013 6:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How to check if purchased Breitling was ever stolen
vintage wrote:
Watch nut wrote:
There is a site WATCHSEARCHER.COM I got this with an eBay watch I purchased, then I started looking up a couple of mine. You can print out this cert. once it gets checked they send you an email.Image


"Created on 22 May 2013 and valid until 20 May 2013"? I tried this site with the first stolen watch I had out of the UK with no results even though BUK had a record of it.

That makes sense it would probably have to be reported to the watchsearcher site. I was wondering about that, you just clarified it. So it's probably a pretty useless site.
Author:  wessa [ Sat Jul 20, 2013 6:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How to check if purchased Breitling was ever stolen
Watch nut wrote:
There is a site WATCHSEARCHER.COM I got this with an eBay watch I purchased, then I started looking up a couple of mine. You can print out this cert. once it gets checked they send you an email.Image


That site will only state that the watch has not been reported stolen.
I wonder how many watch owners who had their watchs stolen know about this site.
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