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Watch out! A guide to keeping your timepieces safe

Whether it’s your first luxury timepiece or a meaningful addition to a growing collection, a watch is far more than something you wear on your wrist.

It represents value, memories, milestones and personal meaning, which is why protecting it properly matters.

In collaboration with Secured by Design member company CRNO, we look at the process of how to protect your valuable new asset. Here are a few simple steps you can take today to ensure you’re prepared if the worst were ever to happen.

Step 1: Photograph the watch

Take clear photos of your watch from:

  • The front (dial)
  • Both sides
  • The case back

If your watch has a serial number or any engraved markings, make sure these are clearly photographed too. These details are crucial for identification.

Step 2: Photograph the paperwork

If you have:

  • Warranty cards
  • Certificates
  • Service papers

Take photos of them, ideally showing the serial number and model details.

Step 3: Save the purchase receipt

Photograph the purchase receipt or any online confirmation emails. These help prove ownership and establish provenance.

Step 4: Save the information

Once you’ve done this, email all the images to yourself with a clear subject line such as: My Watch - Important Records

That way, if you ever need them, everything is in one place and easy to find.

Why do I need to do that?

Imagine asking the police to help recover a stolen car, but you can’t provide the model, registration number or VIN.

Realistically, the chances of recovery would be extremely low.

This is, unfortunately, the position many watch owners find themselves in. When it matters most, they don’t know the model or serial number and the watch and its paperwork are often missing or no longer available.

By registering your watch on a database like the one from CRNO, your watch becomes:

  • Visible to law enforcement
  • Visible to trusted, partnered retailers
  • Linked to a verified ownership record

This significantly increases the likelihood of identification and recovery, while also helping to protect the wider watch community.

Good record-keeping is an important first step, but the ultimate protection is registering your watch.

Protect the value - Protect the memories - Protect what’s on your wrist.

About CRNO

CRNO (Crime Reduction Network Organisation) is a UK-based technology platform dedicated to combatting luxury-watch crime through advanced digital verification, global registry services and real-time stolen-watch intelligence. Built with law-enforcement, insurers, retailers, industry experts and watch owners in mind, CRNO provides a secure ecosystem where every watch can be identified, validated, protected and recovered.

Founded on the principle that a watch is far more than an accessory, it’s a memory, an investment and often a family heirloom, CRNO delivers a modern solution to a rapidly growing global problem. With watch thefts, robberies and fraudulent sales increasing across major cities worldwide, CRNO acts as the ‘DVLA for watches’, giving each timepiece a verified digital identity to prevent crime, support recovery, and enhance trust in the watch market.

Find out more about CRNO on their dedicated member page.