The Art Loss Register (ALR) is the world’s largest private database of lost and stolen art, antiques, jewellery and watches. The company was established in 1990 and has headquarters in London. Its founding shareholders are Lloyd’s of London and the leading global auction houses Christie’s and Sotheby’s, who remain major clients to this day. The ALR provides research and due diligence services to protect the art market from the sale of stolen property and its associated financial and reputational risks. It also provides recovery services to police forces, insurers and victims of theft worldwide to secure the return of missing property and assist criminal investigations. Since its foundation, the company has been responsible for the recovery of items totalling hundreds of millions of pounds. In 2014, the ALR launched The Watch Register, the leading global database providing specialist watch recovery services and pre-transaction serial number checks to pre-owned luxury watch traders. All services are provided free of charge to law enforcement agencies worldwide.