DON’T put your serial number on the internet

Why don't I want the serial number out there?

Theoretically: The counterfeit community might use it.

Years later somebody could report a fake watch with your serial number on it. On a watch stolen/fake register.

But surely they know there is a real watch with that number out there? I am pretty ignorant of how it all works 😆

I don’t know how it works either.

Last year I went on a Stolen register website to check on my Rolex Explorer (I bought it off Chrono24)

The Stolen register told me that my watch had not been stolen, and also the serial number has never been used by a fake watch.

I didn't realise that kind of info was out there. Every day's a school day! 🍻

It is a slim chance, but it is less about the counterfeit issue and more about some jerk reporting it stolen. Less likely if you are the first and only buyer, but I have seen threads back in the day where folks ran into issues. Again, not a big deal in most cases. I like seeing them because 99% of the time it is shown, it is a fake watch. Makes it easy to tell. :-)

This

I used to care and would edit the serial out but I'm the original owner with all the papers & receipt. This also amusingly reminds me of the early days of car clubs on the internet. People would blur their plates when they posted pics citing "your license plates could be used to commit a crime "😂

Still baffles me when I see plates being blurred.

Not my photos

😂

Fortunately older models have the serial number in a different place on the case

Seriously, the /Rolex Reddit thread must be a gold mine for those looking for serials.

This also exists in the firearms world, but it’s more political attacks than anything else. Anti-gun folks will report serial numbers as stolen if they see them in a video etc. The higher profile the YouTuber the more this happens.

Some people have nothing to do but harass others.

Correct me if I'm wrong but surely in order to report the watch as stolen you have to prove it was yours in the first place (receipt etc) otherwise (like you mentioned) people could just randomly fill in any persons serial number.

I'm sure it's logical to assume it's not as simple as just type it in and click/send otherwise it's a pointless unreliable database to start with.

Just my 10cents.

These days information is as valuable as gold, so protect it. What is the harm in being just a little more cautious with images of your valuable watch?

Mainly if you are selling a Rolex before the grace period ends. Usually around 1 year, if they catch the serial number they contact the AD that sold it and black ball you from further purchases.

The Rolex reddit page is one of the most toxic watch subs I've ever seen. I don't go near that cesspool, or anything on Reddit anymore.

You are not wrong. Horrible place. Thankfully WCJ is there to point it out, but is its own nightmare.

This really applies to almost any manufacturer, not just Rolex, right? Omega serial numbers are not only on the movement (if you have an open case back as many Omega's are) but the serial number is also on the back of one of the lugs.

One way is counterfeiters using it on a fake watch to lend it some authenticity. One could also raise a dispute on a watch in for servicing that it’s stolen if they have the serial number for it. Now if you have the original receipt and or warranty card and sell your watch with them if you sell it, your serial number being out there is irrelevant to you. This is mainly only a concern for people purchasing used Rolexes without proper papers.

Yeah I always have felt that it might be a privacy issue of some sort but i wasn’t aware of this potential danger. I don’t think I’ll be able to afford a Rolex, but if i ever get a luxury watch, I’ll try to keep this in mind

Plates can also be used to track where you live. Makes life more easy for thieves, when they know where to find your car.

In the US, you’d have to have access to the state database, which if someone has that, they don’t need your plate to find you.