Editor’s Note
This article explores ENQUIRUS, a digital solution launched by Richemont to combat the global rise in luxury watch and jewelry thefts. We examine how this initiative aims to protect valuables and restore owner peace of mind.
If your cherished watch or jewelry were stolen, what would you do? Since the COVID-19 pandemic, thefts of watches and jewelry have surged globally. The solution worth noting is “ENQUIRUS,” launched by Richemont in March 2023. This article introduces this groundbreaking solution.
The COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022 brought an unprecedented global luxury watch boom. Travel restrictions led affluent individuals to purchase luxury watches instead, and some models soared in the secondary market, attracting investors. Consequently, Swiss watch exports hit record highs in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
However, alongside this “unprecedented prosperity,” crimes like theft, robbery, and fraud involving luxury watches have surged worldwide. By spring 2023, thefts in Los Angeles, Paris, and London had increased by over 50% year-on-year. In London, violent and premeditated attacks targeting watch wearers based on social media posts became frequent, prompting police to advise against wearing luxury watches in busy areas or posting photos online.
In Japan, rising interest and scarcity of popular models led to skyrocketing secondary market prices and a sharp increase in related crimes. This included a robbery at a Ginza pre-owned watch store by young part-time workers and the recent “Tokematch” scam, where owners were effectively defrauded under the guise of a watch rental service.
According to Interpol and national police agencies, stolen luxury watches and jewelry are trafficked across borders, becoming a major funding source for international crime syndicates. This created a demand for an international solution to address, resolve, and deter such crimes.
“ENQUIRUS” is a registration service for luxury watches and jewelry developed and provided by the Richemont Group—which owns brands like Cartier, Vacheron Constantin, A. Lange & Söhne, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Piaget, IWC, and Van Cleef & Arpels—as a solution to combat and deter these crimes. The name is likely derived from the English noun “enquiry.”
Launched in March 2023, its English homepage states: “The largest free lost and stolen watch and jewelry database in the world” and “A global secure platform to protect and store your watches and jewelry.” In essence, it is a global database where you can register your items. If stolen, you can alert the world and use the database to check 24/7 if your item appears for sale anywhere.
Buyers, police, insurance companies, brands, and the pre-owned market can use this database to collaborate easily, increasing the chances of recovering lost or stolen items. If you’re considering buying a pre-owned watch or jewelry, you can verify it’s not stolen before purchasing.
Before ENQUIRUS, there was no clear, reliable method to report thefts or check if stolen items were circulating in the secondary market.
Account creation and item registration can be done via the “ENQUIRUS” smartphone app or official website. It currently supports English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, but not Japanese yet. However, users in Japan can use it in a supported language.
The first step is to create an account by entering your name, email, and phone number. Then, from your account page, register your watches or jewelry. Over 130 countries can currently create accounts and register items.
A key feature and appeal of ENQUIRUS is that registrable items are not limited to Richemont Group brands. Products from any watch brand listed in the official website’s “Brand Catalog” can be registered. This platform is open to non-Richemont brands; with a police report and the watch’s serial number, it can be used in case of theft. As of May 11, 2024, 221 watch brands are listed, including Japanese brands like Seiko, Citizen, and Orient, independent micro-manufacturers like Naoya Hida & Co., and smartwatch/fashion brands like Garmin.
How do you register your watch or jewelry? Here’s a partial guide using the iPhone app (currently in English, as Japanese is not yet supported).
Launch the ENQUIRUS app, create an account, and log in. For security, two-factor authentication is used; upon login request, a one-time code is sent to your registered email.
After logging in, tap the “Add a piece” banner in the center of the top screen. Select the item type, then choose the brand from the catalog. Next, select the model name and reference number.
Tap “Next,” and you’ll reach the serial number input screen. Entering the serial number completes the registration.
For current models from Richemont Group brands like Cartier, photos are displayed alongside the reference number. For other models or brands, you may need to take and upload a photo yourself. Therefore, registering via the smartphone app is recommended for easy photo uploads.
The next installment will feature an online and email interview with Frank Vivier, Chief Transformation Officer at Richemont headquarters and head of the ENQUIRUS project, discussing “Why Richemont launched this solution platform” and “Future plans.” Reading the next column will help you understand this solution’s true value.
