Richemont Group has launched the Enquirus platform, a digital tool to combat jewellery and watch theft. Where did this idea come from? Unfortunately, over the years, the rate of theft has increased, especially in France, where in 2022 there was a 31% increase over the previous year. This sad augmentation is due to the value that watches are acquiring over time, often resold for exorbitant amounts in the resale market.
Just think that since the opening of Enquirus, nearly 30,000 items have already been uploaded reported as lost or stolen. On the platform we can find the biggest jewellery brands (part of the Richemont group) including Cartier, Buccellati, Van Cleef & Arpels, Montblanc, A. Lange & Söhne, etc…
Let’s see how it works. Owners of jewellery or watches, as well as industry partners, will be able to create an account to register lost or stolen items, without having to put personal information such as first and last name. After creating their personal area, they will only need to upload the item with serial number and brand. Finally, they will need to upload the documentation and report of the lost items.
All this will facilitate the search for lost items; in fact, some police forces, including Il Département de Sûreté Territoriale in Paris and the Bijoux Police Service in Geneva, and even insurance partners use the platform to further their searches. But that’s not all… Enquirus will also be useful to anyone who wants to buy a second hand watch, so that before they buy it, they are able to verify that it has not been stolen.
As Richemont CEO, Jérôme Lambert said, the ultimate goal would be precisely to nip the problem in the bud, that is, to reduce the incentive to steal watches in the first place. It’s definitely a big ambition but the platform could be a great start.
Do you think it will work?
