18K Gold Ebel Watch

This lady’s gold Ebel watch was stolen in 1998 from a famous Scottish golfer when thieves climbed some scaffolding outside the home and accessed a lock safe inside. Over £250,000 worth of jewellery was removed from the safe.

In 2021, the watch was offered for sale through a London pawnbroker by the wife of a deceased collector who acquired it in the secondary market shortly after the theft. As usual, very few questions were asked at the time of purchase, and no purchase documentation was retained. Art Recovery International was appointed by the Insurer who paid out on the claim in 1998 and negotiated an unconditional release of the recovered watch.

Offered back to the Insured, the golfer (who had become known also for his collection of wives and girlfriends), declined to reimburse the Insurer who then sold the watch on as salvage.