That is the only rational explanation. A watch doesn't come out of a bag alone, and a thief steals the whole thing, not just an hypothetical watch. OR...

Jan 09, 2020,22:46 PM
 

Someone in the security of the airport saw that you had a watch in your bag, followed your friend, saw that he left the bag and found an opportunity to steal the watch... 

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Patek Philippe Nautilus is wanted. Whom should I blame?

 
 By: dr.kol : January 9th, 2020-11:39
Hello, I did not visit here since a long time. But now I have an interesting story: In the end of last summer, I took my wife's Nautilus ref. 7018/1A-010 for service to Patek Philippe London Salon for a check-up of the movement and for polishing. The watc... 

Sorry to hear that...sounds like we need Daniel Craig from “Knives Out”

 
 By: Clueless_Collector : January 9th, 2020-11:50
Honestly, the gentleman was handed the watch (admitting and acknowledging it) and should be responsible. For whatever long explanation, he should just be responsible, like an adult if he were to lose his belongings. Again I’m sorry for the loss but I’m Cl... 

The gentleman to whom I gave the watch

 
 By: dr.kol : January 9th, 2020-11:58
is the person who I trust completely and he is sitting on top of my assets. A lawyer and a gentleman. He's always careful with everything and my Finnish colleague confirmed that when the Englishman visited the washroom for two minutes before the take-off ... 

I’m just saying he is responsible for the lost and not implying he took it. [nt]

 
 By: Clueless_Collector : January 9th, 2020-13:00
At his level, he can afford to get a replacement while the police handle the case.

He promised to transport it as a favour

 
 By: dr.kol : January 9th, 2020-13:03
so if the watch was stolen by a third party, I can't hold him responsible. Best, Kari

Something doesn’t add up

 
 By: CastorKrieg : January 9th, 2020-12:04
A watch doesn’t just disappear. I don’t want to blame your friend or the CEO but that description is ridiculously detailed. I know I wouldn’t be able to remember half of the details of a trip like that. It is possible through no fault of his own the bag w... 

I agree with you, this does not add up

 
 By: NickO : January 9th, 2020-12:14
One of the tell-tale signs that police identify when people are lying to them is they provide way too much detail. That was a very detailed description of the events. Further, your point is the salient one: any thief who was unaware that the watch was the... 

My colleague picked the exact places and times from the bar receipts.

 
 By: dr.kol : January 9th, 2020-12:28
He could have written more details like what he ordered. This or that, a tough day in many ways. Patek Salon was kind enough to deliver the details of the stolen watch very fast. Sincere thanks to them. Wherever the watch is, it's difficult to convert int... 

My Finnish colleague, who is a very respectable man, wrote the following.

 
 By: dr.kol : January 9th, 2020-12:57
Quote Here’s what I wrote down. These are the factual things that I have observed and remember, but of course there are things I have not observed, and I might remember things incorrectly. Also, I have not checked the timings from any schedules but instea... 

That's terrible new but I don't think there's anything unusual about that level of detailed recollection

 
 By: Fastwong : January 9th, 2020-15:43
I'm not a rocket scientist and I travel a lot and that level of detail if recollection seems pretty reasonable to me. Maybe it's my light OCD but when I travel I know where my bags are at all times, doubly so if I'm transporting something important. I don... 

Good to hear!

 
 By: dr.kol : January 9th, 2020-15:47
We were all totally sober during the meetings and had a good night sleep. So clever fresh guy can remember the details. You are probably right on that. Best, Kari

When I travel with a second watch

 
 By: Fastwong : January 9th, 2020-16:10
I usually verify it is in my bag before and after security at the same time I'm pulliing/putting my laptop. I don't know how long the flights were but I have seen myself and heard of other cases of people stealing things out of luggage in the overheads. P... 

Two short flights:

 
 By: dr.kol : January 9th, 2020-16:22
1 h 30 mins + 2 h 40 mins. Best, Kari PS. Thanks!

It's clear the watch was somehow stolen

 
 By: dr.kol : January 9th, 2020-12:23
and my wife is out of balance (that's nothing new). She claims that her idea was to hand the watch to her 2nd daughter whose eyes are having a similar blue tone as the dial of the watch. Best, Kari

What a disheartening story!

 
 By: w220 : January 9th, 2020-12:12
If I read this correctly, the watch was last physically seen when it was put into the bag at your house. My guess would be that someone at security at the airport saw it when it went through the scanner, and quickly managed to sneak it out of the bag befo... 

He was among the last ones to go through the security

 
 By: dr.kol : January 9th, 2020-12:21
and the Finnish police will go through the security scans to see if the watch was in the bag. For the security there's not enough time to take anything because the bag came straight through. I asked the colleague in the evening if he packed the watch, nex... 

One possibility

 
 By: Uncle Chico : January 9th, 2020-12:20
Security personnel can see into the bag during the conveyer x-ray examination. I have read of incidents where security personnel have taken things from carry on bags while the owner was distracted while being physically searched. Hope it's recovered.

Basically a good idea but

 
 By: dr.kol : January 9th, 2020-12:36
Ivalo airport is a very small one, no queues when my colleagues went through the security check. When the bag is in x-ray, nobody can touch it and also if it's okay, it comes to the side where security is not working. The check of people is just walking t... 

Sorry

 
 By: Passionata_george : January 9th, 2020-15:06
Sorry for yr loss Might be it wasnt stolen by the security rather yr friend took it out w laptop and liquids and forgot to pack it back.A call to lost and found might other puzzle is the opened bag on the plane during the turbulence ,it may was just slid... 

I am sure it wasn't the security.

 
 By: dr.kol : January 9th, 2020-15:14
Ivalo is a very small airport and the security officers are all local. The social control is tight in a village of 1,000 inhabitants. Furthermore, stealing has been made impossible when things go through x-ray. Let's see what the police will say when they... 

Indeed

 
 By: Passionata_george : January 10th, 2020-01:47
Finnish are very honest people(i mean born Finnish)for me it rather sounds an accidental loss than a s see what happens. I guess yr PD was surprised when you declared the value ,the italians got excited when my wife told them the approx price they asked ... 

This is a heart-wrenching experience

 
 By: onnomon : January 9th, 2020-13:02
Maybe it was misplaced before departure, check the house(s) again.

We have two apartments in the house and the guests did not even visit where my family was staying.

 
 By: dr.kol : January 9th, 2020-13:07
In the guest side there are 3 bedrooms downstairs, 2 upstairs, living room, toilet, dressing room, washing room, sauna, kitchen and dining area. Nobody visited upstairs. Downstairs I checked the bedrooms, behind the toilet pots, the refrigerator, deep fre... 

Sounds like a case for.....

 
 By: SALMANPK : January 9th, 2020-12:56
Magnum PI. In all seriousness, sorry for your loss, the watch can be replaced but not the sentimental value. In any case such a rare piece will pop up sooner or later. So the only likely place it could have been stolen was when the bag was in the overhead...  

Oh No :-(( [nt]

 
 By: SALMANPK : January 9th, 2020-13:11

I suspect the watch was stolen when the bag went through security

 
 By: descartes1 : January 10th, 2020-05:31
This happens more than you think with all kind of items as bags etc go through the conveyer belt and x rays. There’s a lot of bustle and confusion and a skilled thief or dishonest worker could snag it. I’ve personally had an item go missing in this proces... 

I’m so sorry for your loss.

 
 By: Catulle : January 9th, 2020-13:11
I hope I’m not breaking any rules. If so, please delete my post without further ado. That said, in my experience PP’s after sales service could not be any worse. I shan’t buy a PP as a result of recurrent service issues with them. I’ve been left with the ... 

Let's put as follows:

 
 By: dr.kol : January 9th, 2020-14:36
I am not impressed how my wife's watch was "serviced". I am still some kind of client; 5 watches in 2019. Best, Kari

Yep... [nt]

 
 By: amanico : January 9th, 2020-14:58

Thanks! [nt]

 
 By: dr.kol : January 9th, 2020-13:46

I don’t know about blame...

 
 By: Cpt Scarlet : January 9th, 2020-14:20
It seldom helps in life, but I’m sorry that this has happened to you and your wife.

In the end I do not care whom to blame. The watch is gone. Period.

 
 By: dr.kol : January 9th, 2020-14:34
But I must look forward and understand whom to trust. Best, Kari

I cannot speak for what happens in the EU... Now in the USA, with our TSA folks, I do this...

 
 By: HighEndOne : January 9th, 2020-14:39
On the rare occasions that I travel with seriously valuable items, I insist on a private security screening at the airport. I arrive very early so if it takes a while, that is OK. I do not want anyone going into that bag without me. It seems to me that i'... 

Sorry to hear this. I guess a key question at some point will be: how is your colleague suggesting to handle this matter?

 
 By: FabR : January 9th, 2020-14:53
I understand you’d rather not hold him financially responsible, but is he offering to refund you, at least in part? There seems to be much more than a watch at stake for the three of you here, both personally and professionally, that I hope the solution w... 

Never know about people

 
 By: artp1085 : January 9th, 2020-14:59
I have owned a business for 35 years and have been surprised many times by. People I totally trusted. Sad

I have very similar experiences.

 
 By: dr.kol : January 9th, 2020-15:11
Especially when people are leaving. Best, Kari

He sent me a photo of his garbage bin at home

 
 By: dr.kol : January 9th, 2020-15:05
in order to emphasise that he checked everything. That's it. Best, Kari

Sad story!

 
 By: als1678 : January 9th, 2020-15:52
I hope you somehow recover the watch. I know we are all obsessed with our toys but tiny fraction of the general population cares about PP. Not to mention looking for one in a random bag. There is also virtually no chance that the person that you gave the ... 

I try to forget the whole issue

 
 By: dr.kol : January 9th, 2020-16:02
and keep pretty much my mind out of watches. This case is just such a mystery that I wanted to hear if someone would have a good idea. We had a tough meeting and I had to say a very strong "no" to an issue which mattered a lot to my English colleague. I t... 

Definitely an interesting story,thank you for sharing!

 
 By: als1678 : January 9th, 2020-16:29
Revenge ... Or his wife saw this watch and had to have it!

Easier to steal from the company.

 
 By: dr.kol : January 9th, 2020-16:40
I do not check the UK account too carefully. And the guy is close with the CFO. Seriously: I just want to understand when I think about the future. Best, Kari

Interesting...

 
 By: Patekfinity : January 9th, 2020-18:02
Deleted...sorry. Double post

Interesting...

 
 By: Patekfinity : January 9th, 2020-18:02
If he still works for you in a couple of years....I would do the following: buy a knockoff Patek Nautilus online or from the street. Make up a story about how you need to send the watch to the Salon for repairs. Have the same individual courier your watch... 

Not if it’s a fake

 
 By: Patekfinity : January 10th, 2020-13:21
True...a REAL one might, which is why you will want to buy a fake one.

That is the only rational explanation. A watch doesn't come out of a bag alone, and a thief steals the whole thing, not just an hypothetical watch. OR...

 
 By: amanico : January 9th, 2020-22:46
Someone in the security of the airport saw that you had a watch in your bag, followed your friend, saw that he left the bag and found an opportunity to steal the watch...

So sorry to hear this, Kari

 
 By: destrodan : January 9th, 2020-18:36
The level of detail provided by your trusted colleague suggests to me that he has been thinking and re-thinking and then re-thinking again about the entire event. A veritable hell. I would too if it were me. Horrible, horrible situation for all involved. ... 

I wonder how your colleague reacted upon seeing that the watch wasn't there..

 
 By: Echi : January 9th, 2020-20:30
I'd probably be really "concerned" losing my boss' Patek! In cases like this where things can get murky, it's all in how this gentleman handled the situation. A test of character. I've seen folks fail in these types of situations numerous times. It takes ... 

I am sorry for your loss...

 
 By: FlyingSnoopy : January 9th, 2020-22:20
But there is always an explanation as it cannot disappear into thin air... From what I read the are three possibilities it was stolen by someone that knew or found out after searching it was there (as nothing else was missing) It fell out during the numer... 

Dr. Kol, this is such a sad story because of the amount of bad luck involved..

 
 By: Reuven Malter : January 9th, 2020-22:31
I dont think that your colleague has anything to do with it for two reasons. Even though this watch is very expensive, given his status, this watch is not expensive enough to take the risk. It would not be rational. If you gave it to the taxi driver with ... 

I am very sorry to read this Kari!

 
 By: keks : January 10th, 2020-00:32
My initial take would be that the watch somehow fell out of his bad during security check, perhaps as laptop was taken out etc... it is very easily done and if one has a dishonest person behind in line easy to pick up something that looks like it could co... 

The security scenario does not simply work.

 
 By: dr.kol : January 10th, 2020-02:39
There are just 2 people. The other one is checking the monitor and the other one is taking the people in. In case a passenger is checked, they stop the line and the guy from the monitor is standing up and checking. Bags which are checked go to a different... 

I am very sorry...

 
 By: sc16 : January 10th, 2020-01:45
to read about your story Kari. Enough have been said already and I can't provide any new insights to what has already been provided by the various members. From my own experience, if i travel with an extra watch in my laptop bag or a carry-on bag, the one... 

The theft makes no sense to me.

 
 By: Costa (aka Connie) : January 10th, 2020-03:02
I think the watch either fell out or it was never put in the bag. I doubt it was stolen. A thief with no knowledge of what is inside the bag would not selectively take a pouch from a bag. He would take the entire bag. I think you must start thinking of di... 

Truly sorry to read this Kari.

 
 By: NoH : January 10th, 2020-14:51
I always love your posts on this forum, but for once, this is not the one I’d like to see... All the very best,

Hi Kari, Wow, what an unfortunate situation for your family !

 
 By: GLau : January 10th, 2020-22:51
Hope the future will be brighter because of this incidence.

What Gordon is saying is that things can only get better hopefully

 
 By: Centurionone : January 15th, 2020-23:07
Sorry for this unfortunate incident Dr.!

Sorry to hear about this, and I hope your wife’s watch is returned.

 
 By: RussW : January 11th, 2020-17:14
I found it a bit strange that the bag was never checked for the watch throughout the journey. If it was me, every time i opened the bag I’d be checking the watch was still there.

Kari, sorry to hear this

 
 By: benzng : January 11th, 2020-17:25
From your story, I would "speculate" that the watch might have lost in transit. a theory is Probably inside the plane. You mentioned Charlie was reading the book during the flight. Would it be possible for someone to get his back without him noticing it? ... 

it happens

 
 By: benzng : January 13th, 2020-05:09
www.corporatetravelsafety.com