CrimeSep 28, 2023
Have You Seen Jewels Like These? The British Museum Wants to KnowCrimeOct 24, 2023
Philadelphia Jeweler Followed Home, Robbed of Luxury Watch
The incident serves as a reminder to jewelers to be “prudent” about what they wear outside the store, the Jewelers’ Security Alliance said.
Police in Philadelphia are searching for two men authorities say followed a jeweler home from his store on the city’s Jewelers’ Row and robbed him of a Patek Philippe watch priced at more than $100,000.
Philadelphia—The owner of a jewelry store on Philadelphia’s Jewelers’ Row was robbed of a watch at gunpoint by two men who allegedly followed him home from his store.
According to a recent alert from the Jewelers’ Security Alliance, the robbery happened Sept. 11, shortly after the store posted a video on Instagram showing its followers a newly acquired Patek Philippe.
From the video as shared by the local ABC affiliate, the watch appears to be a perpetual calendar chronograph, one of the brand’s Grand Complications models, with a gold bracelet. It is estimated to be worth $150,000 to $170,000.
After the video went up, a man wearing a mask came into the store, asked about the watch, and then left.
Surveillance video shows that after he left the store, he got into a 2020 black Toyota Avalon parked behind the store; another man already was in the car.
The two remained in the area for three hours until the store owner left. They then followed him to his home in suburban Bucks County and robbed him at gunpoint of the Patek Philippe as well as his cell phone, JSA said.
He was not injured in the robbery.
The store owner, who has asked not to be publicly identified, went in and out of the store several times that day while wearing the watch. He believes the suspects were watching him to ensure he was still wearing it before they followed him home.
He told ABC6 he learned two valuable lessons from the robbery.
“One, can’t wear the items anymore, especially not the expensive items. And two, you just have to be looking around and making sure people aren’t following you in this crazy day,” he said.
Related stories will be right here …
According to a recent alert from the Jewelers’ Security Alliance, the robbery happened Sept. 11, shortly after the store posted a video on Instagram showing its followers a newly acquired Patek Philippe.
From the video as shared by the local ABC affiliate, the watch appears to be a perpetual calendar chronograph, one of the brand’s Grand Complications models, with a gold bracelet. It is estimated to be worth $150,000 to $170,000.
After the video went up, a man wearing a mask came into the store, asked about the watch, and then left.
Surveillance video shows that after he left the store, he got into a 2020 black Toyota Avalon parked behind the store; another man already was in the car.
The two remained in the area for three hours until the store owner left. They then followed him to his home in suburban Bucks County and robbed him at gunpoint of the Patek Philippe as well as his cell phone, JSA said.
He was not injured in the robbery.
The store owner, who has asked not to be publicly identified, went in and out of the store several times that day while wearing the watch. He believes the suspects were watching him to ensure he was still wearing it before they followed him home.
He told ABC6 he learned two valuable lessons from the robbery.
“One, can’t wear the items anymore, especially not the expensive items. And two, you just have to be looking around and making sure people aren’t following you in this crazy day,” he said.
The armed robbery in the Philadelphia suburbs follows a rash of luxury watch robberies that spanned both coasts in 2021, prompting JSA to issue a warning to jewelers.
JSA recommends jewelers make sure they are not being followed when driving home or to any location.
The organization also shared a note of caution about wearing expensive jewelry and watches when leaving the store, particularly if it’s just to go home for the evening.
“Jewelers need to be prudent about wearing high-end jewelry and watches outside their store. Not every situation demands wearing the most expensive items,” JSA said.
Anyone with information in the Philadelphia Patek Philippe robbery is asked to contact JSA at 212-687-0328 or jsa2@jewelerssecurity.org, or the Newtown (Pennsylvania) Township Police at 215-579-1000 or policeinfo@twp.newtown.pa.us.
Police are offering a $5,000 reward in the case.
Editors' Picks
Sponsored by
More on Crime
The Latest
PodcastsAug 19, 2026
Episode 8: Diamond Industry Update With David Bonaparte & Ronnie VanderLindenThe industry veterans join the podcast to discuss diamond marketing, the FTC Jewelry Guides, and lobbying for lower tariffs.
MajorsAug 19, 2026
Mike Alexander To Succeed Scott Murphy as Jewelers Mutual CEO Murphy will retire at the end of the year and Alexander, currently the company’s president, will take over at the start of 2027.
Policies & IssuesAug 19, 2026
Spinelli Kilcollin Embraces Dupes With Trade-In ProgramThe jeweler is encouraging customers who own lookalike rings to come into the store and trade them for credit towards an authentic piece.
Brought to you by
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSubmit your pieces for a chance to win in this year's competition.
MajorsAug 19, 2026
Zales Wants You to Wear Fine Jewelry Every DayThe new campaign, “You Are The Occasion,” discourages shoppers from saving their fine jewelry for special occasions only.
Weekly QuizAug 13, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingAug 19, 2026
Vasant Mehta, a Dedicated Diamond Industry Leader, Dies at 81Mehta led India’s GJEPC through the 2008 financial crisis and was respected worldwide for his wisdom, integrity, and knowledge.
ColumnistsAug 18, 2026
Peter Smith: The IKEA Effect and Bridal Branding In a new column, Peter Smith posits that people actually enjoy putting together IKEA furniture, and the same is true for engagement rings.
Brought to you by
Why More Jewelry Retailers Are Hosting Turnkey Estate Buying EventsRetailers are seeking new ways to attract customers, increase traffic, and create revenue – Estate buying events are a popular solution.
Lab-GrownAug 18, 2026
Ring Concierge, Kendall Jenner’s Tequila Brand Collab on GiveawayThe jeweler has partnered with 818 Tequila to gift lab-grown diamond studs to a bride-to-be and their bridal party.
Events & AwardsAug 17, 2026
Exhibition on Louis Comfort Tiffany’s Studios to Open at The MetThe exhibition will feature more than 100 drawings of stained-glass lampshades, windows, and more, many created by women and émigrés.
CollectionsAug 17, 2026
Marquise Diamonds Dance in Spinelli Kilcollin’s ‘Wren’ CollectionMarquise-cut diamonds in drop charms are the center of the new collection, reflecting the movement of a dancer in modular styles.
Events & AwardsAug 17, 2026
There’s a New Jewelry Show Coming to FloridaThe inaugural Fort Lauderdale Jewelry, Antique, & Object Show will be held from Jan. 28 through Feb. 1, 2027.
IndependentsAug 14, 2026
Smyth Jewelers to Open Fourth LocationThe family-owned jeweler will open a new showroom in Bel Air, Maryland, this fall.
CrimeAug 14, 2026
Wife of Man Convicted in Jeweler’s Murder Sentenced for Conspiracy Amanda Ileana Hernandez is married to Carlos Hernandez, one of two men in prison for the 2024 murder of Michigan jeweler Hussein Murray.
TrendsAug 14, 2026
Paul Morelli’s Latest ‘Wavey Vine’ Earrings Embrace ColorThe reimagined jewel, our Piece of the Week, trades the diamonds in the original 1998 design for blue, pink, yellow, and green sapphires.
Supplier BulletinAug 13, 2026
Your Piece Could Be the One Editors Talk AboutSponsored by American Gem Trade Association
FinancialsAug 13, 2026
Pandora’s ‘Talisman’ Collection Shines, Lab-Grown Diamond Sales FallIn the United States, second-quarter sales were flat amid soft consumer sentiment and lower in-store traffic.
AuctionsAug 13, 2026
This Gold Cadbury ‘Conundrum’ Egg Set a World Auction RecordThe 22-karat gold egg, sold at Batemans Auctioneers in the U.K., was part of a 1980s treasure hunt ad campaign for Cadbury Creme Eggs.
SourcingAug 13, 2026
2,488-Carat Diamond, Largest Found in Botswana, Has a New Owner Lucara Diamond Corp., which recovered the “Motswedi” diamond from the Karowe mine, sold the stone for an undisclosed amount.
CollectionsAug 13, 2026
John Hardy Infuses ‘Icon,’ ‘Heishi’ Collections with ColorThe expanded collections now feature hand-cut gemstones like topaz, tanzanite, chrysoprase, chalcedony, smoky quartz, and fire opal.
Lab-GrownAug 13, 2026
Jean Dousset Opens Third StoreThe lab-grown diamond jewelry brand’s newest boutique is in Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara, California.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Eshed-Gemstar on the Painstaking Process of Cutting ‘The Legacy Emerald’The gemstone supplier and manufacturer acquired the remarkable 104-gram Zambian emerald at Gemfields’ auction in May.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Elderly NYC Woman Targeted in Jewelry Swap SchemeTwo suspects offered to trade the woman a “winning” lottery ticket for her jewelry.
SourcingAug 12, 2026
Another Diamond Mine Poised to CloseFinsch has been in business rescue since May, and owner Petra Diamonds said it sees no viable path forward for the mine.
CrimeAug 12, 2026
Jewelry Store Employee Gets 20 Years to Life in Choking Death of BossMichel Patrick DeSalles was sentenced after pleading guilty to the 2017 murder of Omid Gholian, who owned a jewelry store in Manhattan.
MajorsAug 12, 2026
Frederick Goldman Names New SVP of SalesLongtime industry executive Beth Miller has taken on the role.
AuctionsAug 11, 2026
Verdura Unicorn Brooch With Royal Connection Up for Auction The brooch was owned by Virginia Fortune Ryan Ogilvy, who served as a lady of the bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth II for nearly 50 years.
