Auction and e-commerce platform Ebay is one of the most interesting places to hunt for watches of all kinds — but buying online from individual sellers has always necessitated vigilance and a bit of “homework” to ensure a safe experience. Now, in order to take some of the burden off both buyers and sellers, the company is introducing its own Authentication Guarantee program for luxury watches. It’s pretty simple and doesn’t cost you anything.
The service applies to watches sold for $2,000 or over and includes vintage watches, though not smartwatches. Ebay covers the cost of authentication as well as two-day shipping from the third-party authenticator facility to the buyer, and each authenticated item comes with a unique guarantee card. Ebay doesn’t disclose the name of the third parties they are working with but ensures consumers they are “leading industry experts” which have been “thoroughly vetted.”
The most interesting element of Ebay’s new Authentication Guarantee is that all watches meeting the criteria must be authenticated. So, beyond simply helping to smooth transactions, the aim is to increase overall trust in Ebay as a platform and discourage would-be scammers — you’ll want to look extra closely at watches priced at $1,999. With as many as 61,007 items listed for men in the Watches, Parts & Accessories category selling in the Buy It Now category for two grand or more, there are definitely some interesting watches worth checking out.