


Rolex, Omega and Tudor are the most popular brands sold on the platform - the Rolex Datejust, Omega Seamaster and Tudor Black Bay are among the most sought-after models, echoing the resale market generally.Īccording to the BoF-McKinsey report, the majority of pre-owned sales in the premium to ultra-luxury categories are to two types of buyers: watch enthusiasts who are after a particular vintage model and frustrated buyers who can’t find the watch they want in traditional retail channels because of limited supply.

The most expensive pre-owned watch sold on .uk in the past three years was a 2019 Rolex GMT Master II in rose gold with a black dial, which went for £50,000. Any watches that buyers choose to return are sent to eBay’s authentication centre to undergo the same checks before being returned to sellers.
#Ebay watcher offers verification#
In addition to his team of watchmakers, equipment such as high-definition cameras are used to enable Stoll staff in eBay’s authentication centres around the world to examine, discuss and authenticate a watch simultaneously in real time.īuyers are issued with an authenticity certificateĪt the end of the verification process, buyers are issued with a certification card embedded with near-field communication technology linked to eBay’s guarantee. “Our aim is to make sure the watch matches the listing,” says Graham Foster, head watchmaker at Stoll & Co. Graham Foster, head watchmaker at authenticators Stoll and Co It also checks for damage and whether parts have been swapped, along with waterproofing and collateral such as the box and papers that came with the watch. Watches under eBay’s authenticity guarantee go to a third-party servicing and authentication company, Stoll & Co, which tags each piece with a tracking barcode before inspecting the crown, bezel, dial, case, clasp or buckle, hands, end links and reference number. “We’re developing a playbook and platform around authentication that is very scalable,” says Tirath Kamdar, eBay’s general manager of luxury. Meanwhile, 44 per cent cited condition and 40 per cent gave quality as concerns, with 39 per cent saying they did not trust sellers. In an eBay study conducted in July with about 1,000 US consumers, 52 per cent of respondents said fears around authenticity were a reason for not buying a pre-owned luxury item.

The eBay authenticity programme is seeking to tap that online market.
#Ebay watcher offers driver#
Digitisation has been the main driver of growth: 30 per cent of pre-owned premium and ultra-luxury watches are now sold online, says the report, compared with 5 per cent of new pieces.
