The eBay authenticator
I’ll preface this by saying that I am aware that I would be better off purchasing watches from reputable local dealers. I just desire uncommon pieces that are hard to find locally so auctions and international sales sites like Chrono24 and eBay have become necessary evils.
Who is the eBay authenticator? How does one get that job? How do they authenticate?
I assume that eBay has enlisted some watch service centers to do this work but many shop owners and buyers of watches really have a very good knack for identifying counterfeits. Those buyers often deal in the most popular watches and can spot a flaw in a 5711, an offshore, a Daytona or a Richard Mille instantly but what about more obscure models and brands.
I was taught that you use comparisons to a known authentic piece and look for clues that the watch isn’t correct. If you find none, you assume the watch is indeed authentic. I wonder do they do the job by looking for clues in the dials or do they open the case. If they open the case of a compressor or a depth rated watch do they test the waterproof worthiness when complete. Can they spot watches repaired with non-original parts that India has become noted for.
Do they take your watch for a test drive? I know I would wear every watch sent in for a day to see how it feels and looks on my wrist. I would show it to my friends at lunch, just to see if they believe it is authentic, of course. I wonder how often they are incorrect with their assessment.
Does anyone have any knowledge of eBay authenticators that they can share?
My name is Rich and I am building a collection of unique complications. I know it sounds more like the way you start a watch museum and not a personal collection. So far I have a Tourbillion, Retrogra...
Stoll and Co is the authenticator that stands behind Ebay's Authenticity Guarantee. They are very reputable but are generally a high volume shop.
I have never used Stoll and Co for any of my watches, but I have had friends who have used them for repair and authentication, largely for low complication watches from well known brands (the Rolexes and Omegas of the world). They do open the case and they do some limited waterproof testing after, though I would imagine the procedure changes given the type of watch.
I have heard no complaints, though I would imagine any shop that does 100K+ watch authentications per year probably lets a nontrivial number slip through the cracks.
I would point out that generally most of these authentication services rely on a library of watch pictures and diagrams rather than hands on experience with the watch themselves (though if you're doing super high volume stuff like Datejusts, recent model Seamasters, etc, the watch authenticator will certainly have hands on experience with those).
The more obscure and low profile the watch, the less likely the authenticator is going to do a good job. I'd be a little skeptical of their ability to determine if a watch was frankened if it were not a model from the last 10 years. I wouldn't trust vintage at all to anyone but a dedicated vintage specialist (which they are not).
I sincerely doubt they take your watch for a test drive in the way you are referencing.
Thanks Edge168n for a lot of great information.
I have heard some horror stories and some people that will never buy off eBay again because of this.
Once they “authenticate” your watch, even if it is not genuine, eBay will no longer entertain any dispute over the purchase.
I have heard some horror stories and some people that will never buy off eBay again because of this.
Once they “authenticate” your watch, even if it is not genuine, eBay will no longer entertain any dispute over the purchase.
Eeeewww. Good to know.
I have heard some horror stories and some people that will never buy off eBay again because of this.
Once they “authenticate” your watch, even if it is not genuine, eBay will no longer entertain any dispute over the purchase.
This doesn't bug me as much as it used to. The authentication process is naturally invasive and you could very well argue that the watch is worth less than it would be had it not gone through the process.
If I were eBay, I wouldn't trust some random declaration from some jeweler I don't know saying that the watch is not authentic over the massive and reputable authentication agency that I've got eyes on.
Hell, if I were the seller, I would be even more pissed, because the watch is less valuable now because the buyer got over their skis in a purchase and wants to abuse the return process. I won't go into details but this has happened to me before.
I don't think there is a particularly easy way for eBay to arbitrate these sorts of he said she said circumstances because they don't sell the goods directly, they just facilitate two people selling and buying to each other. Its probably easier and fairer just to say the authentication service is the final law and that buyers beware (but sellers too in case Stoll decides that their legitimate piece is a fake.).