I've sold many watches for more than $2k on eBay, mostly vintage, and some quite obscure. I have serious questions about whether a generic authenticator would really have confidence with some 1940s chronographs.

 

Lots of negativity in the air judging by the comments.
I for one do not see anything bad in the approach. Shouldn't it give confidence to both the buyer and seller about a transaction?

 

As a seller, you trust eBay’s arbiter ? They deem it fake and you don’t get it back. The obvious big question is who is their expert.

 

Helps some people. My buddy bought this fake watch because it had the guarantee.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rolex-Daytona-Oystersteel-Men-Watch-116500-/174422225785Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

They say they verify the movement. What do they do with that JLC Reverso with solid back, it's a tricky proposition to open the watch up. And what about resealing it? And what if a watch with serious originality issues is passed by the verifier, does the buyer have any recourse or will he be told, 'it's verified, case closed'? I've bought a few, relatively expensive watches off well known sellers on eBay, but no more.

 

That is incorrect. They return the watch to the seller.

 

Jackholes, LOL. That’s a new one for me

 

Can you clarify this? He spent $9,500 on that watch because it was fake? Or the authenticity guarantee saved him because the watch was fake? Either way, they had courage to make that purchase- terrible and redundant pictures and a user with 0 feedback.

 

My reading is that if they "cannot authenticate" the watch, they return it to the seller. However, if they determine that it is a counterfeit item, it will be confiscated.

FROM FAQ

----------------------
FROM T&C

 

certification business seems to be the new gold or ? i would combine it with kinda blockchain but not public .... oh wait ..

 

Authenticator only has to suspect counterfeit.
Significant risk to put a rare & unusual watch through, perhaps.

 

Perhaps a part-time job opportunity for those around here who seem to be very knowledgeable and with the required skills for the task ?

 

The video said "brand certified"....

 

I have been member of Ebay since it started, one of the things that happens regularly are the buyers that are searching for a special "gift/present" for a loved one, and sometimes this has a tight time constraint for delivery.
Having to send it to Ebay for verification would put a further delay in the selling process, especially if they have a backlog around Christmas.

I do my best to find watches and bring them back to their original state, but we know with Vintage watches sometimes it is difficult to find the correct "age appropriate" part and may use a service part, would Ebay verification assessors be able to tell the difference between a Speedmaster B1 and B2 bezel... if it's on the correct model watch or if its a service bezel, and if an incorrect part is fitted to a watch is the watch then returned to the seller (further delay).

 

Do none of you look at the source material? Two-day turnaround. Brand certified.

I don't know why I bother.

 

What if someone is selling a newly serviced watch?

Will eBay reseal and pressure test?

More importantly it will likely invalidate the warranty if a third party (eBay) opens it.

 

If you are talking about the link in your OP, I can't access it.

 

Clicking your link:

 

The video said "independent experts"....

The company that is doing the authentication is known and has been published here and on other forums.

http://www.americaswatchmaker.com/