A growing number of online retailers are making use of third party authentication to combat counterfeit watches. Below is a description of how this system works, and the advantages of its implementation.

Counterfeiting Is A Growing Problem

The majority of counterfeit watches come from Asia, and counterfeiters there have become adept at mimicking genuine watches. The greatest fear of any luxury watch customer is purchasing an item that is either counterfeit, or which does not match the description of the item listed on the website. This is one of the reasons why many people, especially older customers, are reluctant to make major purchases over the web.

For too long, consumers have been expected to accept appreciable risks when making online purchases, trusting the description that is made by the seller and hoping that they are honest. This simply isn’t acceptable, especially when you consider the fact that many luxury watches like Chanel can easily command four or five figures. Sometimes, even if a watch is authentic, it may be in a condition that is different from what the seller described. This has become a serious problem for major auction sites, which can process thousands or tens of thousands of transactions within a single day.

Authentication Process

Luxury watches valued at $2,000 or more will be verified using a 3^rd party authenticator before delivery. Some retailers call it an Authenticity Guarantee service, and it is considered the best weapon for combating counterfeiting.

Each watch will be evaluated by a professional that has decades of experience, and best of all, the service doesn’t cost extra. Buyers will simply have to wait a bit longer to receive their luxury timepiece. Once the sale is completed, the seller will be told to ship their watch to the authenticator, rather than the buyer. After forty eight hours, the watch will be reviewed and then shipped to the buyer using forty eight hour shipping anywhere in the Continental U.S.

At this time, the only transactions which are eligible for this service include mechanical non-smart and quartz watches. The $2,000 minimum is for the final bid price. Additionally, luxury watches which are deemed Authenticity Guaranteed must not be customized, modified or aftermarket timepieces.

Terms And Limitations

At this time, the Authenticity Guarantee is only available for consumers residing in the USA, but there is no doubt that variations of this system will be adopted worldwide. After all, counterfeiting is a global problem, and third party authentication is the best way to ensure that the luxury watch you buy is the genuine item.

Once an eligible watch is purchased, buyers will be able to track its third party authentication status. Given the fact that online watch sales are starting to overtake their offline counterparts, this authentication system is exactly what the market needs. It gives buyers piece of mind knowing that scammers, con artists and counterfeiters will no longer be able to milk them of their hard earned money.