eBay UK’s luxury watches division has grown from strength to strength since the launch of its Authenticity Guarantee programme in 2021.
This scheme sees watches sold for £1,500 or more, inspected on their way between seller and buyer. This detailed inspection and verification by independent experts provides an extra layer of confidence for shoppers browsing watches on eBay as well as sellers, since the watch is also checked on the reverse leg in the event of returns.
Keith Metcalfe, eBay UK’s Director of Luxury, comments on the value that the service is providing to sellers on the platform: “Since launching Authenticity Guarantee for watches on eBay, what is powerful to see is that we are witnessing sellers of all sizes, from individual watch sellers to professional dealers and retailers, all benefitting equally from the service.
“Thanks to these incredible sellers on the platform, we offer a super competitive trading environment that offers our buyers an unrivalled selection, along with the security that eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee provides.”
Metcalfe is encouraged by the growth that the category has witnessed since the launch of the programme on the UK platform. “The most notable growth has been in seller and listing numbers on those watches priced at over £5,000,” Metcalfe says. “In fact, the most expensive watch to be purchased on eBay UK and make its way through our Authenticity Guarantee Programme was a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Blue Anniversary Men’s White Gold 2019, which was listed for £93,000.
“We are delighted that our service is building momentum within the watch category, and we hope this will only continue to grow as we innovate for our buyers and sellers,” Metcalfe concludes.
