Collecting continues to fly. And new technologies are flourishing around it to protect collectors against fakes and counterfeits. A commitment that will become increasingly important on the part of all players in the sector as the buying public grows. It is no longer the responsibility of the seller alone, therefore, to answer for the authenticity of a piece, but also that of the intermediaries and manufacturers, who in the case of excessive circulation of fakes, even historical ones, risk losing credibility and visibility on the vintage market, which is increasingly driving the trade in new items.
There are several signs of greater commitment by brands in this respect: from the more assiduous presence of the manufacturers' heritage managers in communication, including events and interviews, to the extension of the use of digital tools for traceability and verification of watch authenticity.
On the part of second-wrist merchants, there is naturally a growing commitment to guaranteeing a safe purchase. Interesting are the operations of eBay, which in the United States has already launched and piloted its authenticity guarantee service for watches transacted above $2,000, following inspection and verification of the pieces by independent experts. We expect that the platform will soon extend the service to Europe as well, along with the new security deposit facility for bids for watches over $10,000.
Dody Giussani
