Second Chances

Italian jewelry designer Elsa Peretti once famously said that “Even as an object, jewelry can still speak a thousand words. Our stories are held in those objects and voiced when we wear them.” Watches and jewelry are not only a mere expression of our style, but they are also a window into our character. The accessories we wear also symbolize wealth, power, and status. For some of us accessories represent our traditional and cultural values, including milestones like wedding. Ultimately, every piece of watch and jewelry has an interesting story to tell.

What I find fascinating about pre-owned accessories is that the person who owned it already had a story in the past, which will remain a mystery to us, and now we give this object a new life to create our own story.

For collectors, eBay is a fantastic resource to find the rarest of pieces. With the Authenticity Guarantee for watches available since 2020, the retailer has given buyers a sense of security when purchasing second-hand watches over $2,000.

eBay recently announced the expansion of their Authenticity Guarantee to cover fine jewelry pieces. The Authenticity Guarantee for jewelry is a service provided in collaboration with GIA, the Gemological Institute of America in which eligible pieces above $500 will be verified by a team of experts to ensure piece of mind when investing in a luxury item. As part of the collaboration, GIA experts, including gemologists, will perform a multi-point inspection, verifying metal type, purity, and gemstone quality, to confirm the authenticity of every eligible item. The offering will soon expand to include top designer brands like Bvlgari, Van Cleef & Arpels, David Yurman, Cartier and Tiffany & Co. The seller sends the piece to the authenticator where it undergoes a thorough inspection complete with an authentication card containing full details about the item. The item is then shipped direct to the buyer with signature confirmation. Best of all, eBay covers this impartial third-party inspection at no cost to the seller or buyer.