As a watch and fine jewelry marketplace, TrueFacet connects sellers and interested buyers in a safe and secure online space. Our ultimate goal is to protect our shoppers from unwittingly purchasing a fake watch or piece of jewelry online. To that end, TrueFacet employs a team of experienced watch and jewelry experts who examine every item sold on TrueFacet to valuate its authenticity.
We walk through the exhaustive valuation process that every item sold on TrueFacet undergoes before it is shipped to you.
Cross-Referencing Paperwork
Upon receipt, the absolute first step for our authentication team is to thoroughly review any paperwork included in the shipment.
Watches in particular are well documented by the manufacturer and are sold with a Certificate of Authenticity, a warranty card and an instruction booklet. The TrueFacet team will cross-check the watch’s serial number and confirm it matches the number listed in the enclosed paperwork.
As for jewelry, there may be a Certificate of Authenticity from a brand or appraisal documents included in the shipment. Certified appraisals are often used for insuring jewelry and list a detailed description of the item (including any gemstone treatment information) and the overall value.
Pre-owned watches and jewelry sold with their original paperwork and certified appraisals will fetch a higher resale value so there is financial incentive for counterfeiters to forge these materials—fortunately our experts are here to quickly vet any questionable paperwork.
Judging the Piece
Before our team delves into their full-scale authentication process, they can quickly suss out a dubious item by simply handling it. The weight of an item is a tip-off to its authenticity. The luxury and designer watches and jewelry carried by TrueFacet are often made with precious metals which are largely heavier than non-precious metals used by forgers. So, if an item is perceptibly too light, its authenticity is immediately called into question.
Examining Inside a Watch
Step three in the authentication process is a close visual inspection of the watch to ensure all the parts are original, both inside and out. It takes an incredibly trained eye to know the difference between a genuine designer watch and a convincing replica. Our internal team has handled thousands of watches and this exacting training has conditioned them to identify the minute, distinguishing details that brands invest in but forgers skimp on. As they explain, “the devil is in the details” so everything from the types of screws to the pattern of the matte stainless steel finish is examined for inconsistencies.
Our watch authenticators will also use a time-grapher, a tool that is like a stethoscope and listens to the beat of the watch. This helps determine the condition of the watch and establish if the watch is beating too fast or slow.
Interpreting the Jewelry’s Signatures and Stamps
When it comes to valuating jewelry, our team studies the piece’s metal hallmarks and brand stamping. (To learn more about how to read and decode jewelry hallmarks, read our post on the topic here.)
These identifying signatures are different across brands and frequently change over time; in turn, our team possesses an incredible historical knowledge of luxury brands’ brand standards and manufacturing stamps.
As for unbranded jewelry (think custom, estate or vintage jewelry), our jewelry authenticators will conduct an acid or electronic metal test to determine what type of metal the item is made of. And for any jewelry with a precious stone like a diamond, the gemstone is reviewed under magnification for quality and measured for weight estimations.
Getting a Second Opinion
TrueFacet’s authentication team has a vast range of experience after handling tens of thousands of items in their careers. However, there are the occasional rare or unique items that surface and, should our team encounter an item they’re not familiar with, they turn to a network of experts to weigh in. From watchmakers to jewelers to other appraisers or even historians, this far-reaching network can cross-examine the piece and share their insight and expertise.
Through this rigorous authentication process, TrueFacet’s team is working tirelessly to ensure you receive a genuine item at an exceptional value. If you have any more questions, feel free to call us at 1-800-690-3736 or email support@truefacet.com and a concierge associate can explain more!