TechnologyMay 26, 2022
State of Retail: The Pros and Cons of 4 Jewelry-Selling PlatformsMajorsJul 20, 2022
EBay Expands Authentication to Jewelry with GIA Partnership
New and pre-owned jewelry sold for $500 and above will be eligible for the authentication service.
eBay is expanding its authenticity service to fine jewelry, with the help of GIA experts.
San Jose, Calif.—EBay is expanding its authenticity service to its fine jewelry offerings, teaming up with the Gemological Institute of America to do so.
The authentication service was introduced in 2020, rolling out to watches, sneakers, handbags, and trading cards.
Now, eBay will authenticate new and pre-owned fine jewelry sold for $500 and above, including designer jewelry from Bulgari, Van Cleef & Arpels, David Yurman, Cartier, and Tiffany & Co.
GIA experts and gemologists will verify the fine jewelry, authenticating the metal type, purity, and gemstone quality.
“Jewelry has always been a popular category on the marketplace, and its growth shows how consumer demand is only increasing,” said Tirath Kamdar, general manager of luxury at eBay.
EBay’s jewelry category has grown significantly over the past year, said the company.
Sales of Bulgari, David Yurman, and Van Cleef & Arpels were all up double digits month-over-month in May, while purchases of fine jewelry from brands like Chopard, Harry Winston, and Hermès rose 38 percent year-over-year in the past six months.
In 2021, eight pieces of jewelry were bought on eBay every minute, said the company, for a total of 4.2 million fine jewelry items sold. There are 7.8 million fine jewelry listings, on average, on eBay every day.
The herringbone style is doing especially well, said eBay, with bracelet sales up 48 percent year-over-year and necklace sales up 26 percent.
“As we continue to listen to our community of luxury enthusiasts in order to foster an even more trusted shopping and selling environment, expanding ‘Authenticity Guarantee’ to jewelry was a crucial next step for our luxury business,” said Kamdar.
Related stories will be right here …
The authentication service was introduced in 2020, rolling out to watches, sneakers, handbags, and trading cards.
Now, eBay will authenticate new and pre-owned fine jewelry sold for $500 and above, including designer jewelry from Bulgari, Van Cleef & Arpels, David Yurman, Cartier, and Tiffany & Co.
GIA experts and gemologists will verify the fine jewelry, authenticating the metal type, purity, and gemstone quality.
“Jewelry has always been a popular category on the marketplace, and its growth shows how consumer demand is only increasing,” said Tirath Kamdar, general manager of luxury at eBay.
EBay’s jewelry category has grown significantly over the past year, said the company.
Sales of Bulgari, David Yurman, and Van Cleef & Arpels were all up double digits month-over-month in May, while purchases of fine jewelry from brands like Chopard, Harry Winston, and Hermès rose 38 percent year-over-year in the past six months.
In 2021, eight pieces of jewelry were bought on eBay every minute, said the company, for a total of 4.2 million fine jewelry items sold. There are 7.8 million fine jewelry listings, on average, on eBay every day.
The herringbone style is doing especially well, said eBay, with bracelet sales up 48 percent year-over-year and necklace sales up 26 percent.
“As we continue to listen to our community of luxury enthusiasts in order to foster an even more trusted shopping and selling environment, expanding ‘Authenticity Guarantee’ to jewelry was a crucial next step for our luxury business,” said Kamdar.
When a shopper purchases jewelry with an “Authenticity Guaranteed” badge, that item is sent to GIA for a multi-point inspection.
When verified, it’s shipped to the customer with a unique authentication card with a QR code.
Buyers can scan the code to access the jewelry’s documentation and learn more about the piece and the authentication process.
If an item can’t be verified or is not consistent with the listing description, it’s returned to the seller and the buyer is issued a full refund.
If the buyer returns the item, it will first be inspected by GIA experts before being sent back to the seller.
“GIA is the trusted independent source of knowledge, standards, and education in gems and jewelry; our mission is to protect consumers,” said Pritesh Patel, chief operating officer of GIA.
“Collaborating with eBay on its Authentication Guarantee extends our mission, helping to protect the millions of eBay fine jewelry buyers and sellers.”
Prior to its current Authenticity Guarantee service, eBay offered a similar vetting service called “eBay Authenticate,” which rolled out for jewelry in 2018.
“Once fully rolled out, Authenticity Guarantee for jewelry will encompass more inventory than the initial service (eBay Authenticate) and is free for both sellers and buyers, as opposed to the seller taking only a percentage of their item’s final selling price,” explained a spokesperson.
“Authentication has always been crucial to jewelry, but it was equally important to us to figure out how to offer it in a way that encompasses a plethora of styles, items and brands at accessible price points so that it benefits as many sellers and buyers as possible.”
EBay said it has authenticated more than two million items since launching the Authenticity Guarantee service and expects to exceed five million in the next two years.
More on Majors
The Latest
Recorded WebinarsMay 16, 2025
Watch: Physical Retail Is Not DeadPeter Smith joined Michelle Graff to chat about the state of brick-and-mortar stores and share a few book and podcast recommendations.
CollectionsMay 16, 2025
Piece of the Week: Tejen’s ‘Candy Bowl’ Torque NecklaceThe necklace features a candy-colored Australian white opal in 18-karat Fairmined gold, as the brand was named a Fairmined ambassador.
Supplier BulletinMay 15, 2025
Treasure Hunting at the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry and Watch ShowSponsored by the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry and Watch Show
Brought to you by
Las Vegas Antique Jewelry & Watch Show: Showcasing the Most Collectible Merchandise from Across the GlobeGain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.
AuctionsMay 15, 2025
'The Mediterranean Blue' Diamond Sells for $21M at Sotheby’sA private American collector purchased the 10-carat fancy vivid blue diamond.
Weekly QuizMay 15, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsMay 15, 2025
Jessica McCormack’s ‘Fruit Salad’ Collection Is Fresh for SummerThe designer has taken the appeal of freshly picked fruit and channeled it into a capsule collection of earrings, necklaces, and pendants.
SourcingMay 15, 2025
Tariffs Take Toll on India’s Gem and Jewelry Industry in April The country’s gem and jewelry exports fell 5 percent year-over-year last month, while imports declined 18 percent.
Brought to you by
Watch: The Winston Red: GIA Examines the Smithsonian’s Newest AdditionSupplier Spotlight Sponsored by GIA
Policies & IssuesMay 15, 2025
State of Retail: How to Better Serve Customers With DisabilitiesAround 54 million Americans and counting live with a disability. Here’s how to make your jewelry store and website more accessible.
Events & AwardsMay 15, 2025
Poet Sekou Andrews to Give Closing Keynote at ConvergeThe event is also accepting poster submissions now through June 16.
Policies & IssuesMay 14, 2025
Here’s What Happened to Pope Francis’ RingBefore Pope Leo XIV was elected, a centuries-old procedure regarding the late pontiff’s ring was followed.
AuctionsMay 14, 2025
Custom Rolex Pulled From Sotheby’s SaleThe one-of-a-kind platinum Rolex Cosmograph Daytona was estimated to fetch up to $1.7 million.
Lab-GrownMay 14, 2025
State of Diamonds: What’s Next for Lab-Grown Diamonds?While the product has entrenched itself in the market, retailers and consultants are assessing the next phase of the category’s development.
CrimeMay 14, 2025
Seattle Detectives Seek Public’s Help in Tiffany & Co. Robberies The police are trying to identify the man suspected of robbing two Tiffany & Co. locations in the area.
Policies & IssuesMay 14, 2025
Foundrae Donates $11K to Ethical MetalsmithsThe donation was the result of the brand’s annual Earth Day Ingot event.
IndependentsMay 13, 2025
Eiseman Jewels’ Renovated Dallas Store Is Bigger and BetterLocated in NorthPark Center, the revamped store is nearly 2,000 square feet larger and includes the first Tudor boutique in Dallas.
MajorsMay 13, 2025
DCA Announces New Learning Platform, Course UpdatesThe nonprofit has made updates to the content in its beginner and advanced jewelry sales courses.
MajorsMay 13, 2025
BIJC Launches New Education FundBIJC President Malyia McNaughton will shift roles to lead the new foundation, and Elyssa Jenkins-Pérez will succeed her as president.
TrendsMay 13, 2025
State of Jewelry Design: The Top 10 Jewelry Trends of the Past DecadeAs a nod to the theme of JCK Las Vegas 2025, “Decades,” National Jeweler took a look back at the top 10 jewelry trends of the past 10 years.
Lab-GrownMay 12, 2025
Lightbox to Go Dark by Summer, De Beers Says The company plans to halt all consumer-facing activity this summer, while Lightbox factory operations will cease by the end of the year.
Policies & IssuesMay 12, 2025
Tariffs on Chinese Imports Temporarily Slashed as U.S.-China Reach Deal Following weekend negotiations, the tax on Chinese goods imported into the United States will drop by 115 percent for the next 90 days.
Events & AwardsMay 12, 2025
Jewelry By Picasso, Dalí on Display at Florida Art Museum “Artists’ Jewelry: From Cubism to Pop, the Diane Venet Collection” is on view at the Norton Museum of Art through October.
Events & AwardsMay 12, 2025
CASE Awards Now Accepting Entries For 2025The deadline to submit is June 16.
IndependentsMay 09, 2025
Lugano Diamonds CEO Resigns Amid Internal InvestigationMoti Ferder stepped down Wednesday and will not receive any severance pay, parent company Compass Diversified said.
CollectionsMay 09, 2025
Pieces of the Week: Marie Lichtenberg’s Collaborations for Mother’s DayLichtenberg partnered with luxury platform Mytheresa on two designs honoring the connection between mothers and daughters.
SourcingMay 09, 2025
Gemfields Resumes Emerald Mining in ZambiaThe miner announced plans to recommence open-pit mining at Kagem.
CrimeMay 08, 2025
Former NYC Jewelry Store Employee Arrested in 2017 Choking Death of Boss Michel Desalles allegedly murdered Omid Gholian inside World of Gold N Diamond using zip ties and then fled the country.
