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.

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.
The Latest

The creator of the WJA Chicago chapter is remembered as a champion for women in the jewelry industry and a loving grandmother.

The decline was consistent across age groups and almost all income groups, with tariffs and inflation still top of mind.

The “Playlist: Electric Dreams” collection brings lyrics from the musician’s song, “Little Wing,” to life through fine jewelry.

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

The event is set for May 16-19 in Detroit, Michigan.


The Vault’s Katherine Jetter is accusing the retailer of using info she shared for a potential partnership to move into Nantucket.

Agents seized 2,193 pieces, a mix of counterfeit Cartier “Love” and “Juste Un Clou” bracelets, and Van Cleef & Arpels’ “Alhambra” design.

The countdown is on for the JCK Las Vegas Show and JA is pulling out all the stops.

The designer brought her children’s book, “The Big Splash Circus,” to life through a collection of playful fine jewelry characters.

The trade association has chosen the recipients of the funding initiative it formed to foster the growth and sustainability of the industry.

The organization has also announced this year’s slate of judges.

Associate Editor Natalie Francisco shares 20 additional pieces that stood out to her at the Couture show.

Lori Tucker started at Williams Jewelers when she was 18 years old.

The “Marvel | Citizen Zenshin” watch is crafted in Super Titanium and has subtle nods to all four “Fantastic Four” superheroes on the dial.

Pritesh Patel, the lab’s chief operating officer, will take over as president and CEO of GIA.

National Jeweler and Jewelers of America discuss the standout jewelry trends and biggest news to emerge from the shows this year.

Signatories to the “Luanda Accord” committed to allocating 1 percent of annual diamond revenue to the Natural Diamond Council.

The winning designs captured the “Radiance” theme.

Nominations in the categories of Jewelry Design, Media Excellence, and Retail Innovation will be accepted through July 30.

The singer’s ring ticks off many bridal trends, with a thick band, half-bezel setting, and solitaire diamond.

The bracelet references vintage high jewelry and snake symbolism as a playful piece where a python’s head becomes a working belt buckle.

The heist happened in Lebec, California, in 2022 when a Brinks truck was transporting goods from one show in California to another.

The 10-carat fancy purple-pink diamond with potential links to Marie Antoinette headlined the white-glove jewelry auction this week.

The Starboard Cruises SVP discusses who is shopping for jewelry on ships, how much they’re spending, and why brands should get on board.

The historic signet ring exceeded its estimate at Noonans Mayfair’s jewelry auction this week.

To mark the milestone, the brand is introducing new non-bridal fine jewelry designs for the first time in two decades.

The gemstone is the third most valuable ruby to come out of the Montepuez mine, Gemfields said.