What is Authenticity Guarantee?

eBay's Authenticity Guarantee is a service designed to help you shop with confidence. Jewellery experts with extensive industry knowledge physically inspect all eligible items before they are posted to you.

How does Authenticity Guarantee work?

It’s easy! Browse and shop eBay’s listings with the “Authenticity Guarantee” badge. When an eligible item is purchased, the seller posts the item to the authentication facility. There, the item goes through a multi-step inspection process. Once verified, the item is carefully packed and posted to your address at checkout via tracked, next day delivery, paid for by eBay!

Will I be charged a fee for Authenticity Guarantee?

No. Authenticity Guarantee is a complimentary service, and eBay covers the cost of authentication and fast, tracked, next day delivery from the authentication facility to the buyer.

What jewellery items are eligible for Authenticity Guarantee?

Only selected listings on eBay.co.uk are eligible for the Service. eBay may amend the eligibility requirements for Eligible Items, including, but not limited to category, and/or value of items and/or transactions. Although only selected items are eligible at the current time, the Authenticity Guarantee will be rapidly expanding. Check listings for the “Authenticity Guarantee” blue tick badge to see if items are included at this time. Eligible Items must satisfy the following conditions:

1. Sold Price: £500 and over, exclusive of postage (Auction items are also included in the service if the eligible item sells above £500.)
2. Condition: New and Used UK items.
3. Category: Fine Jewellery, Engagement & Wedding, Men’s Jewellery, Costume Jewellery.
4. Branded jewellery: Tiffany & Co., Chanel, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Bvlgari, and Chopard.
5. Unbranded jewellery: Unbranded jewellery is defined as jewellery with no attributable designer, brand, or logo.
6. Engraved branded jewellery: Eligible if the item was engraved by the brand.

Additional information:

Country of origin will not be verified for any gemstone.

All listed items must meet the requirements of the Hallmarking Act 1973

Does eBay prohibit the sale of harmful materials in jewellery?

Yes, eBay prohibits the sale of materials found in eBay’s Hazardous Materials and Prohibited Items policies. All jewellery listed on eBay (including items eligible for Authenticity Guarantee) must comply with eBay’s Jewellery Policy including all applicable legal requirements related to levels of metals such as nickel, cadmium and lead in jewellery.

The following items are not eligible for Authenticity Guarantee:

1. Items not bearing the Authenticity Guarantee badge
2. Jewellery listed in categories not named above
3. Miscategorised items, e.g. other types of jewellery such as Jewellery Mixed Lots or other items listed in the categories named above.
4. Items with ineligible stones: jade, opal, turquoise, quartz and amber and pearl
5. Customised branded jewellery
6. Engraved branded jewellery not outlined above
7. Items purchased using an offline payment method
8. Listings that offer local pickup
9. Items posted to P.O. Boxes
10. Items in breach of the Hazardous Materials, Prohibited Items and/or Jewellery policies.

Only items purchased on eBay.co.uk are eligible for Authenticity Guarantee. Items that post to a buyer address outside the UK are not eligible for the service at this time

All listed items must meet the requirements of the Hallmarking Act 1973

Ineligible items will not be authenticated. More information about item eligibility may be found here.

What aspects will be authenticated and how are aspect values determined?

Authenticity Guarantee for jewellery is limited to a review of claims regarding item quality and characteristics listed by the seller. These claims are assessed within defined ranges and tolerances. For example: diamonds clearly stated as treated will not be verified for colour or clarity grades; coloured diamond treatments will not be verified; clarity is evaluated based on the area of the stone that is visible; areas of the stone that are covered by the setting will not be part of the evaluation and diamonds will only be verified for clarity when they are 0.15ct or more. More information can be found here.

Is customised jewellery eligible for Authenticity Guarantee?

At this time, only customised jewellery that is unbranded is eligible for Authenticity Guarantee. Customised branded jewellery is not eligible for Authenticity Guarantee.

An example of a customised item may be an item where the colour or composition of the original stone has changed, or where gemstones have been added.

Are personalised items eligible for Authenticity Guarantee?

Yes, unbranded personalised items are eligible. Branded items are only eligible if the personalisation was carried out by the brand.

For eligible branded and unbranded personalised items, the listing must state that the item has been personalised with an engraving. Our jewellery experts will verify that the personalisation matches what is stated in the listing.

Who is providing eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee service?

eBay is collaborating with GIA, the Gemological Institute of America, to provide our Authenticity Guarantee service. GIA is a nonprofit institute dedicated to ensuring public trust in gems and jewellery. As a trusted authority on diamonds, coloured stones, and pearls, GIA upholds the highest standards in gemological research, education, and science.

What happens at the authentication facility?

Once the item arrives at the authentication facility, jewellery experts will confirm that the item matches the listing. Then they will perform a multi-step inspection process to verify metal type, purity, and gemstone quality, among other characteristics as described in the listing. Finally, they will generate custom documentation verifying the item’s authenticity, and carefully pack the jewellery piece before posting it to the buyer via tracked, next day delivery.

Is there an Authenticity Guarantee card?

Yes, all verified items come with custom physical and digital documentation providing more information about the item’s authenticity.

Will original reports be verified and included with the item?

If the listing states that a report will be provided, the jewellery expert will confirm the report was included with the item. However, the information on the report will not be verified. Only reports from the Gemological Institute of America will be authenticated. Please note GIA will not be providing a new authentication report with the item.

How long will the authentication process take?

After you purchase an eligible item, the seller is required to send the item to the authentication facility, where jewellery experts will inspect the item within two business days of receipt. Once authenticity is verified, as well as listing description accuracy, the item will be posted to you as soon as possible via tracked, next day delivery.

How can I track the progress of my purchase?

The order status will be updated in your “My eBay” purchase history and in the View Order Details section. Delivery information can be seen on My eBay Purchase History. The authentication status can be seen on View Order Details. You will also receive an order update email when your item has been inspected as part of the Authenticity Guarantee service.

How does delivery work?

For security reasons, you will need to provide a unique PIN code to the driver on delivery. When you receive your delivery updates, you will be advised of a 4-digit PIN code that you will need to provide to the driver. The PIN code will be clearly displayed in your updates via email, SMS or in the DPD app. Once the PIN code is provided to the driver, they will input it into their handheld device and if correct, the parcel will then be handed over to you. Please ensure that a valid email address and/or telephone number is registered on your eBay account in order to receive the PIN code.

I don't have a PIN code?

If you do not have your PIN code, then the driver can resend it to the email address and mobile number registered on your eBay account whilst at your doorstep, which you can then give to the driver so that the parcel can be handed over to you. If you do not have a device handy to access your PIN via email, SMS or DPD App, then the driver will be unable to hand over the parcel. The delivery will be re-attempted the following day or you will be able to reschedule your delivery to a day that’s more convenient to you. If unsuccessful again the parcel will be returned to us.

Signatures will be required instead of a PIN code for delivery to the following post codes: FK17 - FK21, GY1 - GY10, HS1 - HS9, IM, IV1 - IV63, JE1 - JE5, KA27 - KA28, KW0 - KW17, PA20 - PA38, PA41 - PA49, PA60 - PA78, PA80, PH19 - PH29, PH32 - PH33, PH45 - PH 48, PO30 - PO41 and ZE1 - ZE3.

Will I receive the original packaging with my purchase?

​​Yes, if the seller has included original packaging as described in the listing, all components will be sent to you.

What if the item does not pass inspection?

If the item does not match the listing or the item’s authenticity can’t be verified, you will be issued a full refund to your original payment method.

Where is my item posted to, and why is it not my address?

Your jewellery will be posted to the authentication facility. Once verified, the jewellery will be sent to the address you entered at checkout.

Can I return items purchased with Authenticity Guarantee?

You can return an item for any reason if the seller accepts returns and the return is requested within the seller's stated return window. If you return an item because you no longer want it, any optional Authenticity Guarantee fee paid at checkout will not be refunded.

In the unlikely event that you receive an item that does not match the listing, you can return the item as long as it is not considered final sale and the return is requested within the eBay Money Back Guarantee timeframes. If the item has not passed verification or significantly not as described, you will receive a full refund, including any optional Authenticity Guarantee fee.

Does the eBay Money Back Guarantee protect authenticated items?

Authenticity Guarantee purchases are covered by eBay Money Back Guarantee when all other eligibility requirements are met. Learn more about eBay Money Back Guarantee policy.

How does the return process work?

You will first send the returned item to the Authentication Facility.

Within two business days of receiving the item, the authenticator will verify that the returned item is the same item and in the same condition as when it was sent to you.

The security tag attached to the item must be untampered with to be eligible for a return. This does not affect any rights you may have under English consumer law.

Items that are unable to have a security tag attached during the verification process, such as small wallets, will need to pass a quality check to confirm that the item has not been used by the buyer. Once verified, the authenticator will ship the item to the seller, and a refund will be processed.

If you return the item under the seller’s return policy because you no longer want it, you will receive a refund for the item price, but not for shipping costs or any optional Authenticity Guarantee fee paid at checkout.

If the item does not pass verification or significantly not as described, you will receive a full refund, including the optional Authenticity Guarantee fee.  For returns, eBay provides the buyer with a label.

If the authenticator determines that the returned item is not the same item originally authenticated or is not in the same condition, the item will be sent back to you and you will not receive a refund.

Why was the item sent back to me by the jewellery expert after I requested a return?

If the authenticator determines the returned item is not the same item, is not in the same condition, it will be sent back to you and the return will be closed.

Can I choose to not have my item authenticated?

No, eBay's Authenticity Guarantee is a required service designed to protect buyers and sellers.