Today, eBay UK is expanding its Authenticity Guarantee service to pearl jewellery, with the marketplace seeing sales for the gemstone increase 30% in the first six months of 2024*.
New and pre-loved pearl pieces sold for £500 and over are now eligible to be independently verified in collaboration with GIA, the world’s gem authority since 1931. The expansion encompasses a range of pearl jewellery, from recognised brands such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co, and Chopard, as well as unbranded pieces.
Pearls have re-emerged as a must-have gemstone in people’s collections, with eBay UK witnessing a significant rise in related searches. Over the past six months, searches for pearl bracelets and pearl earrings have grown by 50% and 20%, respectively**. Additionally, searches for pearl drop earrings and freshwater pearls has seen a triple-digit increase in searches, reflecting the latest jewellery trends***.
Mari Corella, General Manager of Luxury and Sneakers at eBay said: "We’ve seen over 10m items go through our Authenticity Guarantee (AG) service globally, and we know our customers trust and value the confidence that this service brings. With last year’s successful expansion into jewellery, opening AG to include pearls was a clear next step.
Now, both branded and unbranded pearl jewellery, including necklaces and earrings, are eligible for our blue tick. With pearl styles like drop earrings and freshwater pearls gaining popularity, our service ensures that fine jewellery purchased over £500—whether new or pre-owned—is vetted and verified by experts at the GIA."
With decades of jewellery industry experience and knowledge, GIA experts and gemologists perform a multi-point inspection, verifying the metal type, purity and gemstone quality to confirm the authenticity of each eligible pearl piece. GIA experts will also verify each item against the sellers listing description, to ensure the buyer gets exactly what they ordered.
Pritesh Patel, GIA Chief Operating Officer said: “Expanding our work with eBay to include pearls advances our important mission to protect consumers and the millions of jewellery buyers and sellers on eBay.”
Launched in 2021, eBay UK’s Authenticity Guarantee service has grown to include luxury goods, including watches, handbags, sneakers and most recently fine jewellery. With the introduction of the Authenticity Guarantee for pearl pieces, eBay UK continues to meet the evolving needs of luxury sellers and shoppers, providing them with the confidence to buy and sell high-quality, authentic pieces from a trusted marketplace.
How eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee for Jewellery Works
Since 1931, GIA has been the world's gem authority and as eBay’s jewellery authentication collaborator will examine the pieces eligible for the Authenticity Guarantee service. GIA gemologists and experts verify the condition and quality of the piece, checking dozens of inspection points to verify it’s authentic at no extra cost to the buyer or seller. GIA also ensure its condition and quality are as described in the listing. Details on the jewellery authentication process are as follows:
-
Multi-point inspection by experts: Jewellery is examined for authenticity by GIA experts with years of industry experience and knowledge. They perform a multi-point inspection, to ensure the jewellery is authentic. Once verified, the item is carefully packed and posted to your address at checkout through fast, tracked, signature-required delivery.
-
Unique Authentication Card: Verified jewellery will receive a unique authentication card with a QR code. Scan the code to access your item's documentation, and learn more about your jewellery and its authentication journey.
-
Verified Returns: In the event of a return, every item is inspected by GIA experts before it's sent back to the seller. Returns are posted back directly to the authentication collaborators, verifying its authenticity.
From now shoppers will be able to browse and buy from a selection of unbranded new and pre-owned pearl jewellery marked with an Authenticity Guarantee blue tick, with more items including the top jewellery brands set to be eligible for the Authenticity Guarantee service.
Notes to Editors
eBay Pearl Jewellery By the Numbers
-
Sales for pearl jewellery increased 30% in H1 2024, compared to H2 of 2023, driven by necklaces and earrings*
-
Searches for pearl bracelets and pearl earrings have grown by 50% and 20%, respectively**
-
Searches for pearls increased 40% in H1 2024, compared to H2 of 2023***
-
Searches for freshwater pearls increased 25% over the past four months****
*eBay Sales data H1 2024 (January - June) vs H2 2023 (July - December)
** eBay Search data July 2024 vs February 2024
***eBay Search data H1 2024 (January - June) vs H2 2023 (July - December)
**** eBay Search data July 2024 vs April 2024
About eBay UK AG
Authenticity Guarantee allows shoppers to purchase luxury watches, handbags and jewellery with confidence. Through the service, the most popular brands are independently expertly vetted and verified by expert partners. At no extra cost to the buyer or seller, the item is sent directly from the authenticator via two-day, signature-required delivery.
About GIA
An independent nonprofit organisation, GIA (Gemological Institute of America), established in 1931, is recognised as the world’s foremost authority in gemology. GIA invented the famous 4Cs of diamond quality - Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight and, in 1953, created the International Diamond Grading System™ which is recognized around the world as the standard for diamond quality. The Institute also created the GIA 7 Pearl Value FactorsTM to evaluate pearl quality.
Through research, education, gemological laboratory services and instrument development, the Institute is dedicated to ensuring the public trust in gems and jewellery by upholding the highest standards of integrity, academics, science and professionalism.
GIA is not affiliated with eBay or sellers other than as a verifier of items. For more information, please visit GIA.edu.