Australian insurers increasingly require a formal authentication report when covering high-value luxury watches — particularly pre-owned, vintage, or inherited pieces where original purchase documentation may not be available. Our formal written authentication reports are produced by a certified horologist with 25+ years of experience and Swiss manufacturer credentials, and include all the information typically required by insurance providers.
Why Your Insurer May Require Watch Authentication
High-value watch insurance policies — both stand-alone watch insurance and scheduled items under home contents policies — typically require formal documentation when the watch was purchased second-hand, inherited, or is of significant value. Without an expert authentication report, insurers have no independent basis to confirm that the watch being insured is genuine or to establish its specification. This is particularly relevant for,
- Watches purchased on the grey market or from private sellers
- Vintage or pre-owned Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and other high-value references
- Inherited watches where original purchase paperwork is unavailable
- Watches that have been serviced and may have non-original components
- Collectors with multiple high-value timepieces seeking comprehensive coverage
What Our Insurance Authentication Report Includes
Our formal written report provides all the information typically required by Australian insurance providers:
- Brand, model, and reference number
- Serial number (case and movement)
- Movement calibre and identification
- Condition assessment
- Expert opinion on authenticity
- Any non-original or modified components, clearly noted
- Certifying watchmaker’s credentials and manufacturer certifications
The report is delivered in writing and is suitable for submission to your insurer or broker as supporting documentation for a scheduled item claim or insurance application.
Valuation vs Authentication — Understanding the Difference
An authentication report confirms that a watch is genuine. A valuation report establishes its current market value. For insurance purposes, your insurer may require one or both.
Our authentication service (from $350) covers the genuineness of the timepiece. If you also require a formal valuation for insurance replacement purposes, we provide valuation reports separately
For comprehensive insurance documentation, we recommend both an authentication and a valuation report, particularly for watches worth $10,000 or more.
Our Credentials for Insurance Purposes
Insurance authentication carries weight in proportion to the credentials of the certifying expert. Our reports are issued by Michael Arraiza, who holds manufacturer certifications from the Swiss headquarters of Omega, IWC, Breitling, and Panerai. He is a named trusted authentication partner of several Sydney watch dealers and has over 25 years of hands-on experience with luxury Swiss timepieces.
These credentials provide the expert authority that insurers and brokers look for when accepting authentication documentation.