Italian jewelry designer Elsa Peretti once famously said that “Even as an object, jewelry can still speak a thousand words. Our stories are held in those objects and voiced when we wear them.” Watches and jewelry are not only a mere expression of our style, but they are also a window into our character. The accessories we wear also symbolize wealth, power, and status. For some of us accessories represent our traditional and cultural values, including milestones like wedding. Ultimately, every piece of watch and jewelry has an interesting story to tell.
What I find fascinating about pre-owned accessories is that the person who owned it already had a story in the past, which will remain a mystery to us, and now we give this object a new life to create our own story.
For collectors, eBay is a fantastic resource to find the rarest of pieces. With the Authenticity Guarantee for watches available since 2020, the retailer has given buyers a sense of security when purchasing second-hand watches over $2,000.
eBay recently announced the expansion of their Authenticity Guarantee to cover fine jewelry pieces. The Authenticity Guarantee for jewelry is a service provided in collaboration with GIA, the Gemological Institute of America in which eligible pieces above $500 will be verified by a team of experts to ensure piece of mind when investing in a luxury item. As part of the collaboration, GIA experts, including gemologists, will perform a multi-point inspection, verifying metal type, purity, and gemstone quality, to confirm the authenticity of every eligible item. The offering will soon expand to include top designer brands like Bvlgari, Van Cleef & Arpels, David Yurman, Cartier and Tiffany & Co. The seller sends the piece to the authenticator where it undergoes a thorough inspection complete with an authentication card containing full details about the item. The item is then shipped direct to the buyer with signature confirmation. Best of all, eBay covers this impartial third-party inspection at no cost to the seller or buyer.
It’s an exciting development to see this collaboration with GIA for fine jewelry, making it that much easier for beautiful pieces to find their way to new owners who will cherish them.
In celebration of the invaluable new service, Revolution takes a look at dream pairings of some of our favorite watches with coordinating jewelry pieces – all available with authenticity guarantee – and all found on eBay.
Classic Elegance
Cartier has long been admired in the fashion industry for creating beautiful items with a timeless sophistication. Revolution found a gorgeous Cartier Panthère Classic 1070 Ladies Watch in a 22mm case. This discontinued watch is still highly sought on the collector’s market and features a creamy off-white dial, striking inner minute marking and blue hands for a classic18K yellow gold timepiece. To pair with the watch, we discovered a pair of classic stud earrings in matching 14K yellow gold with a gorgeous half-a-carat brilliant round diamond. These two pieces would make a perfect set for the woman who prefers understated elegance and uncompromising quality.
Shop similar Cartier 18K Yellow Gold Panthere Classic Quartz
Shop similar Diamond Classic Stud Earrings in 14K Yellow Gold
Bold and the Beautiful
Nothing is more emblematic of the Italian watchmaker, Bulgari, than their Serpenti watch models. This unique timepiece was inspired by the snake, a significant icon in the Roman culture that represented everything from fertility and rebirth to protection from evil spirits. We fell in love with a white ceramic and rose gold Bulgari Serpenti Spiga T1 with diamond accents and white lacquered dial. As a companion to this unique conversation start of a watch, we couldn’t resist a gorgeous 14K rose gold paperclip link chain necklace. The necklace features a distinctive shape that is so airy, you can wear it for an evening out or a day at work. The Serpenti watch and paperclip necklace would appeal to the woman who has a bold and adventurous sense of style.
Shop similar Bulgari Serpenti Spiga T1 Rose gold Diamonds & White Ceramic
Shop similar Paperclip Link Chain Necklace in 14K Rose Gold
Alluring Finesse
We were instantly drawn to the whimsical charm of this white Alhambra Diamond watch from Van Cleef & Arpels. The handmade timepiece has a white mother-of-pearl dial in a gorgeous 18K white gold case with a four-leaf clover shape, a diamond studded bezel and is paired with a white satin bracelet. We paired the Alhambra watch with an elegant stackable ring with diamond bezel setting. Mixing and matching stackable rings is part of the fun where you can alternate between rings sparkling with diamonds, or you can go for maximum impact with colored gemstones. This paring would make a captivating gift for anyone with a love of feminine and graceful accessories.
Shop similar Van Cleef & Arpels Alhambra Diamond MOP Medium Model in 18K White Gold
Shop similar Stackable Ring in14K White with Diamond Bezel Set
Statement Piece
David Yurman has built an impressive collection of artful watches that bring a sense of the unexpected. This rarely seen Thouroughbred date watch in polished 18K yellow gold is an excellent example of his unusual take on the classic gold wristwatch. The case is cushion shaped and the bracelet includes links with cable detail. To emphasize the unusual style of the bracelet, we found a 14K yellow gold bracelet from jewelry maker Bayam with a substantial 13mm width of Cuban royal links. The impressive box clasp is decorated with cubic zirconia stones. The pair would stand out anywhere from a day in the office to a dinner with friends for any man with a confident approach to style.
Shop similar David Yurman T301 Thoroughbred 18k Yellow Gold Automatic
Sporty Chic
Tiffany & Co is known for their exquisite jewelry and Swiss crafted timepieces. We were excited to see this impeccable men’s chronograph sport watch from the Tiffany & Co. CT60 line with a sporty blue sunray dial and jaunty orange and red accents. It’s a classic automatic watch with sophisticated style and two sub-dials well balance with the date window at 6 o’clock. We chose to contrast the chronograph with a two-tone wedding band in platinum and yellow gold. For the man of adventure with a modest fashion sense, this sporty chronograph paired with the high-quality platinum and gold wedding band is a winning combination.
Shop similar Tiffany & CO CT60 Chronograph Blue Dial Automatic
Shop similar Men’s Wedding Band in Platinum and 18K Yellow Gold
Convincing Pairing Game
Whether it’s a casual day out or a formal event, pairing your watch with the right jewelry always matters. The finer details can make or break the overall look. Whether it is understated classic, bold and blingy, or edgy and chic, watches and jewelry should complement each other rather than work against each other. Moreover, they should be a match for your personality and mood. There is something special about pulling off the right accessory with confidence while looking fabulous!
