Everything you need to know about the standard.

Authentication is a single-point assessment. It answers one question at a specific moment in time: is this watch genuine or not. Most authentication services are transaction-driven, photo-based, and produce no permanent record.

Certification is a structured, multi-criteria examination that goes significantly further. Unlimitime certification covers 99 criteria across 10 thematic blocks, including authenticity, physical condition, movement integrity, provenance, service history, rarity and chain of custody. It produces a permanent record that travels with the watch regardless of ownership changes.

The practical difference is significant. An authenticated watch has passed a spot check. A certified watch has a documented identity, a verified condition baseline, and a structured valuation framework that remains accessible and verifiable over time.

Yes. Unlimitime operates independently of watch brands, sellers, dealers and marketplaces. It has no commercial relationship with any party involved in the sale of a watch it certifies.

This independence is structural, not just a policy. The certification standard does not sell watches, does not operate a marketplace, and has no financial interest in the outcome of any transaction. Its certification reflects the condition and authenticity of the watch as examined, not the interests of the party presenting it.

This is what makes the Unlimitime standard usable as a reference by all market participants simultaneously. A collector, a dealer, an insurer and a bank can all rely on the same certified record because none of them produced it.

The certification process follows four stages.

First, the watch is submitted for examination. The owner or dealer provides the timepiece along with any available documentation, including original papers, service records and purchase history.

Second, an independent expert horologist conducts a full physical examination of the watch against 99 criteria across 10 thematic blocks. Every criterion is assessed and documented. A complete photographic record is produced alongside the written report.

Third, a second independent expert horologist reviews the report and photographic record, based on reports and the pictures. This examiner validates or contests the conclusions of the first examination without handling the watch directly. If the two examiners reach different conclusions, a third senior expert makes the final determination.

Fourth, once the examination is conclusive, a certified record is issued. This record is permanent, immutable and independent of any future sale or change of ownership.

The 99 criteria are organised across 10 thematic blocks, each addressing a distinct dimension of the watch.

Block 01, Identity and References, covers 12 criteria. Block 02, Physical Condition, covers 14 criteria. Block 03, Movement and Mechanics, covers 11 criteria. Block 04, Provenance and History, covers 10 criteria. Block 05, Documentation, covers 9 criteria. Block 06, Service History, covers 10 criteria. Block 07, Rarity and Edition, covers 8 criteria. Block 08, Market Context, covers 9 criteria. Block 09, Storage and Custody, covers 8 criteria. Block 10, Chain Integrity, covers 8 criteria.

The total across all 10 blocks is 99 criteria. Every criterion is assessed and documented for each certified watch.

Every certification is conducted by independent expert horologists selected for their professional standing in the industry, working with Unlimitime under a structured two-stage verification protocol.

The first examiner performs the full physical examination of the watch, assessing all 99 criteria and producing a complete report with systematic photographic documentation. The second examiner reviews the report independently, without handling the watch. Their role is to validate or contest the conclusions of the first examiner based solely on the documented evidence.

In the event of a disagreement, a third senior expert horologist makes the final determination. No certification is issued until the process reaches a conclusive, documented outcome.

Phase 1 note: During the initial deployment phase, certifications are conducted by a single examiner. The two-examiner protocol is being rolled out progressively as the examiner network scales.

The Unlimitime standard applies across the full spectrum of luxury horology, with no limitation by category, brand or price point. Steel sports watches, grand complications, vintage timepieces, dress watches, precious metal pieces and limited editions are all within scope.

The same 99-criteria framework applies to every watch submitted for certification. Criteria weighting is adjusted to reflect the specific characteristics of each timepiece, but the examination structure and the certified record format are identical across all categories.

The duration of the certification process depends on the level selected and the completeness of the documentation provided at submission.

For a Core certification with complete documentation, the process typically takes 5 to 10 business days from submission to certificate issuance. Signature and Ultra certifications, which involve deeper examination across more criteria, typically take 10 to 20 business days.

These timelines include the physical examination, the second examiner review, the SCORE calculation and the registry entry. Incomplete documentation or disagreement between examiners may extend the process. We will confirm the expected timeline for your specific watch at submission.

Service history is one of the 10 thematic blocks assessed during certification. At the time of examination, all available service records — manufacturer services, independent repairs, part replacements and polishes — are documented and included in the certified record.

After certification, any new service performed on the watch can be added to the record by requesting a re-examination or a record update. The new service information is logged as a dated layer in the registry without replacing the original certified history.

This means the certified record becomes more complete over time. A watch with a well-maintained and documented service history will reflect that continuity in its Integrity score component, which directly affects the overall SCORE.

A luxury watch without documented provenance and independent certification is an asset with an unverified identity. At resale, at succession, or when presented to an insurer or a bank, the absence of a structured certification record consistently reduces the watch's recognised value and transferability.

Unlimitime certification gives every watch in a collection a permanent, verified identity. Authenticity confirmed by independent expert horologists. Condition assessed against 99 criteria and documented at a specific point in time. Provenance established and recorded in an immutable registry independent of any seller or marketplace.

Certification is not an expense. It is the act of giving a physical asset the documented identity it needs to function as a verified asset.

Dealers and examiners can integrate the Unlimitime certification standard into their existing operations in two ways.

As a certification partner, a dealer submits watches for certification through the Unlimitime process. Every watch they sell can carry an independent certified record, giving their clients a verifiable basis for purchase decisions.

As a certified examiner, an expert horologist with recognised professional standing can apply to conduct examinations within the Unlimitime protocol. This positions their expertise within a shared standard that is recognised across the market, rather than remaining tied to individual reputation alone.

For partnership enquiries, contact us directly.

Institutions accessing certified watches through Unlimitime receive structured, auditable data that replaces subjective appraisals with documented evidence.

For each certified watch, the available data includes a full condition assessment across 99 criteria, a photographic record produced at the time of examination, a provenance summary, a service history record, a market context assessment including comparable sales data and demand signals, and a dynamic valuation score reflecting current market value, rarity index and condition integrity.

Unlimitime does not provide financial advice or guarantee valuations. It provides the structured, independent data that allows institutions to make their own informed assessments on verified assets.

The certification record is permanent. Once issued, it does not expire, cannot be altered, and remains accessible independently of any change in ownership, platform or marketplace.

The record travels with the watch, not with the owner. The dynamic valuation score is updated continuously based on live market data. If the watch is re-examined at a later date, a new condition assessment is added to the record without replacing the original. Every examination becomes part of the watch's documented history.

A certified watch accumulates verifiable history over time rather than losing it.

Unlimitime produces a dynamic valuation score for every certified watch. This score is not a fixed price. It is a structured, continuously updated indicator built from three components.

Value reflects current market price signals, demand trends and comparable sales data aggregated from over 300 sources. Rarity reflects production volume, reference status, edition characteristics and collector demand. Integrity reflects the watch's authenticity, physical condition, service history and chain of custody as documented during the certification examination.

The three components are weighted and combined into a single score, updated in real time as market conditions evolve.

The certification record is permanent, time-stamped, and not static. It documents the condition, authenticity and provenance of the watch at the time of each examination, and can be updated as new information emerges or as the watch is re-examined.

If new evidence comes to light regarding provenance, component originality or ownership history, the record can be reviewed and adjusted to reflect the most accurate documented state of the watch. Every update is logged as a dated layer in the registry, not a replacement of the original assessment.

This makes the Unlimitime registry a living record rather than a static certificate. Its value compounds as the watch accumulates documented history across examinations, ownership changes and market events.