Do you sell luxury watches online, run an e-commerce watch store, or regularly ship high-value items (Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Cartier)? A watch damaged during shipping is a seller's worst nightmare (Chrono24). Worse still, if the shipping company can prove that you did not provide suitable or sufficient packaging, they may even refuse to compensate you.
Luxury watches are easily resalable items that are highly targeted by thieves (according to Eurosender), and a number of carriers do not insure luxury watches/jewelry (BR Gang Forum): if the package is lost, there is no compensation. This guide gives you the PRO steps for packing Rolex, Patek, Audemars Piguet, and other prestigious watches with specific materials and anti-theft techniques. Bonus: you'll discover the exceptional Claisy rate of 0.60% reserved for professional watchmakers.
Why luxury watch packaging is critical for delivery
A luxury watch combines high financial value (€5,000-25,000 on average in e-commerce), extreme mechanical fragility, and maximum appeal to thieves. Unlike jewelry, where melting destroys traceability, a stolen watch can easily be resold on the second-hand market without modification.
Value + fragility = maximum seller responsibility
As a professional seller (watchmaker, second-hand dealer, watch sales platform, physical store shipping to VIP customers), you are responsible for the quality of the packaging provided. Carriers systematically check for compliance in the event of disputes: unsuitable packaging = refusal of compensation even with insurance.
Chrono24 insists: "Use plenty of bubble wrap to protect your luxury watch until it reaches the wrist of its new owner. " These numerous packaging steps may seem extreme, but they will prevent you from making a mistake that could cost you dearly.
The winning combo: PRO packaging + dedicated parcel insurance 0.60%
Even with perfect packaging following all the recommended steps, there is no such thing as zero risk: organized theft in sorting warehouses, pure disappearance of parcels, substitution of contents by organized gangs. Hence the critical importance of specialized Ad Valorem insurance for watches with rates adapted to the professional watchmaking industry.
The main risks when shipping a watch
Shock on the mechanism: movement, rotor, balance spring
Automatic mechanical movements contain extremely delicate parts: human hair springs, oscillating weights on microscopic ball bearings, bridges assembled with a tolerance of just a few microns. A violent shock during automated sorting can disrupt the spring, distort the weight, or crack a bridge, rendering the watch inoperable without any visible external damage.
Micro-scratches on sapphire crystal, case, bracelet
Even when protected in its case, a poorly secured watch that moves even a millimeter during transport will rub repeatedly against the inside walls of the box. The result: micro-scratches on the sapphire crystal (despite its 9 Mohs hardness), circular scratches on the steel/gold/titanium bracelet, and premature wear on the ceramic bezel. On an €8,000 Rolex Submariner, these micro-scratches can reduce the resale value by 15-25%.
Theft or substitution of the package: the number one risk when delivering luxury watches
Eurosender confirms: "Luxury watches are restricted by most shipping companies because they are valuable items that can be easily resold. " Common scenarios:
- Package opened in sorting warehouse, watch removed, package resealed with equivalent weight (stones, metal coins)
- Substitution of authentic watch with counterfeit replica of same weight/dimensions
- Complete package diversion by corrupt logistics personnel
- Targeted theft after spotting external labels mentioning "Rolex" / "luxury watch" / "watchmaking"
⚠️ CRITICAL anti-theft rule: "Do not write anything on the outside of the packaging that could indicate that there is a watch inside. Declare 'Precision Instrument' or 'Mechanical Instrument' but NEVER 'watch'. If the company name contains sensitive words (Vintage Watch Company), shorten it to 'VW Co.' This risk mitigation technique reduces the risk of theft AND lowers the cost of insurance."
Loss or pure disappearance in the delivery circuit
BR Gang Forum reports: "A number of carriers do not insure luxury watches/jewelry, which is important to know because if the package is lost, there will be no compensation. " A package containing watches can disappear without a trace: automated sorting error, loss during unloading, misplacement at the logistics platform. Without appropriate Ad Valorem insurance, the seller is responsible for the total loss.
Recommended packaging materials for luxury watches
Here is the complete list of professional equipment used by e-commerce watch retailers (Watchfinder, Cresus, Chrono24):
Sources: Chrono24 – Luxury watch shipping stages, Evertrans – Watch handling protocols
💡 PRO tip: Evertrans (luxury transport) uses "airtight containers with sealed joints, antistatic foam, and individual fastening systems. " Each item is photographed before packaging and is packaged in a controlled atmosphere to prevent oxidation and temperature variations. For watches costing more than €20,000, follow this protocol: 6 HD angle photos + silica dehumidifier + antistatic film.
✓ Quick checklist before shipping
- Watch does NOT move a millimeter in its case (shock test)
- Case wrapped in 3 layers of bubble wrap, minimum 10mm thick
- Triple-wall cardboard with 3-5cm margin on all sides
- Peripheral cushioning = no impact noise when shaking the box
- NEUTRAL label = no visible mention of watches/luxury goods/brands
- 6-angle HD photos of watch + case + closed box stored in the cloud
- Ad Valorem insurance 0.60% taken out BEFORE shipment
Common mistakes to avoid when packing a watch
These errors are systematically penalized by refusal of compensation from carriers:
- Ship watches without cases in simple fabric pouches: "CAUTION: Never send watches in plastic envelopes or bags. ALWAYS use sturdy cardboard as outer packaging. " Fabric pouch alone = zero shock protection, watch moves around freely = guaranteed scratches + risk of movement breakage.
- Use padded envelopes instead of rigid cardboard boxes – Padded envelopes (bubble mail type) are unsuitable for watches costing more than €1,000: insufficient side protection, easily crushed under the weight of other packages, no structural rigidity. Reserved solely for straps/accessories with no mechanical value.
- Leaving space in the box = watch moves during transport – Error No. 1 observed by carriers during disputes. A watch that moves even 2-3mm in its case will suffer repeated micro-shocks during 24-72 hours of transport: spiral misalignment, rotor bearing wear, bracelet scratches. MANDATORY test before closing: shake the closed case, no noise tolerated.
- Utiliser carton trop fin / recyclé abîmé / déjà utilisé – Carton simple cannelure = résistance écrasement <50kg, s'affaisse sous poids palette. Carton recyclé plusieurs fois = cannelures écrasées, perte 70% résistance mécanique. Carton abîmé (angles enfoncés, déchirures) = points faibles par où pénètrent chocs. TOUJOURS carton triple cannelure neuf pour montres >3 000€
- Mentioning "watch" / luxury brand on packages = incitement to theft: "If the company name contains sensitive words such as 'watch', 'Rolex', 'Omega', 'luxury watch', 'jewelry', remove these words and shorten them. " Concrete example: label "Sender: Rolex Boutique Paris 8e" → "Sender: RBP Services." This discretion reduces targeted theft and lowers insurance premiums.
Claisy offer for watches: exceptional rate of 0.60%
Here's why Claisy is the leading transport insurance provider for professional watchmakers:
Specific rate for high-value watches: 0.60% of declared value
Unlike the standard rate of 0.75% applied to other sectors (jewelry, works of art, leather goods), Claisy offers a preferential rate of 0.60% exclusively reserved for professional watchmakers: retailers watch retailers , second-hand/refurbished luxury resellers, watch sales platforms (Chrono24, Watchfinder, Cresus), and physical stores shipping to VIP customers.
Coverage for declared value of new OR used items up to €100,000
You declare the actual value of the watch at the time of shipment (retail price if new, market value if used). Claisy covers this TOTAL value in the event of: parcel theft (even if neutral labeling is respected), loss/disappearance during logistics, breakage of the movement/case/strap during transport, substitution of contents (watch replaced by a counterfeit).
Compensation paid within 72 hours of file approval
Required documents: HD photos before shipping (watch from 6 angles + case + closed box), Carrier slip Carrier declared value visible, purchase invoice OR certificate of authenticity (Rolex warranty, Patek certificate of origin, independent watchmaker's appraisal), damage report (photos of package received, if applicable).
⌚ Examples with a rate of 0.60%:
Example 1: Rolex Submariner Date 116610LN – Value €8,000
Claisy premium 0.60% = €48
In case of theft/loss: compensation of €8,000 within 72 hours
Example 2: Patek Philippe Nautilus 5711/1A – Value €25,000
Claisy premium 0.60% = €150
Compared toCarrier Limit (several dozen euros CMR)
Example 3: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15400ST – Value €15,000
Claisy premium 0.60% = €90
Covers theft + movement breakage + transport scratches
Additional Claisy Resources
- Everything you need to know about shipping insurance for luxury watches
- Complete guide to packing fragile items – General principles applicable to all sectors
- Jewelry packaging – Similar cushioning principles (high value + fragility)
- Insure high-value parcels >€10,000 – Collectible watches, rare vintage items
- E-commerce delivery dispute management – Carrier complaint procedures
- Ad Valorem Insurance Claisy – Coverage €100,000 at a rate of 0.60% for watchmakers