A Rolex Submariner, a Patek Philippe Nautilus, an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, a Birkin bag from Hermès, a Chanel Timeless... You don't sell simple watches, Cartier jewelry, or leather goods; you trade in treasures. And between the moment an item leaves your safe and the moment it reaches your customer, there is a void. An abyss of risks where theft, loss, or damage can wipe out the value of a luxury car in a matter of seconds.
If you rely on the basic insurance provided by a Carrier to ship a valuable watch, you're not playing Russian roulette. You've already lost.
In 2024, according to data from the watchmaking sector, more than 1,200 luxury watches were reported lost or stolen while in transit in France. Of these claims, less than 15% were properly compensated by standard carriers, with the rest falling foul of exclusion clauses. The average loss was €28,000 per uninsured claim.
Whether you are a new entrepreneur, a seasoned seller accustomed to high-end watch sales platforms (such as Chrono24 or WeWatches), or have been in business for many years: stop taking unnecessary risks. If you issue the shipping label (are responsible for shipping), you bear the shipping risk until the item is delivered to your customer. But if you sell on platforms (such as Vestiaire Collective), then the platform is responsible for the proper delivery of the item: don't hesitate to check the terms and conditions of sale or contact customer service if you have any doubts.
This guide is not a list of options. It is your security protocol. We will dissect the threats specific to your business and reveal the only viable solutions to ensure that every shipment is as secure as your vault.
The Minefield: Specific Risks Involved in Shipping Luxury Goods
Understanding the enemy is the first step to victory. In your line of work, the enemy has three faces.
1. Theft: You Are a Priority Target
Let's be clear: your packages are targets. Internal theft networks within logistics platforms are a reality. A simple scan can reveal a sender known for shipping luxury items. A poorly prepared, overly identifiable package is an "invitation to crime": the discretion of your package is the first step toward security.
2. The Legal "Void" of Traditional Carriers
This is the most brutal trap. Read the terms and conditions of standard carriers (even the most well-known ones). In 99% of cases, you will find a clauseexcluding jewelry, works of art, and luxury watches from coverage. Paying for "Ad Valorem" insurance with them for a watch is often pointless: in the event of a claim, they will invoke their own rules and refuse to pay compensation.
3. Total Financial Loss
Even if a Carrier (by some miracle) to cover your shipment, compensation is often capped at a "paltry" amount (a few thousand euros at best), or worse, calculated on the basis of a discount or with a deductible that reduces your financial compensation.
The Only Viable Solutions: Armor and Armored Convoys
Faced with these threats, there are only two professional strategies for protecting the shipment of a Hublot watch or luxury leather goods. Forget everything else.
Strategy 1: Specialized Ad Valorem Insurance (The Invisible Armor)
This approach involves completely decoupling insurance from transport. You choose a reliable Carrier for its logistics (Chronopost, DHL, UPS, FedEx, etc.), and you take out an insurance policy with a specialist who does just that: insure valuable items.
Specialized decoupled insurance: example with Claisy
Among French providers of high-value ad valorem insurance, Claisy offers a model tailored to the regular flows of SMEs and professional merchants:
- Limit : up to €100,000/shipment (covers ~95% of secondary market transactions)
- Net financial compensation: sale value, without deductible
- Extensive coverage: watches, jewelry, luxury leather goods accepted
- Flexible model: pay-as-you-go or monthly subscription
Limitations accepted: For exceptional items valued at over €100,000 or shipments requiring physical escort, solutions such as Malca-Amit remain essential.
Strategy 2: The Carrier (The Armored Convoy)
For the most exceptional items or the most demanding customers, there are transport services that are themselves mobile fortresses.
Key Players: Malca-Amit, Ferrari Group...
- End-to-End Security: These companies don't just transport goods, they secure them. Their services include armored vehicles, security agents, real-time tracking under high surveillance, and hand-delivery procedures worthy of a banking transaction.
- Integrated and Tailored Insurance: Their business model is based on the transport of valuable items. Their insurance is therefore designed for this purpose, with Limits coverage commensurate with the risks involved.
- The Cost of Absolute Peace of Mind: This level of service comes at a significantly higher cost than standard express shipping, but for a one-of-a-kind six-figure item, it is often non-negotiable.
Comparison of Ad Valorem solutions for luxury goods
Conclusion: Turn Your Greatest Vulnerability into a Competitive Advantage
The paradox of secondhand luxury in 2025: you are an expert at authenticating, negotiating, and showcasing exceptional pieces. You know how to turn a 1976 Nautilus into a six-figure transaction. But between the moment that watch leaves your safe and the moment it reaches your collector in Geneva, Tokyo, or New York, you lose all control.
The figures don't lie: of the 1,200 luxury watches reported lost or stolen in France in 2024, only 15% were properly compensated by standard carriers. The average loss? €28,000 per uninsured claim. For your business, that's potentially several months' worth of profit evaporating in a matter of seconds.
Two Philosophies, One Question
Faced with this risk, you basically have two approaches:
The traditional approach: Continue to use "basic" carrier insurance, cross your fingers, and discover when the first major accident occurs that your €35,000 Daytona will be compensated... €23 per pound. Then spend three months negotiating with lawyers who will oppose you with exclusion clauses that you never read.
The professional approach: Recognize that shipping luxury watches and leather goods is not "simple logistics" but a strategic security operation that requires dedicated expertise.
Your Next Action (2 Minutes)
If you are currently shipping without adequate insurance: You are playing Russian roulette with your capital. The next disaster is not a question of "if" but "when."
If you're still unsure, ask yourself one question: "If I lose an $80,000 Nautilus tomorrow in transit, can my company absorb that loss?" If the answer is no, you know what your next step is.
If you're ready to take action: The calculator below will give you your exact annual cost in 30 seconds. No surprises, no hidden fees, just the peace of mind your business deserves.
Appendices
Specific features of luxury leather goods
Increased risks:
- Depreciation in value in the event of scratches/deformation
- The absence of a serial number (except for Hermès) complicates authentication.
- Often heavy (Birkin ~1kg) = high shipping costs
Insurance considerations:
- ✅ Claisy accepts: Hermès, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior...
- ⚠️ Requirement to file a complaint in case of theft/loss
- 🚫 Custom/modified parts will not be accepted without prior inspection.
Protocol in case of dispute: Your package is lost/stolen
First 24 hours (REVIEW):
- Report immediately to the Carrier legal deadline 48 hours)
- If you are insured with Claisy: open a file via the dashboard and complete your claim file.
- Do NOT compensate your customer before insurance approval.
Average compensation timeframes:
- Claisy: 5 days (if file is complete)
- Malca-Amit: 30-45 days
- Carrier : 60-90 days (if accepted)
==> Claisy's compensation time is therefore less than 5 days, which is at least 6 times faster and up to 18 times faster than traditional carriers.