CRNO Authentication, Serial Number Checks & Status Reporting – Terms & Conditions

CRNO provides an independent watch authentication, serial-number checking and status-reporting service designed to support transparency, risk assessment, proof of ownership and crime reduction within the luxury-watch market.

By using CRNO authentication, serial-number checking or watch status services, users acknowledge and agree to the following terms.

1. Nature of the Authentication Service

CRNO authentication services are carried out by independent, CRNO-approved professional authenticators based on physical inspection, documentation provided, available records and the professional industry expertise available at the time of inspection.

Authentication outcomes represent a professional opinion based on the information and condition of the watch at the time of assessment. They do not constitute a guarantee, a manufacturer-issued certificate of authenticity, certification of origin by the manufacturer, or an absolute determination of authenticity.

2. Serial Number & Status Checks

CRNO allows users to carry out serial-number and watch-status checks before purchasing, selling, transferring or otherwise dealing with a watch.

Always check a watch before purchasing.

Serial-number checks may be carried out against information available through the CRNO database and CRNO's partnered data sources, which may include:

• CRNO registered watch records;

• Enquirus;

• stock and watch records supplied by partnered retailers;

• relevant partnered police and law-enforcement data or databases where CRNO is authorised to access, receive or check such information; and

• other approved third-party databases or data partners that may be integrated with the CRNO network from time to time.

A CRNO serial-number check is intended to provide additional information and assist with due diligence. A result showing no current alerts or matches does not guarantee that a watch is genuine, lawfully owned, free from finance, free from an ownership dispute, or has never been stolen, lost, fraudulently obtained or otherwise subject to an adverse status.

Database information can be incomplete, delayed, inaccurate, subsequently updated or unavailable. Users should therefore consider a CRNO check as one part of their overall due-diligence process.

3. Traffic-Light Status System

CRNO uses a traffic-light status system (Green, Amber and Red) to communicate the documentation and authentication status of a watch within the CRNO network.

Green indicates that the watch has been professionally authenticated by a CRNO-approved expert.

Amber indicates that supporting documentation is present, but full CRNO authentication has not yet been completed.

Red indicates that the watch has been authenticated by a CRNO-approved expert as a non-genuine watch.

These statuses are provided for informational and risk-assessment purposes only and must not be interpreted as warranties, guarantees, valuations or confirmation of legal title.

4. No Manufacturer Affiliation

CRNO is not affiliated with, endorsed by, authorised by, or acting on behalf of any watch manufacturer, brand or trademark holder unless explicitly stated in writing.

Any brand names, trademarks or product references displayed within CRNO are used for identification and informational purposes.

5. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, CRNO does not accept liability for losses arising solely from reliance on authentication outcomes, serial-number search results, documentation status, database information or traffic-light classifications.

CRNO is not responsible for hidden defects, undisclosed modifications, inaccurate or fraudulent documentation, future alterations, cloned or altered serial numbers, or counterfeit techniques that are not reasonably detectable at the time of inspection or database search.

CRNO does not guarantee the future market value of a watch, resale success, insurance acceptance, legal title, or that a watch will remain free from a future stolen, lost or disputed status.

Nothing in these Terms & Conditions excludes or limits liability where it would be unlawful to do so under applicable law.

6. Insurance & Resale

Authentication status, serial-number search results and documentation visibility do not constitute insurance approval, a valuation, or a binding assessment for underwriting, purchasing or resale purposes.

Insurers, retailers, marketplaces, platforms, dealers and prospective buyers remain responsible for conducting their own due diligence and making their own independent decisions.

7. Ownership, Transfers & Updates

Authentication and watch status are linked to the relevant CRNO record and CRNO ID and may change where:

• the watch is re-authenticated;

• new information or documentation is provided;

• ownership is transferred;

• a new database match or alert is identified;

• the watch is reported lost or stolen;

• the watch is subsequently recovered; or

• CRNO receives information that reasonably requires the record to be reviewed.

CRNO reserves the right to review, update, amend, restrict or flag a watch's status where reasonably necessary to maintain the accuracy, security and integrity of the CRNO network.

8. User Responsibility

Users are responsible for the accuracy and legality of information they submit to CRNO, their lawful possession or ownership of a watch, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Users must not knowingly submit false, misleading, altered or fraudulent information.

CRNO registration or authentication does not, by itself, determine legal title or resolve competing ownership claims or disputes.

9. No Disabling of Watches

CRNO does not disable, remotely control, interfere with or otherwise control the physical operation of a watch.

All authentication, registration, serial-number search and status outcomes are informational and designed to support due diligence, ownership records and crime reduction.

10. Third-Party Database Checks & Information Sharing

As part of its serial-number checking, authentication and risk-assessment services, CRNO may utilise information held within the CRNO database together with trusted partnered or third-party data sources.

These may include Enquirus, partnered retailer stock records, authorised police or law-enforcement data sources, and other approved data partners integrated with the CRNO network.

Where a serial-number or status check indicates a potential match, stolen or lost report, duplicate record, ownership concern, alert or other status requiring further investigation, CRNO may take reasonable steps to verify or clarify the information.

Where permitted and appropriate, relevant watch and user information may be securely shared with the applicable data partner, retailer, law-enforcement organisation or other authorised party for the purposes of verification, investigation, crime prevention, recovery, fraud prevention or clarification of the watch's status.

Where a third-party partner becomes involved:

• the relevant partner may contact the user where appropriate and permitted;

• CRNO does not control the partner's independent investigation, conclusions or decision-making;

• information supplied by third parties may be subject to their own records, processes and policies; and

• engagement with a third-party service may be subject to that organisation's own applicable terms and privacy policies.

CRNO acts as a facilitator and technology platform and does not own or operate independent third-party databases unless expressly stated otherwise.

11. Database Coverage & No-Match Results

CRNO cannot guarantee that every stolen, lost, fraudulent, disputed or otherwise problematic watch will be recorded within CRNO or any partnered database.

A "No Match", "No Record Found", "Clear" or similar result should not be interpreted as a guarantee that the watch is legitimate or safe to purchase.

Users should always conduct appropriate due diligence before purchasing a luxury watch, including checking the seller, provenance, documentation, serial number and, where appropriate, obtaining professional authentication.

Always check a watch before purchasing. Protect yourself from stolen, lost, fraudulent or disputed timepieces.

12. Governing Law

These terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales, subject to any mandatory rights or protections that apply under applicable law.

Terms & Conditions

Terms & Conditions apply. By using CRNO's serial-number checking, authentication or status-reporting services, you agree to the applicable CRNO Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

The Terms & Conditions button within the CRNO application should link directly to the current full Terms & Conditions published on the CRNO website.