Getting started
WatchRadar analyses guided photographs of the watch. You can start once you have three useful angles; five give stronger evidence. The Precision Scan capture screen asks for them in this order: dial and bezel straight on, crown side, side profile, caseback, and clasp. Framing guidance and sharpness and glare checks run live on the iPhone, and you can re-take any frame from the bottom strip before generating the dossier. The photos are then uploaded and analysed on WatchRadar's servers, so you need an internet connection.
- Light from one direction. Natural daylight from a window beats overhead lighting. Avoid harsh point sources that throw glare onto the crystal.
- Hold the watch about 15 cm (6 in) from the lens. Closer than that and the camera can't focus; further and you lose detail in the bezel and dial print.
- Wipe the crystal first. Fingerprints blur fine dial print, which lowers the confidence and can tip the result to Uncertain.
- Frame the whole watch in shot. Don't crop the lugs out, even on the dial-straight-on frame — the case finishing is one of the strongest signals.
Reading a verdict
WatchRadar suggests the likely brand, model and reference, then returns one of three hedged verdicts with a confidence level, the reasons behind it and a recommended next step. The confidence tells you how strongly the visible cues agree with the suggested identity.
- Likely Authentic. The visible details are consistent with the suggested reference and nothing in the photos contradicts it. It is not proof: WatchRadar can't see inside the case. Compare the asking price with the estimated value range, and for a high-value watch have the movement and case opened by a qualified watchmaker or the brand's service centre before you pay.
- Uncertain. The photos don't show enough, or the signals are mixed. The cause can be scan quality, a reference the catalogue knows less well, or a watch assembled from mismatched parts. Re-shoot first; if the verdict holds, ask the seller for more evidence (movement photos, paperwork, service records) before deciding.
- High Risk. The analysis found at least one visual signal that contradicts the suggested identity, such as dial typography, bezel marker shape, case proportions or the date font. The recommended-action card explains which region raised the flag. Don't send money on the listing alone: get the watch inspected in person, or walk away.
Analysis Reports
A shareable Analysis Report turns a finished dossier into a record you can share: a unique WRC-id, a QR code that opens the public verification page, and a PDF. It records what the analysis found: the suggested reference, the verdict and the reasons. It is not a legal certificate of authenticity. Use it to show a buyer what was checked, attach it to a Chrono24 or eBay listing, or keep it with your insurance paperwork.
- Creating a report. On the result screen of a finished scan, tap Generate Analysis Report and confirm in the sheet that opens. The button appears on every result where a watch was identified. You can attach optional provenance (receipt, warranty card, service log) first. Once the report is created, its QR code and public page are ready to share. Before app version 3.21 this document was called a certificate.
- Checking a report someone else sent you. Visit watchradar.space/authenticity_certificate/, paste the WRC-id, and compare the watch details and verdict with the watch in front of you. Or scan the QR code on the PDF; it opens the same page. The page shows what the analysis found, not proof that the watch in your hand is the one that was scanned. If the page says the report was not found, it may have been deleted with its account; that says nothing about the watch.
- Sharing a report. Each report has a public URL of the form
watchradar.space/authenticity_certificate/WRC-…(the address keeps its original name so older QR codes still work) — share it directly. Or export the PDF from the report screen. - Requesting a takedown. Email contact@watchradar.space from the email tied to your account. Include the WRC-id and the reason, and we will take the public page down.
Subscriptions and billing
WatchRadar is free to download, and your first full analysis is free. After that, WatchRadar Pro, an in-app subscription billed through Apple, unlocks up to 40 analyses a week. There is no per-report fee.
- Manage your subscription. Open Settings → Apple Account → Subscriptions on iPhone to see, change or cancel WatchRadar Pro.
- Refunds. Apple handles all refunds. Request one at reportaproblem.apple.com within the standard Apple refund window. We do not have the ability to issue refunds directly — Apple owns the billing relationship.
- Receipts. Apple emails a receipt for every purchase. Search your inbox for iTunes or Apple from the address you use for the App Store.
- Changing iPhone. WatchRadar Pro belongs to the Apple Account that bought it, not to the device. Sign in with that account on the new iPhone and use Restore Purchases (see Troubleshooting below).
Troubleshooting
- Camera permission was denied. Open Settings → WatchRadar → Camera on iPhone and switch the permission to Allow. The guided capture needs camera access to photograph the watch.
- The scan won't complete. If the app stalls between frames, force-quit (swipe up from the home indicator), reopen, and carry on with the capture.
- The dossier is stuck on “Reading the details”. The analysis runs on WatchRadar's servers, so the app needs a working connection to upload the photos and return the result. On a weak network it takes longer. Force-quit and reopen if it sits longer than two minutes on a strong connection.
- The report page shows “not found” for a brand-new WRC-id. The public page can take a short while to appear after the report is created. Wait a minute and reload; if it still says not found, email us the WRC-id.
- Restoring purchases on a new iPhone. Sign in with the same Apple Account, open WatchRadar, then Settings → Restore Purchases. An active WatchRadar Pro subscription reappears.
Privacy & data
Framing, sharpness and glare checks and the dial text read run on the iPhone while you shoot. The analysis itself runs on WatchRadar's servers, so the photos you capture are uploaded to be analysed. Your collection box is private, and nothing is published unless you create a shareable Analysis Report. For the full picture see the Privacy Policy. To request access, correction or deletion of personal data, email contact@watchradar.space from the email tied to your account so we can verify the request.
Reporting a bug or requesting a feature
Bug reports and feature requests both go to contact@watchradar.space. Useful things to include in a bug report: the iPhone model and iOS version, the WatchRadar build number (visible at the bottom of Settings), the watch reference you were scanning, and a screen recording or screenshot of the issue.
Contact
contact@watchradar.space. Email is the fastest way to reach a person on the team.