The short version
WatchRadar is an iPhone-only app (iOS 26 or later). You take guided photos (three to start, five for stronger evidence) and get a dossier with the likely brand, model and reference, a confidence level, the visual signals that support or contradict it, and a hedged verdict with reasons. You can create a shareable Analysis Report. Free download and first full analysis; WatchRadar Pro, a subscription, for up to 40 analyses a week. Built for buyers, collectors and resellers who want a fast first look in the field. It identifies and flags risk; it does not authenticate.
Entrupy is a subscription service built around a hardware device, a microscopic camera attachment for a phone, paired with its own backend. You photograph specific points of an item through the device and its model returns a result. It is best known for handbags and sneakers, so check with Entrupy which categories it currently covers, watches included, and what it costs. It is aimed at high-volume resellers and dealers who want a hardware-mediated process.
Feature comparison
| Capability | WatchRadar | Entrupy |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware required | ✓ iPhone only (iOS 26+) | Microscopic camera attachment + subscription |
| What it does | Identifies the watch and flags risk signals | Authentication service (check category coverage) |
| Annotated map of regions inspected | ✓ Yes | Different approach (microscopy) |
| Estimated value range in dossier | ✓ Yes (estimate, not an appraisal) | Not its focus |
| Reference catalogue | The major Swiss maisons and their best-known references | Check with Entrupy |
| Public verification page | ✓ Yes (per Analysis Report) | Certificate per item (see Entrupy) |
| Service / provenance vault | ✓ Built in | Not its focus |
| Pricing model | Free app and first full analysis, then WatchRadar Pro subscription | Subscription with device (see Entrupy) |
| Best for | Buyers, collectors, small resellers | High-volume dealers |
| Movement inspection | ✗ No (can’t see inside the case) | ✗ No (external only) |
Where WatchRadar wins
- Speed and setup. No hardware and no shipping, and the first full analysis is free. iPhone in your pocket and a data connection. Useful when you are at the seller’s, deciding whether to commit.
- Reasons you can see. The inspection diagram pins the visual signals onto the photo of the watch, so you can see which regions supported the suggested identity and which raised doubts. You can check the reasoning, not just the verdict.
- Value context built in. The dossier includes an estimated value range and compares the asking price with it. Useful at the negotiation table, as long as you treat it as an estimate rather than an appraisal.
- Provenance vault. Receipts, warranty cards and the service log stay with the watch in your private collection box. Useful for collectors keeping a documented history, and for resellers selling that history along with the watch.
- A free first analysis. A one-off buyer can run a first full analysis without paying. WatchRadar Pro, an in-app subscription, is there if you need more: up to 40 analyses a week.
Where Entrupy wins
- Hardware-mediated photo capture. The microscope attachment forces consistent lighting and magnification across users — a high-volume reseller running many operators benefits from that consistency.
- An authentication product. Entrupy has been around longer and sells authentication itself, with certificates issued under its own terms. WatchRadar does not authenticate, so if you need that, it is not the tool.
- Built for dealer operations. Entrupy is set up around business subscriptions and device-based workflows, which can suit a large operation with many staff. Compare current pricing on both sides for your volume.
- Microscopic resolution. The hardware camera resolves details an iPhone camera does not — relevant on certain dial-print and case-engraving checks where resolution at the micron level matters.
When to use both
For high-volume luxury resellers, one workable split is WatchRadar at intake (fast triage on every consignment) and, where it covers the category, Entrupy or another dedicated service at the high-value end. The two outputs are not redundant: they look at different evidence. For watches, the high-value end also means a watchmaker.