Bows: Our Experts certify mainly Frech Bows from all epochs. They can also provide informations about some english Bowmakers as the Hill family etc. They do not make certificates of German Bows

Instruments: Italian and French instruments from every epoch, as well as instruments from the German, English and Central European schools.

A certificate of authenticity is a document that confirms the authenticity of a bow or instrument. As such, it is only relevant if it has been issued by internationally and state-recognized experts.

In order to insure an instrument or bow, the insurance company needs a certificate of authenticity. It is also essential to have such a certificate for buying or selling.

If you agree on issuing a certificate during the conversation with the experts, all the necessary data about the instrument or the bow will be recorded on site. This are technical informations such as: messurements, weight, description, etc. The Instrument or Bow is then photographed. Back in Paris, the experts evaluate all the data and create the certificate. The documents are then handed over to Lucerne Violins, where they take care of invoicing and delivery of the certificates.

Payment is made on site on the expert day or afterwards by invoice.

The prices are exclusively in euros.

Basically, the price is based on the value of the Instrument/Bow.

Cabinet d’Archetiers Experts

Die Zertifikate werden auf kopiersicherem Papier ausgestellt. Es beinhaltet einen QR-Code zur Quick-View, eine Identifikationsnummer, einen Reliefstempel und die Unterschriften aller Experten des “Cabinet Jean-Francois Raffin Archetiers-Experts”.

Certificate of authenticity

For precios and rare Bows wer write a „Certificate of authenticity“. This certificate costs at least 450 €.

For bows below the value of approx. € 5,000, we will write a “Letter – Proof of Authenticity” (a certificate of authenticity). This document is created for simple bows such as

• Authentic 20th century bows in brazil wood and nickel mounted
• Simple bows of the 19th century schools made of exotic wood
• Composite bows made from parts by different masters

This certificate costs at least € 200.

Exceptionally, a certificate of authenticity can also be issued for this type of bow, provided it is a rarity or the corresponding bow has special features.

Verbal assessment

Verbal assessments cost at least 80 €. This price depends on the effort and importance of the statement of the bow

General

An initial assessment is not binding. It is used to determine whether it is worthwhile to issue a certificate or an oral assessment.

• All prices are non-binding.
• We reserve the right to change prices.
• The prices are not fixed and can vary. It depends a lot on the condition and the year of construction.
• The prices are communicated before issuing any paper

Certificate of authenticity

The certificate of authenticity costs a maximum of 5% of the value of the instrument

This is a certificate containing detailed information such as dimensions, wood grain, varnish condition, era, etc. It is a document with photos (similar to a passport) that precisely describes and illustrates the corresponding instrument

This document costs at least 900 €.

Appraisal

A valuation can be issued either by the violin maker of your trust or by our workshop, in direct coordination with your insurance. This document is without photographs and is intended solely to confirm the value of the instrument for insurance purposes. It should not be confused with an authenticity certificate and is not intended for the trade or sale of the object.

As the value of the instrument may change over the years, it is not stated in the authenticity certificate but in a separate document. This document can be reissued periodically without the need to create a new authenticity certificate each time.

Verbal assessment

Verbal assessments cost a minimum of €80. This price depends on the effort and importance of the statement, and, of course, the instrument being assessed.

General

An initial assessment is not binding. It is used to determine whether it is worthwhile to issue a certificate or an oral assessment.

• All prices are non-binding.
• We reserve the right to change prices.
• The prices are not fixed and can vary. It depends a lot on the condition and the year of construction.
• The prices are communicated before issuing any paper

For more than 20 years, we have been organizing this highly popular event. It involves significant effort. However, our goal is to provide our customers and fellow luthiers the opportunity to certify their bows and instruments in Switzerland.

You save yourself the tedious customs procedure with the completion of export papers, instrument passports, and CITES. Additionally, you save the trip to Paris, the associated travel expenses, and reduce the risk associated with such a journey.

Our experts are arguably the most recognized experts worldwide, and they are here in Lucerne!

These experts possess the best and broadest knowledge and experience in certification, bar none! The decades of accumulated wisdom and expertise of these masters come at a price. Even their verbal insights draw from the vast knowledge held by these experts.

Most individuals who utilize this service understand this. Unfortunately, there are still some visitors who believe they can benefit from information and expertise provided by our experts without compensating for the service. With the assistance of these expert insights, they find it easier to sell their goods. However, they are unwilling to pay for the advantage they have gained through this expertise.