How to Register and Place a Bid on Invaluable

Updated

You can register and bid on Invaluable in two stages: first create a general Invaluable account through Log In / Sign Up, then register separately for each auction you want to bid in using the Register to bid button on that auction's listing. The second step matters because bidding approval comes from the individual auction house, not from Invaluable itself — so an Invaluable account alone does not let you bid. This applies to both live auctions (which you enter at a scheduled time) and timed auctions (which you bid on within a closing window).

Step 1: Create your Invaluable account

  1. Go to invaluable.com and find Log In / Sign Up in the top navigation.
  2. Sign up with your email and the requested details, then log in.
  3. Once logged in, you can use Advanced search, Saved searches, and Notifications to track lots and auction houses you care about.

This account is your identity across the site. It does not, on its own, authorize you to bid in any specific sale.

Step 2: Find an auction you want to bid in

Browse Upcoming Online Auctions, or use the category menus to narrow by what you collect. The site organizes lots under headings such as:

Category Example subcategories
Fine Art Drawings, Mixed Media Art, Paintings, Photography, Posters, Prints, Sculptures
Decorative Art Ceramics & Pottery, Glass, Porcelain & China, Silver & Vertu
Jewelry Bracelets, Earrings, Necklaces & Pendants, Rings, Vintage Jewelry, Watches
Collectibles Autographs, Books/Maps/Manuscripts, Coins/Money/Stamps, Memorabilia, Military
Furniture Chairs, Cabinets & Armoires, Lamps & Lights, Mirrors, Rugs & Carpets, Tables
Asian Art Chinese, Indian & South Asian, Japanese, Korean, Southeast Asian

Each upcoming auction card shows the auction house, date and time (with time zone), location, and whether it is a Live Auction or a Timed Auction. For example, a listing might read "Live Auction" with an Enter Live Auction button, or "Timed Auction" with a View Items button.

Step 3: Register for that specific auction

On the auction you want, click Register to bid. This is a separate registration from your Invaluable account and is what puts you in front of the auction house for approval. Complete whatever the auction house asks for — typically contact and payment details — and wait to be approved before the sale opens.

Do this early. Approval is not instant in every case, and you do not want to be waiting on it while a lot you want is closing.

Step 4: Bid — live vs. timed

The two formats work differently, and the button on the listing tells you which you are in:

  • Live Auction — the listing shows Enter Live Auction. At the scheduled time, enter the live room and bid as the auctioneer takes bids. Example from the site: a sale dated October 4, 2026, 10:00 AM AEDT in Ormond, Australia, listed as a Live Auction.
  • Timed Auction — the listing shows View Items. Open the catalog, review the lots, and place your bid within the open window before it closes. Example: a jewellery clearance sale dated October 4, 2026, 7:00 PM AEST in Broadbeach, Australia, listed as a Timed Auction.

In both cases, the auction house's own terms govern the sale.

Before you bid: check the auction house terms

Because each sale is run by a different auction house, the conditions that affect your money and your obligations are set per house, not by Invaluable. Before bidding, confirm:

  • Buyer's premium — the percentage added on top of your winning bid.
  • Payment methods and deadlines — what the house accepts and by when.
  • Shipping and pickup — who arranges it, who pays, and whether the house ships at all.
  • Condition and authenticity statements — how the house describes lots and what it guarantees.
  • Currency and taxes — the currency you are bidding in and any applicable duties.

Note that Invaluable's site references a Pricing Parity page, which is worth reading if you want to understand how pricing is presented across the platform. The site materials here do not state whether bidding, registration, or account use carries a fee, so check the relevant auction house's terms and the Pricing Parity page rather than assuming.

Common points where people go wrong

  • Stopping at the Invaluable account. Creating an account is not the same as registering to bid. If you never click Register to bid, you cannot bid.
  • Registering too late. Approval comes from the auction house; leave time for it.
  • Missing the time zone. Listings show times like AEDT, AEST, and BST. A sale in Australia can close while you are asleep if you read the time as local.
  • Assuming one registration covers everything. You register per auction, not once for the whole site.
  • Skipping the terms. The buyer's premium and shipping arrangements are set by the house and change from sale to sale.