What it does
Catawiki is an online auction marketplace for collectible and specialist objects. Its categories include art, interiors, jewellery, watches, books, toys, cameras and other collections selected by in-house experts.
Catawiki provides a discovery route organised around specialist auctions rather than an ordinary retailer's replenished stock. Art, interiors, watches, books and historical memorabilia each lead into a different group of objects. The company describes expert review and appraisal as part of selecting the catalogue. Begin with the collection category, then examine the individual object's description and auction information. An expert-selected marketplace and the condition of a particular object are different considerations, so the listing remains the relevant unit of research. The app offers another route for following the same auction service.
Set a total budget before bidding. Catawiki adds a buyer fee of 9% of the winning bid plus €3, with shipping and any import VAT on top. Its help page says bids are binding unless outbid, so an auction bid is a commitment rather than a way to hold an object while deciding.
Strengths
- Specialist categories and expert selection support collectible-object discovery
Watch out for
- Buyer fees and delivery or import costs are additional to the winning bid
Best for
- Researching an object in a specialist online auction
Sources
- The Online Marketplace with Weekly Auctions (Oct 26, 2026)
- How does the Buyer Protection fee work? (Oct 26, 2026)
- I wish to withdraw or cancel an earlier bid (Oct 26, 2026)