iPhones as a Collectible
Since the explosive growth of the collectibles market, original sealed iPhones, particularly the 2007 1st generation models, have become a prized asset among collectors. Some examples have sold for over $190,000 at auction, but with high value comes increasing fraud.
A 2024 article by CLLCT uncovered a troubling pattern: many sealed iPhones in seemingly pristine boxes were not what they appeared to be. Some were repackaged using third-party sealing methods; others contained phones that didn’t match the serial number on the retail box. While some companies offer external packaging inspection, weight analysis, and limited imaging, no method until now has been able to verify the internal serial number without opening the box—until X-Ray Authority (that’s us!).
X-Raying iPhones
On Netflix’s King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch, Ken Goldin’s team attempted to use X-ray to peek inside a sealed 2007 iPhone. While the approach was groundbreaking for a mainstream audience, the imaging lacked the resolution and 3D clarity to validate the serial number or internal packaging with certainty.
“This is a new collectible,” Goldin Auctions founder and CEO Ken Goldin told cllct. “Goldin uses third-party experts wherever possible to authenticate everything we sell. And if it is brought to our attention that those third-party experts are not qualified to authenticate the item in question, we will stop using them.”
Now, Goldin uses X-Ray Authority. We have introduced a level of authentication never before seen in the collectibles space – industrial computed tomography (CT) scanning capable of detecting laser-etched internal serial numbers through sealed packaging.
This 2D X-ray image confirms there are five items within the sealed box including: iPhone, Stereo Headset with mic, Dock, Dock Connector, and USB Power Adapter
CT Scanning - Unparalleled Internal Access
Unlike traditional X-rays, CT provides 3D volumetric data. It can distinguish between ink, etching, plastic layers, and even micro text inside the phone, down to sub-millimeter features. Here’s how CT authentication works:
Collect high-resolution CT scan data of sealed 1st gen iPhones without damaging the packaging
Locate and visualize the etched serial number on the rear metal case, a detail only visible with sufficient penetration power and image contrast
Cross-reference the serial number with the serial number printed on the box label
Detect if repackaged artifacts are present like altered cable wraps, accessory swaps, or missing adhesives
Fraudulent repackaging, whether accidental or malicious, is rendered virtually impossible under CT scrutiny. This means higher market trust, preserved long-term value, and a measurable edge for any seller verified through X-Ray Authority’s Collectibles Registry.
