RIMOWA's NFC Tag and Ownership Certificate, without the Blockchain Hype

Retract the suitcase handle and find the NFC area behind it at the base. Enable NFC if the phone requires a setting, unlock the device and bring its reader close to the tag. RIMOWA notes that reader position varies; on newer phones, tilting the top edge towards the tag often works, much like presenting the phone to a contactless payment terminal.

Hold the phone still for several seconds and tap the notification. Confirm the browser lands on a genuine rimowa.com address before signing in. A case or magnetic wallet can reduce reading distance, so remove it if nothing happens. NFC works across only a few centimetres; slowly change angle and position rather than sweeping the whole phone rapidly across the handle.

• Location: behind the telescopic handle at the base of a 2023-onward suitcase.
• Technique: unlocked NFC-enabled phone, reader edge close to the tag, held still and moved slowly if needed.
• Security: enter account credentials only after checking the resulting rimowa.com address.

The tag opens the product registration process. After the suitcase is registered, RIMOWA presents a 'Get my certificate' option and then an 'Add to wallet' step. An owner who registered earlier can scan again, open the registered item and retrieve the certificate later. Claiming it is not mandatory, and RIMOWA says it can be done at any point in the ownership journey.

The certificate is digital only; the current FAQ says it cannot be printed as an equivalent paper document. RIMOWA describes it as a unique digital identity card for the suitcase, with information stored on the Aura Blockchain Consortium platform. That language concerns the product record. It should not be inflated into a claim that the blockchain continuously monitors the physical case.

• Sequence: scan, sign in, register the suitcase, select 'Get my certificate', then add it to a digital wallet.
• Previously registered suitcase: scan again and open the existing product entry to retrieve the certificate.
• Format: optional and digital-only, not a printable document with the same wallet function.

RIMOWA explicitly says the NFC tag cannot geolocate the product. Near-field communication is designed to exchange information only when devices are brought within a few centimetres. It has no independent long-range radio or location service. Travellers who want location clues still need a permitted Bluetooth or GPS tracker and must follow its battery and airline rules.

The company also says a stranger scanning the suitcase cannot access the owner's personal information because that information requires account login and password. Even so, owners should avoid publishing screenshots that expose a full serial, wallet identifiers or account details. The useful privacy model is simple: the tag can point towards a product flow; the protected account holds the personal relationship.

• No geolocation: the tag does not transmit where the suitcase is.
• No public profile: personal account information requires authenticated login.
• No replacement for an AirTag-class device, airline baggage tag or missing-bag report.

When ownership changes, RIMOWA directs the parties to Client Care for a secure transfer of product registration. That step is more credible than handing over a screenshot or wallet image. On a returned item, RIMOWA reserves the right to reclaim the certificate. On a lost or stolen phone, Client Care can assist with recovering access to the digital record.

For pre-owned buying, a transferable certificate and registration history are useful provenance, but they do not inspect wheels, locks, lining or later replacement parts. Pair the digital record with an itemised receipt where available, the serial in physical context, detailed condition photographs and an in-person assessment when stakes are high. Digital identity strengthens a good ownership file; it does not rescue a doubtful physical case.

• Sale or gift: contact RIMOWA Client Care for secure transfer rather than exchanging account credentials.
• Lost phone: use Client Care to reclaim certificate access; do not create a competing product record casually.
• Pre-owned evidence: certificate plus receipt, serial context, condition details and physical assessment.