YOUR REPORT, EXPLAINED
How to read your report and research a collectible
Start with three questions: what might this object be, what supports that view, and what should I check next? CuriSnap brings photo observations, your notes and available research together. Use the report to organize decisions—not as a substitute for examining the object.
1. Read the identification together with its evidence
Treat a proposed name as a starting point. Check the visible features cited in the report: inscriptions, shape, construction, surface and marks. A resemblance supports a research direction; it does not by itself establish maker, age, material or authenticity.
| Evidence type | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Visible observation | Check it against the original photo. An unreadable inscription should remain unreadable, not become a guessed maker name. |
| Owner information | Measurements, purchase history and family stories help narrow a search. Keep the original note and distinguish it from independently checked facts. |
| External reference | Open the source. Check whether it describes the same type, period and condition, and whether it is a catalogue entry, seller listing or recorded sale. |
| Interpretation | An interpretation connects clues. If one important clue is missing or conflicts with another, keep alternative explanations open. |
2. A price range needs a basis, not just two numbers
Before using a range, read its basis and assumptions. Is it a seller asking-price comparison, a documented sale, a catalogue reference or a conditional estimate? These are different signals and should not be presented as interchangeable.
Compare the item: type or variety, material, dimensions, maker or attribution, condition, repairs, completeness and provenance. A set, replica or different size may not be a useful single-item comparison.
Compare the transaction: currency, date, location and whether the amount includes buyer fees, shipping or taxes. A displayed sale price is not necessarily what a seller receives.
No usable comparison does not mean zero value. It means the available evidence does not yet support that price conclusion. Keep any conditional range separate from a verified market comparison; do not stretch it into a promise of resale value.
Example: a coin marked “1 yuan”
The denomination is visible information. Whether it has a collecting premium requires the correct type or variety, condition and relevant market evidence. A circulated-looking surface alone does not establish rarity or a resale price.
3. Understand what online research actually checked
When online research is used, follow the source links provided. In expert chat, a verified reference means a passage was checked against an accessible page. It does not mean the uploaded object was authenticated, the listing is accurate, or the entire market was surveyed.
A catalogue helps identify a type; a certification record describes the submitted record; a sale describes one transaction. None automatically proves that your object is the same item or deserves the same grade or price.
If retrieval is unavailable, try again later. If no relevant evidence is found, improve the query with a readable mark, year, measurements or a clearer candidate name. A source failure is not a judgment about the object.
4. Supply the detail that changes the answer
- Coins and banknotes: both sides, readable date and denomination, edge details for coins, dimensions and visible folds or repairs for notes.
- Minerals and gemstones: whole specimen, base, neutral-light close-ups, dimensions and weight if available, original locality label and treatment disclosures. Do not scratch or chemically test an unknown specimen for a chat.
- Jewelry and watches: hallmarks, clasp, back and construction details; include dimensions and any existing documentation. Avoid opening a watch or altering a setting just to obtain a photograph.
- Ceramics and antiques: full profile, base and marks, joins, wear and repairs, plus dimensions and any documented ownership history.
Photograph before cleaning. Include an overall view and a readable close-up; use a ruler where useful and avoid beauty filters that erase surface detail.
5. Use the report and specialist chat together
Use photo analysis to establish an initial record. Use My collection to revisit saved reports. In specialist chat, choose the relevant field and link a report or attach the details needed for the current question. Each specialist has a separate conversation.
Ask a specific follow-up: “Which visible detail supports this date?”, “Is this reference a sale or an asking price?”, or “What photograph would distinguish these two candidates?”
Earlier attachment names are not a substitute for image contents. If a follow-up needs another look at an image, attach it again. Check the current reply’s sources rather than assuming a previous search was repeated.
6. Know when an in-person examination matters
Seek an appropriately qualified specialist when the decision depends on authenticity, valuable attribution, precise material composition, treatment, hidden damage or formal grading. Share the photos, measurements, original documents and the unresolved questions—not just a screenshot of the estimated range.
CuriSnap provides AI-assisted collection research, not an authentication certificate or guaranteed offer. Sample reports and labelled illustrations explain the product; they are not evidence about your own object.