Scan a piece
- Point the camera so the 6-character HUID sits inside the box. It's the code near the BIS triangle & purity mark — not the purity mark itself.
- Get as close as the camera will still focus — too small is the #1 cause of a wrong read. Start with 2× or 3×: those magnify the code. 0.5× is the ultra-wide lens — it focuses much closer, but it is a wider view, so it only helps if you also bring the phone right down to the piece. At arm's length 0.5× makes the code smaller, not bigger.
- Hold steady until the focus meter reads sharp. On shiny gold, light the piece from the side, low and almost flat — that makes the engraving stand out. The torch 🔦 points straight at the piece and usually just adds a bright spot over the code, so leave it off unless the counter is dark.
- Tap Scan for one piece, or turn on Auto-scan for hands-free. (Desktop: space bar = shutter.)
Type a code instead
You can read the stamp faster than the camera can, and often will. Tap Type at the
top: the camera switches off, the box takes focus, and each code saves itself on the
sixth character — no Save tap, no waiting. Every code you add is listed underneath with
an ✕ to pull a mistype back off the sheet.
Typing works with no camera at all, so use it if this phone won't open the lens. The same
box also sits under the Scan button: start typing at any time and whichever finishes
first — you or the camera — is the one that counts.
How a read gets onto the sheet
Every scan is read by two independent models. Agree → it goes straight on the sheet. Disagree, or only one of them could read it → it waits in Needs review with the photo, so you decide. Nothing is ever written from a single guess.
Captured vs Review
Confident reads land in Captured. Unsure ones go to Review — tap a suggested code or edit it, then Save.
What the BIS badges meanBeta
Live BIS registry sync is rolling out — verification works but some results may be delayed or temporarily unavailable.
- BIS ✓ Genuine — shows purity & weight from the registry.
- Not in BIS Not found — re-check the reading, or the piece may not be hallmarked.
- Checking… Lookup in progress.
- BIS N/A Registry temporarily down — retries on its own. Not a problem with the piece.
Verification is automatic in the background — no login needed. Tap Verify all to re-check a whole project.
Projects & export
- Set a Project name to keep a batch on its own sheet (blank = this session). The same HUID counts once per project.
- CSV downloads the sheet (HUID + BIS details: purity, weight, jeweller, hallmark date…) — opens in Excel.
- Projects shows past sheets & exports; Live opens a big read-only board to show a customer.
FAQ
A code turned red — is it fake? Not necessarily; misreads are common — re-scan it. If it stays “Not in BIS”, the piece may not be hallmarked.
Why “BIS N/A”? The government registry is temporarily unreachable; it retries automatically and fills in when it's back.
Do I need to sign in to verify? No — checking happens for you, behind the scenes.
Need help?
Something not working, or a wrong read you can't fix? Get in touch — we usually reply the same day.