Both Sides of the Coin

While collectors and museums can match any object tagging technology with any of the available on-line registries, a novel approach is offered by the Fine Art Registry (FAR www.fineartregistry.com). Founded in 2000, the Fine Art Registry offers both a patented system of tagging, and a central, secure database of art, collectible, jewelry, gemstones and other valuables. It was established to provide an affordable version of these services for artists, collectors, museums, galleries and others, and can be accessed for free by those doing due diligence, looking to see if an item is stolen, and so on.

A micro-tag reader being used to magnify the tiny 2D barcode on the Micro-tag. Photo courtesy Fine Art Registry (Can be viewed on our other website:

www.microtagit.com  

Fine Art Registry offers three different ways of identifying the objects which are being registered. One is a high tech, holographic tag or seal which has a unique number and five levels of built-in security. Suitable for flat art and larger objects, the tag is acid free and virtually unforgeable. If removed, it leaves behind identifiable traces. There is also a Micro Tag™, one sixteenth of an inch in diameter. It carries the same levels of security but is used for smaller objects or for covert tagging. The 2D barcode is readable with a special device. The third method is laser engraving which is used for jewelry, small metal objects, gemstones, even polymers and paper, etc. The engraving is of a unique identifier and also includes 2D bar-coded information.

Tag prices include registration in their database. The Fine Art Registry compares their system for marking and registering fine art, jewelry, and collectibles to the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) system for vehicles: a virtually indelible unique marking which matches a record in a secure database.

Whichever of FAR’s tagging methods is used, the object is registered in their secure database together with photos and full description, value, certificates of authenticity and any other relevant documents. The items can be shown in a portfolio on the website or hidden from view by the owner. The record is permanent. When items are sold or change hands, ownership is transferred securely online so that provenance of all pieces can be maintained.

The Best System for You

Technology has opened a door behind which there are a great many variables, and it pays to do some research. “The Fine Art Registry is unique,” says Rich Neglia, CEO of Neglia Services (www.negliaservices.com), a jewelry and collectibles appraisal and replacement company that works directly with the insurance companies. Neglia Services is currently partnering with FAR to provide a unique service to its customers, believing that FAR’s dual technology of secure tagging and permanent database relieves some of the confusion their clients might encounter when trying to achieve the same thing using a combination of unrelated technologies.

Yet, if your goal is to know when an object has been moved from its position, RFID tags might be the superior option. RFID tags can cost anywhere from 30¢ to $100 each depending on the application, and sensors are also needed which adds to the cost, but they can trigger an alarm when a valuable is moved without authorization, and are particularly useful in a museum setting, or on a private estate.

Technology now makes it possible to accurately and securely identify and register fine art, collectibles, jewelry and other valuables. Whichever system you choose, the result can be potentially lower insurance premiums, better organization of valuables, a smoother, more secure relationship between insured and insurer, and peace of mind all around

Please visit our other site at www.microtagit.com