Is my collection actually private?+
Yes. Vaults are private by default. Showcase pages are public only when you explicitly publish them. We don't sell data, run ads, or share your vault.
How does photo cataloging work?+
You drop a photo of a piece, and Luster drafts the record for you — metal, weight, maker, year, form, finish — using a vision model tuned for hand-pour and bullion imagery. You confirm or edit what matters before saving. It's faster than typing and gets sharper as you confirm details.
Are there limits on photo cataloging?+
Yes, soft monthly limits sized to match each tier — about 80 pieces a month on Collector and about 600 a month on Studio. You can see your current usage in Settings. If you hit a limit, you can keep cataloging manually, or upgrade.
What about my privacy when I use photo cataloging or research?+
Your photos and notes are sent to our model providers only when you trigger a feature, processed for that request, and not used to train anyone's models. Full details on the Privacy page.
How does Luster make money?+
Two streams: Collector and Studio subscriptions, plus a small affiliate commission through the eBay Partner Network (EPN) when collectors buy pieces through eBay links from maker and piece pages. We never pay-to-promote a maker, and we don't sell your data — never have, never will. If that ever changes, you'll know in advance and you can take everything with you.
What if I leave?+
Export everything to CSV or JSON in one click — same export on every plan, including Free. LSTR codes stay stable so any external records you've kept still resolve.
Do "insurance-ready descriptions" replace an appraisal?+
No. They're documentation prose for your records and your insurer. For high-value pieces, work with a credentialed appraiser (ISA, ASA).
What kinds of pieces does Luster support?+
Hand-poured bars, rounds, coins, prototypes, custom pieces, error coins, fractionals, gold, silver, and the oddballs in between. If it's metal and you collect it, it fits.