The Manual.

A short manual for when the scanner hesitates.

Everything below ends at support@mohorizons.com if it doesn't help. A real inbox read by the people who built the app.

Better scans

Gavel is only as good as the photograph you give it. A few low-effort habits dramatically improve accuracy.

• The surface. Plain, matte, contrasting. A kitchen counter, a closed book, a folded cloth — anything that isn't busy. Avoid glossy wood that throws reflections. Don't put silver on silver.
• The light. Daylight from a window is best. If you must use lamps, turn on several so shadows are soft. Avoid the camera flash — it kills the texture Gavel reads.
• The angle. One photo of the whole piece, three-quarters from above. Then a closeup of any maker's mark, signature, stamp, or hallmark. Gavel fuses both.
• Closeups that help. Maker's marks and underside stamps on ceramics, silver, and glass. Signatures on paintings and prints. Hallmarks on silver and gold. Joinery on furniture — dovetails, screws, pegs. Clasps on jewelry.

When the verdict feels wrong

It says "unable to identify." Retake with more light, a plainer surface, and a close shot of any marks. If the piece is a modern reproduction with no distinctive features, Gavel may honestly decline — which is more useful than a confident wrong answer.

The estimate seems off. Tap the estimate and read the comparable sales Gavel used. If the comps are a poor match, retake the photo with better marks and try again. If the comps are good but the number still feels wrong, send us the scan ID from the bottom of the result screen and we'll investigate.

Condition looks pessimistic. Gavel reads wear conservatively on purpose — an honest under-estimate beats a flattering lie. You can override the condition in your notes and the estimate will update.

Subscription and billing

I was charged but I have no subscription. Tap "Restore purchases" on the paywall screen to re-fetch your entitlement from Apple. If that doesn't help, write to us with your receipt and we'll look you up without needing your card number.

I'd like a refund. Refunds on App Store purchases are handled by Apple. Go to reportaproblem.apple.com, sign in, and find your Gavel purchase. If Apple declines and you think the decision is unfair, write to us and we'll advocate where we can.

How do I cancel? On your iPhone: Settings → [your name] → Subscriptions → Gavel → Cancel. You'll keep access until the end of the paid period.

Privacy and data

What happens to my photos? They're sent over HTTPS for analysis and discarded. We don't keep photographs on our servers. The appraisal text (name, era, estimate) lives on your phone, synced to your own iCloud if you have it on.

How do I delete my data? Delete the app, or remove individual appraisals from inside it. See our Privacy Policy for details.

Still stuck?

Write to support@mohorizons.com. Include your scan ID from the bottom of the result screen and a screenshot if you have one. We aim to reply within two working days — the inbox is read in Berlin time, Monday to Friday.