How Archive Index Works
A plain-language guide for collectors. No formulas — just what each signal means and how to read it.
- Market Score (0–100) — how strong this listing looks vs. comparables. Higher = bigger opportunity.
- Confidence — how much evidence backs the score. High score + low confidence = a lead to verify, not a guarantee.
- Evidence Strength — how many authentication-relevant signals are visible: tags, receipts, close-ups, seller history.
- Pricing Verdict — plain-English read of the asking price vs. the comparable market range (Strong Opportunity → Significantly Above Market).
What Archive Index does NOT do
Archive Index is a research tool. It does not authenticate products and does not guarantee authenticity. It surfaces evidence and market signals — collectors and professional authenticators remain the final word.
Archive Index does not replace professional authentication services. For high-value purchases, always confirm with the brand, an authorized reseller, or a recognized third-party authenticator.
What is Archive Index?
Archive Index is a collector intelligence platform. It scans live listings across major marketplaces and surfaces signals — pricing, rarity, seller reputation, photo evidence, and listing history — to help collectors evaluate a piece without leaving the card.
Every listing carries a Market Score, a Confidence level, an Evidence Strength label, and a plain-English pricing verdict.
How Market Scores work
The Market Score is a single 0–100 ranking that combines pricing relative to comparable listings, seller history, listing completeness, marketplace reputation, condition, and collector demand.
A higher score means the listing looks like a stronger opportunity for collectors. A lower score does not mean a listing is bad — it means several signals weigh against it, or the available evidence is thin.
How Confidence works
Confidence describes how certain Archive Index is about the read on a listing. It is separate from Market Score.
- Very High / High — multiple supporting signals align with little conflicting evidence.
- Moderate — the listing appears reasonable but supporting evidence is incomplete.
- Low / Very Low — limited evidence prevents a stronger assessment. The Market Score may still be valid, but collectors should verify independently.
A Market Score of 80+ with Low Confidence is valid. It means the opportunity looks strong on paper, but evidence is limited.
How Evidence Strength works
Evidence Strength measures how much authentication-relevant information is visible in a listing: tag photos, receipts, packaging, close-ups, hardware detail, and seller history.
Missing evidence reduces Evidence Strength only — it does not lower the Market Score. Confirmed negative evidence (counterfeit wording, stock imagery, anomalous pricing) is treated separately and does lower the score.
How pricing comparisons work
Pricing verdicts compare the asking price to comparable listings for the same brand and category, using percentile bands when available and the comparable median otherwise.
- Strong Opportunity — meaningfully below the comparable market range, with no warning signals.
- Potential Opportunity — below market, but evidence is limited.
- Below Market — Verify — below market with one warning signal that warrants closer inspection.
- High Risk Opportunity — below market with multiple warning signals.
- Fair Market Value — sits within the expected comparable range.
- Premium Asking Price — at the upper edge of the comparable range.
- Significantly Above Market — clearly above the comparable range.