UniqueMark – A method to create and authenticate a unique mark in precious metal artefacts

The project UniqueMark aims at creating a system to provide a precious metal artefact with a unique, unclonable and irreproducible mark, and at building a system for the validation of authenticity of it. The project defined two different modes for these marks. Firstly, the unique mark can be created by punching a dispersion of diamond particles on the artefact surface which is, in practice, irreproducible since the disposition of the particles results from a random chaotic process. Secondly, an alternative process for creating an irreproducible mark can be achieved by marking the artefact with a laser in a deterministic path described by a proper mathematical function whose effects on the metal are so that the accurate reproduction will be easily distinguished from the original one, thus creating a unique laser mark. The UniqueMark system also includes a system to verify the mark authenticity using a microscope, or a smartphone camera with attached macro lens. This validation check is based on a minutiae descriptor which is stored for each mark. UniqueMark (2 patents pending) might then be used by assay offices, producers, customer, and authorities to protect items from counterfeit as well as to trace objects over their life time.