jewelry appraisal & valuation services

Appraisal Services and other Client Services

JEWELRY APPRAISAL SERVICES

Replacement Value

This report is most commonly referred to as an insurance appraisal. This type of report is necessary for insuring your items against loss or damage. The accuracy and detail included in this report makes it possible to identify or have exact duplicates recreated of these precious items should they ever be lost or stolen.

Estate (probate)

This report is for estate evaluation purposes and is necessary to determine inheritance taxes on an estate. Jewelry values for estates are legislated to include specific information and data. Fair market value is used for this type of valuation and it is always necessary to include comparable sales.

Divorce Settlement/Dissolution of Marriage

This is a fair market value report for an equal division of common property.

Damage Report

This report expresses the difference in value resulting from breakage and estimates the cost of the removal, re-cutting and resetting of the gemstone, as well as the value of the re-cut gemstone (loss of weight).

Internet Purchases

Internet purchases are becoming more common and an appraisal can verify that diamonds (or other jewelry) purchased off the Internet, match the certification or appraisal that accompany the item.

Donation

These reports are based on fair market value and are necessary for tax deductions of donated items.

Liquidation

This appraisal value is determined when an owner decides to convert jewelry items into immediate cash. The sale can be held under forced or limiting conditions and with time constraints, such as under court order or bankruptcy.

Comparison

This report is for a client who brings in a jewelry or gemstone item to verify its identity and/or quality as claimed by the seller. Comparison appraisals usually reflect the item at its most common retail replacement value.

Post Loss

This report establishes the value of a previously undocumented item that was lost or stolen. This is a hypothetical valuation based on information supplied by the client and supported by photographs and a description of the item.

Casualty Loss

This report determines the fair market value of a lost, stolen, or destroyed item not previously documented. The IRS allows an income tax deduction of some portion of the value with a proper casualty loss appraisal.

In House Laboratory

Our fully equipped in house laboratory has everything required to quickly and correctly analyze your item.

Mobile Laboratory

With a scaled down version of our in-house laboratory we can travel and offer the convenience of off-site analysis.

OTHER CLIENT SERVICES

Pre-Purchase Consultations

If you require some advice regarding a particular stone or the market in general, we are able to assist. Our knowledge on how & where to shop can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars! Our knowledge on what to look for will ensure you get the stone or item that's right for you.

Risk Assessment

Litigation Support

A & A Gem Lab is able to assist in helping draft deposition and interrogatory questions related to insurance fraud, counterfeiting, price-fixing, and valuation science. We have helped provide lists for discovery. A & A has worked for district attorneys, local and regional law firms as well as fiduciary institutions throughout the stare and beyond.

Expert Witness

In weighing the expert testimony of an appraiser, the court considers the appraiser’s demonstrated qualifications to form an opinion, the appraiser’s relationship and prior dealings with the petitioner, the appraiser’s selections of comparative sales, the appraiser’s familiarity and contact with the potential market for the [subject] property, and, the appraiser’s familiarity with the contributed material. Hiring the experienced staff or associates of A & A Gem Lab will ensure that your expert witness meets the qualifications, professionalism and impartiality that the court demands while providing a comprehensive, fact based appraisal.

Forensic

The examination of precious gems, jewelry and other objects of art for insurance claim purposes is a specialty of our labs. This includes any post-loss examinations to assess the cause of damage or loss; the alteration of the materials and structure of the work(s) involved and conservation or restoration options.

A & A Gem Lab and its appraisers can direct the scientific investigation of gem materials. The use of state-of-the-art equipment can be accessed through our associated facilities. This includes detection of treatment, material analysis and dating. We will prepare a summary report that will document all our research including a conservation report for your properties as well as any recommendations we have for further treatment, if possible.

Graduate Gemologist with the Gemological Institute of America

Accredited Senior Member of the Accredited Gemologist Association

Senior Member of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers

Member of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain

Member of the American Society of Jewelry Historians

Member of the Scottish Gemmological Association