Frequently Asked Questions

  • I appraise all jewelry, gemstones, watches & silverware.

  • I charge by the hour, so the cost of your appraisal will depend on the number and complexity of the pieces you wish to have appraised. When you call me for an appointment, I will ask you to describe your items. At that time I will be able to give you an estimate of the time required.

    Note: A professional appraiser should charge for services by the hour, by a specified amount per piece of jewelry, or for a contracted amount based on an estimate of the time involved. Keep in mind that time will be spent on market research and appraisal writing after the laboratory work is done. In no event should you deal with an appraiser who charges a percentage of value of the jewelry.

  • A valuation must be in writing to mean anything. We research, we measure, we weigh, we calculate, we use instruments all to arrive at a realistic and sensible value. We then write it down and sign it! All this needs considerable investment in terms of experience, equipment and training so we have to charge a professional fee.

  • Every appraisal is for a specific purpose. If you want an insurance appraisal, you need to insure your jewelry for enough money to buy a replacement from the type of store you typically shop in. You do not want your Tiffany engagement ring replaced at Joe’s Pawn Shop. If you need an estate appraisal, there are government regulations that specify the definition of value that must be used. There are many types of appraisals and the purpose determines the definition of value.

  • A valuation has to be addressed to a person or persons. We cannot undertake “to whom it may concern” appraisals. A valuation for a market value sale would be addressed to the seller only and is in the form of confidential advice. It cannot be used as “proof” of value to a third, unknown party.

  • Under current law, no licensing or particular qualifications are required by the government for jewelry appraisers. There are many titles, some of which require extensive training and others with few if any requirements. Always ask what testing and training the appraiser has undergone to achieve the title. Titles and qualifications to look for are:

    1. Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) of the American Society of Appraisers. Their advanced designation in Gems and Jewelry is Master Gemologist Appraiser®.

    2. Senior Appraiser status (minimum) designated by the National Association of Jewelry Apprasiers.

    3. Graduate Gemologist (GG) of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).

    4. Member of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (FGA).

    5. A gemological degree grants assurance that the individual can identify and grade gem materials. However, it does not by itself provide the training necessary to be a proficient jewelry appraiser.

    Ideally, the appraiser should also have a background in the jewelry market. Be sure that the appraiser has a GIA graded Master Set of genuine diamonds for color grading. A CZ set is not adequate!

  • No, I do not. I am an independent appraiser, and do not want to compete with jewelers who, after all, refer many of their clients to me. I am a truly independent Appraiser and match the criteria accepted by the Association of Independent Jewellery Valuers, of which I am a member. I do advise buyers when they are making a purchase.

  • No, I do not buy jewelry from the public, but I do help people sell their jewelry.

  • I recommend the following Appraisers:

    USA: Thom Underwood GG, GA, CSM of the San Diego Gem Lab. For jewelry appraisals in San Diego, California.

    England: Michael Inkpen FGA, AJA, MIRV a jewelry Appraiser in Southern England

    Georgina Deer FGA, DGA, FIRV of Valuation Services UK Ltd. Jewelry Appraiser in Northern England

    Ireland: Padraic Lavin FGA, for jewelry appraisal in Ireland

    Scotland: Adrian S Smith FGA, AJA, MIRV a Jewelry Appraiser in Scotland

 

  • Yes, I work by appointment only.

  • Yes I do, but I charge by the day for work outside my office, as I can’t book other appointments on that day. Most people do not need a full day of my services and find it more economical to visit me in my office.

  • I conform to professional standards that require all confidential information I receive in the course of an appraisal be kept private and not disclosed to third parties without your consent. The only exception is if disclosure is required by force of law. I do not sell my mailing list or the email addresses of my clients, and send out only occasional notices when I think they would be beneficial to you—such as a reminder to update your appraisal periodically.

  • If you make an office appointment, your items can be returned to you before you leave and the valuation report will follow within a couple of days once the necessary appraisal research and value determination is completed. In some instances you will leave with the report too. Sometimes a very quick service is required and depending on the number and complexity of your items, and on our work schedule, where possible, we will do our utmost to oblige a quick turnaround.

  • We ask our clients to furnish us with any relevant documentation that they might have such as receipts, previous valuations, grading reports, certificates etc. This material will sometimes resolve uncertainties such as providing the un-mounted weight of a large number of small stones rather than relying on calculation methods which would be less accurate in some situations. Sight of diamond laboratory grading reports are very important in order to confirm that the stone in the ring is indeed one and the same as that in the grading report, graded diamonds also carry a premium which should be included in the final calculation of value. Some handmade jewelry pieces are made by significant or even famous craftsmen, this provenance could have a major impact on the replacement value. So that we can provide you with a definitive and absolutely complete appraisal, we like to scan all relevant documentation to the data disc that forms part of your report.

  • An independent appraiser is a qualified and experienced professional whose business is to – in our case – appraise and value jewelry, watches and silverware. By virtue of not being commercially involved or aligned with any insurance company or any other jewelry business, we are totally unbiased and independent and free of any vested interest in the valuation outcome.

  • We appreciate that if you work or run your business from 9am to 5pm attending an appointment can be difficult. If it is more convenient for you, we can offer appointments from 8.00 in the morning. If evenings suit you better we can usually accommodate any reasonable request. Saturday appointments can be arranged too if you cannot make any other time.

  • A valuation has to be written for a specific purpose. “What its worth” can mean different things in different circumstances. If you want an insurance appraisal, you need to insure your jewelry for enough money to buy a replacement from the type of store you typically shop in. You do not want your Tiffany engagement ring replaced at Joe’s Pawn Shop. If you are thinking of selling jewelry then obtaining an offer from a retailer or getting an auctioneers estimate is usually free. We will perform “Open Market” valuations for those who prefer to have expert guidance on the worth of jewelry without going down this route. If you need an estate appraisal, there are government regulations that specify the definition of value that must be used. There are many types of appraisals and the purpose determines the definition of value.