FAQS

Why an independent appraisal? While many jewelry stores and online retailers use an in-house appraiser to appraise their jewelry, I choose not to.  It is imperative that the person appraising my jewelry has no vested interest in its price.

A WORD ON INDEPENDENT APPRAISALS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE:

It is a challenge when purchasing antique jewelry online that you are assured that which you are purchasing, is indeed, the piece presented to you.

An independent jewelry appraisal can give you that confidence.

An independent jewelry appraisal verifies the features of a piece of jewelry. It also values the jewelry’s monetary worth. It is a legal document that can be held up in a court of law, signed by a certified appraiser.

By using an independent appraiser, I am allowing an outside, objective party to determine the price of my jewelry.


On occasion, I am asked for a G.I.A. certificate. A G.I.A. certificate analyzes the stones, but not the entire piece of jewelry. Of course with some antique pieces the stone is the most significant part, but with many antique pieces, the jewelry’s craftsmanship or provenance holds equal or greater value. An appraisal values the entire piece of jewelry, not only the center stones.


An additional reason to offer an appraisal rather than a GIA certification, is that the G.I.A. has to remove stones from their setting in order to certify them. With an antique piece, my intent is to "do no harm." The piece should be as authentic as when it was made (as possible), which includes not removing and remounting the center stone.