To determine the color quality of a diamond, the appraiser needs to look at it before it goes into a piece of jewelry though. When it is in a setting, the metal can actually make a clear diamond look as...

When you obtain a jewelry appraisal or report, you have the right to expect a professional treatment. Look for an appraiser who provides you with: 1)   An estimate fee that is not based on the final appraisal value of your...

To properly interpret your diamond appraisal you will also need to know if the value is a “retail value” or “retail replacement value.” The difference between the two is important… most insurance companies and diamond laboratories recommend using a retail...

Since the majority of appraisals done are of the “Insurance Replacement” type, insurance companies expect the completed appraisal to be in a certain form. By doing this, in case of loss, the insurance company can accurately determine the details of...

The cost of jewelry insurance can vary from 1.5% down to 1% of the value of the appraised piece of jewelry or watch.  The higher the deductable the lower the percentage charged per $100.00.  As an example, if you choose...

The services of an independent appraiser are increasingly of importance in today’s complex market environment. As consumers have grown in sophistication and education, diamonds have gotten more costly, and many previously unheard of treatments and ethical issues have arisen, as...

A diamond is one of the only purchases you’ll make that can cost a lot of money and you potentially have very little understanding of why?  When doing an appraisal, I love having a GIA diamond grading report to work...

I do a lot of jewelry appraisals mostly for insurance replacement.  I don’t think a week goes by where I’m not appraising a new engagement ring purchased to replace one that was either lost or stolen.  Many of these replacements...

And here it is…the Macdaddy of gem instruments…the microscope!  My MarkV Gemolite is a classic.  Like a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO but way less expensive.  The microscope is used to grade diamond clarity, identify colored stones by their inclusions, distinguishing...

This is an electronic gauge and it’s used to measure gemstones…I probably use this more than anything for appraisal work. I can measure a gemstone then apply a formula to estimate the weight.   It’ll measure in hundredths of millimeters.  That’s...