Jewelry Appraisal Process: A Detailed Guide

jewelry appraisal process

If you own gemstones or any other type of ornaments create from precious metals, it suggests that your valuables are appraised at least once every 5 years. We have collected information on Jewelry Appraisal Process for better understanding.

What Does Jewelry Appraisal Entail?

The appraisal process is all about determining and recording the current value and state of jewelry. Appraisals are usually performed by professionals with a wealth of experience in handling precious metals.

During the appraisal, your expert of choice will carefully examine your jewelry and record the following:

1. Physical appearance of the jewelry

2. The materials that make up the jewelry

3. The weight of the jewelry

4. Markings on the surface of the ornament

5. The quality of the gems and any other additional materials on the jewelry

6. The rarity of the gems contained in the jewelry

7. The quality of the entire ornament

After carefully recording the information above, your appraiser then usually has a responsibility to determine the value of the jewelry based on current market prices. 

Top Reasons Get Your Jewelry Appraise| Jewelry Appraisal Process

Below are 5 compelling reasons to get your jewelry to appraise.

1.    To Know The Exact Value of Your Possessions

The jewelry appraisal process is all about knowing the exact monetary value of your valuables. On hiring an appraiser, they will evaluate your jewelry in its entirety, and then based on the final findings; they will provide you with an accurate quote on how much your item can fetch in a fair market sale. 

2.    For Estate Planning Purposes

During the estate planning process, jewelry is usually counted among the estate assets. If you are seeking to divide your assets fairly according to their value, jewelry appraisal services can come in handy. By understanding the total value of your jewelry, you can ensure that your estate beneficiaries receive fair and equitable shares of your assets.

3.    For Insurance Purposes

Insurance policies usually offer protection to an item owner in that they can get indemnified for item value in case it gets lost, is destroyed, or loses value under the circumstances foreseen in terms of the insurance policy.

To take out an insurance policy for jewelry, the item in question must first be appraised to determine its value at current market rates. This usually allows your insurance service provider to set appropriate premiums based on current insurance rates and the value of your jewelry.

4.    To Compare Value

The only way you can understand which of your ornaments has the most value is by getting your jewelry appraise.

5.    To Get Fair Value When Making a Sale or Purchase

The price of jewelry tends to fluctuate wildly. This is because the value of precious metals and gems depends on several factors, such as availability and market trends. 

Before making a purchase or sale of jewelry, it is best to carry out an appraisal to understand the real and actual value of your item at the current moment. If you are using old appraisals, you can wind up short-changed during a jewelry sale. There are a few reputed stores such as Luriya.com where you can sell your jewelry at a fair market value and can even get your jewelry appraised by an expert for free.

What Are The Most Common Types Of Jewelry Appraisal Techniques

Jewelry can be appraised using different methods depending on the intended end goal of the valuation exercise. Different types of appraisal techniques require different levels of expertise and training. Some of the types of jewelry appraisal methods used today include:

1.    Fair Market Appraisals

These appraisals usually reflect what your jewelry would cost if it were sold when no extenuating circumstances are necessitating the sale. This appraisal technique usually takes into account the current state of the jewelry when its value is being determined.

2.    Appraisal To Determine Immediate Liquidation Value

This type of appraisal is usually the situation to determine how much the jewelry in question fetches in its current state if it were put under an auctioneer’s hammer at the present moment.

3.    Appraisal For Loan Collateral Purposes

This is usually done to determine the value of jewelry that is to be put up as collateral before a loan is issued.

4.    Probate Appraisal

If a person dies without a will, but they have estate assets, which include jewelry, the court can order for the jewelry to be appraised and valued. This is what is known as probate jewelry appraisal.

How Much Does Jewelry Appraisal Cost?

There is no standard fee for appraisal services. Some appraisal experts usually charge by the hour; others ask for a flat fee while others will base their fee as a percentage of the overall jewelry value.

Some of the factors that will determine the overall appraisal costs include:

a. Fee model used by your appraiser 

b. A number of ornaments are valued

c. Type of jewelry use

d. Jewelry Appraisal method use

e. The urgency of the job

Factors To Consider When Engaging a Jewelry Appraisal Expert

Though there is no legal standard for the appraisal of jewels, it is illegal to inflate the value of jewelry when carrying out an appraisal.

If you are hoping to get an accurate appraisal that reflects the true value of your jewelry, you should engage an appraiser who meets the following standards.

  1. An expert certified to offer appraisal services by a reputable organization.

2. Ideally, they should have training on how to identify, handle, and value different types of gems and precious stones. Further, the expert should also be knowledgeable in the techniques to manufacture jewelry as it will prove crucial when gauging the quality of the jewelry.

3. They should have an interest in further education when it comes to jewelry valuation. This is crucial since this field is dynamic, and trends are constantly changing.

4. The appraiser of choice should also have extensive experience in jewelry appraisal. Experienced professionals are more thorough and accurate in their work.

5. The expert should be an individual of high repute renown in industry circles for being ethical, dependable, and carrying out appraisals professionally.

6. The professional should have a demonstrated ability in appraising the type of jewelry you own.

Keep in mind that the value of Jewelry tends to fluctuate depending on existing market conditions. For this reason, you should get your Jewelry appraise periodically with Jewelry Appraisal Process