Preparing for Your Jewelry Appraisal

Clean your jewelry. If you are in the habit of cleaning your jewelry, it will save time if you do so before our meeting. Diamonds, rubies and sapphires can be scrubbed with an old toothbrush in denatured alcohol. If you aren't sure how to clean your jewelry without damaging certain delicate stones (such as emerald and opal), it is better to wait, but most pieces can be hand-cleaned safely .

Consider your jewelry’s condition. If you are insuring your jewelry and have a jeweler you prefer to work with, this is the right time to correct any defects, so that its condition can be reported as good (especially important for insurance appraisals). If you do not have a jeweler, I work with artisans who can make necessary repairs.

Make an inventory. If you have many items, you’ll shorten our time by making a list. They can be organized as follows: rings, bracelets and watches; earrings; pendants;  neck chains and necklaces; brooches and pins; and all others such as tie-tacks and cufflinks and other accessories.

Gather your documentation. Please bring sales receipts, descriptions and value statements issued by the seller; independent laboratory reports; and any old appraisals or insurance schedules. These provide information that is important to consider, especially exact gemstone weights as stated by sellers. Even if these descriptions are not always accurate, it is worth discussing any discrepancies between them and my appraisal results.

Find out how your insurance works. You can save time and money by finding out how your policy works; for instance, how much value can you insure without scheduling those items (that is, listing them on a separate policy)?

If you are working with another concerned party, talk with him or her about why the item is being appraised. It is important to talk about what you are trying to accomplish. If there is more than one goal, sometimes this can be addressed with all parties present in consultation.

Most importantly, call or email me before you come. This will answer any questions you have about the process, including a possible range of cost, length of time necessary to perform the appraisal, and set a convenient time for us to meet. Above all, once it is clearly understood why you need an appraisal or consultation, you will find it much easier to decide whether to make an appointment with me.