Antique Jewelry Appraisal - Know What Your Purpose Is
You may own antique jewelry and have an interest in selling the piece. What if you don’t know anything about the jewelry’s worth? You should definitely get a jewelry appraisal done properly by a professional. Before you make an appraisal appointment for the item, be sure you know what purpose the appraisal is needed for: For insurance purpose, if you are purchasing an antique item or trying to sell one, to confirm the value an item already in your possession, or to update your will with its value.
Antique Jewelry Appraisal - Is Your Purpose More Special Than General?
If your purpose is something special, a family heirloom for example, get an appraisal from someone reliable. You can start with an average appraiser, but you may want to see an antique appraisal specialist if expensive stones or diamonds or exquisite designs are what your piece is all about. Contact the globally recognized bodies such as the International Society of Appraisers, the American Society of Appraisers or the Appraisers Association of America for getting references or guidance on this matter.
Antique jewelry appraisals often cost money for the appointment and guidance. When something more than a formal appraisal over-the counter is done, it might cost you a significant amount of money. So, don’t spend more than what your purpose demands. Negotiate the jewelry item appraisal cost up-front. An experienced jewelry appraiser would be able to tell this based on time he will need to complete the appraisal. An antique appraiser should not charge a fixed percentage of the price of an appraised item. If this is the case, you need to find someone else for appraisal.
If you want appraisal for auction purpose, there may be some appraisers who organize the auctions themselves ready to give free appraisals if you allow them to auction your jewelry piece.
Jewelry Appraisal For Insurance or Tax Deduction: Get It In Writing
The reasons for antique jewelry appraisals are not always the same. If you want an antique item to get appraised for insurance or tax purposes, get it in writing. It will definitely help you in estate sales. Just inform the appraiser that you need an appraisal for finding the retail value of an antique piece, which is normally higher than its market value.
Get Your Item Practically Checked By The Appraiser
It takes more than the images, written descriptions and e-mails to make a perfect antique jewelry appraisal. The jewelry appraiser needs to see and check the jewelry. Though photographs can help him to some extent, he can’t tell if the jewelry piece is not an original or what kind of quality stones and diamonds are.
Antique Jewelry Appraisal - Some Useful Tips
If you are purchasing a gemstone or diamond, don’t expect the lowest cost to be the best value always as the items vary a lot in quality and value as well. A real one-carat diamond may cost you more than $35,000, while you can find the same size diamond somewhere else at $500 in a "low grade". An antique appraisal should be performed by a certified and independent jewelry appraiser and not by any store staff. For the best appraisal, look for an appraiser who will be truthful with you about the value of your jewelry.
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