All appraisals include a photograph of the jewelry item, a detailed description of the mounting and gemstones (diamonds and colored gems), including a plot (fingerprint) of all diamonds over one karat, and, of course, the appropriate value (retail replacement, fair market, etc.).

You will be charged a flat rate for each item appraised. Fees are NOT based on the value of an item or on the carat size of a gemstone. There is a discount for appraisals that include more than 10 items.

On any big jewelry purchase, an independent jewelry appraisal is recommended. A purchase receipt in most cases gives very little information. A detailed appraisal guarantees that if you have a loss, the replacement from your insurance company will be the same quality as your original article of jewelry.

Gold as it is mined from the earth is 24 karat. In this form, it is too malleable for jewelry, so alloys are added. Alloys used are copper, silver, zinc, and palladium. The amount of alloy added determines the karat, such as 14 karat, 18 karat, etc. Gold can come in a variety of colors: yellow, white, rose, pink, and green. The final color is dependent on the ratios and types of alloy added. When you hear that gold is selling for $900.00 an ounce, it is referring to pure gold before alloys are added. For the up-to-date gold rate, go to http://www.onlygold.com.

Old cut diamonds seem to be back in popularity. European cut and brilliant cut diamonds are selling at the same per/carat price. Old mine cut and rose cut diamonds are also back in favor. Some diamonds would benefit from some re-cutting by adding to stability to very thin girdles.

Lab-grown diamonds have the same properties as diamonds grown in nature. Lab-grown diamonds are here to stay and production has been ramped up. Even DeBeers has gotten into the lab-grown diamond market. They are being marketed as “sustainable” appealing to a younger demographic. This appraiser has no problem with lab-grown diamonds if they are identified as lab-grown by being engraved on the body of the stone (only seen under a microscope).

There are really two reasons: cut and clarity. A well-cut diamond has been calculated to allow the light to enter the top of the diamond, bounce back from the bottom and exit the diamond from the top. This gives you the beautiful white and rainbow colors when you view a diamond from the top. If you have a diamond that have many inclusions (crystals and fractures that occurred during growth), the light is not able to follow it’s correct path.