Jewelry

How A Jewelry Appraiser Arrives at his Jewelry Appraisal.

July 26th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

Antique Ring Appraiser - image Life as a jewelry appraiser is one of contrasts. As a prefession it spans the entire spectrum from fascinating to tedious. The wide variety of jewelry an appraiser gets to see during a typical a year can range from common to precious, from cheap wholesale fashion jewelry to top-of-the-line from the Jewelry Store Minneapolis. What binds the profession together is a passion for crafted artifacts and a keen desire to know the stories behind them.

The only time people would normally consider using a jewelry appraiser is for insurance purposes, bereavement or insolvency. Because of this, the average jewelry appraiser doesn’t see people at the most positive times of their life. Through all the emotion, the jewelry appraiser has to step in with a cool, professional air and assess the value of the jewelry and even offer certain guarantees regarding the piece.

The Basics Of Jewelry Appraisal

Antique Ring Appraiser - image When someone brings in an item of antique jewelry to a jewelry appraiser, there are quite a few things the jewelry appraiser will be looking for to help him make his assessment. The first thing to do is to weigh, measure, and clean the item. Then, a detailed description of the piece is recorded on paper or to hard-disc.

If the item is gem stone jewelry, the jewelry appraiser will assess what type of gemstone it is, and will then move on to grade, measure and weigh the stone. If the gemstone is a colored stone, such as an emerald, the jewelry appraiser will issue a certificate stating the characteristics of the stone and its authenticity. Along with this, the type of metal in the piece is determined. This can be anything from gold to platinum to copper or anything in between. All these measurements are crucial to assessing the value of each piece.

Diamonds are often treated in a class of their own. If a piece contains diamonds, the jewelry appraiser will fill in a certificate of authenticity. This documents the color of the diamond, its clarity and the way it has been cut. Most importantly, the internal features of the diamond are mapped out. Some jewelry appraisers are able to take a laser picture of the diamond’s brilliance pattern, which is basically a diamond fingerprint since no two diamonds have the same brilliance pattern.

At the end of this meticulous process, you are left with an appraisal stating the features and characteristics of your item. This will include an explanation of which specific grading system was used. Perhaps the most important part of the appraisal, the monetary value, will also be included, as well as how that value for that particular piece was arrived at.

Jewelry appraisal is a fascinating and mysterious science. In fact, it is closer to an art as it is difficult for anyone to remain subjective when assessing an object that holds both financial and emotional significance to the people who are employing you. If you find a good jewelry appraiser, the depth of knowledge they will have is astounding. Insurance companies demand accurate, reliable information, so each appraisal has to fulfill the most stringent requirements. It’s not enough to take your jewelry to the Jewelry Store Minneaplolis round the corner, and expect to get an accurate appraisal. It is definitely a job for a professional who is passionate about detail.