Jewelry Appraisers – Find A Qualified Jewelry Appraiser
by Vanessa
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Unfortunately finding a qualified jewelry appraiser isn’t as easy as picking a name off of a list. It is important to call around and ask some questions to make sure you go to someone who is truly qualified to appraise jewelry.
If you are getting a jewelry appraisal for engagement ring insurance or any other type of jewelry insurance you want to make sure you get a professional appraisal by a qualified jewelry appraiser; don’t just pick the person who gives you the lowest quote and don’t simply look at this as a necessity for insurance purposes. It is important to get an accurate, detailed jewelry appraisal. You’ll be glad you did if you ever need to file a claim and a proper appraisal could save you on insurance premiums.
Finding A Qualified Jewelry Appraiser
Even if you aren’t planning on buying jewelry insurance it is a good idea to get an appraisal after buying expensive jewelry to make sure it worth what you paid for it. Before buying the jewelry you may want to ask about their return policy in case the ring appraisal shows your purchase isn’t the same quality as you thought it was when you made the purchase.
To find a qualified jewelry appraiser there are a few questions you can ask:
- Is the jewelry appraiser a Graduate Gemologist (GG) or a Fellow of The Gemological Institute of Great Britain (FGA)? In the field of gems sciences these credentials are educational requirements teaching how to identify and grade colored stones and diamonds.
- Is the jewelry appraiser recognized by an appraisal organization like the American Society of Appraisers (ASA), National Association of Gem and Jewelry Appraiser’s (NGJA) or the International Society of Appraisers (ISA)?
- Will they provide references? It is great if you can get references from professionals such as attorneys, banks, or trust companies that have used them.
- Do they attend continuing education classes and how much per year? How often do they have to take a requalification course or exam? You want to make sure they keep up to date on market trends.
- What are their specialties?
- How do they charge for their services? They should charge by a piece rate base on the complexity or an hourly rate not by a percentage of the appraisal value.
- You should also ask for a copy of their professional profile which lists the experience and history of education of the jewelry appraiser.
Your insurance company may also give you a list of jewelry appraisers they often work with and they may want you to use someone who has a completed the Certified Insurance Appraiser program.
Getting Regular Jewelry Appraisals
Due to changing markets the value of your jewelry can also change over time. Because of this it is good to get a jewelry appraisal every couple of years for your valuable jewelry, and be sure to update your insurance company when you get a new appraisal so they can adjust your insurance rates accordingly. Some insurance policies may even require a diamond ring appraisal every couple of years. You may want to ask the insurer how often you will need to get an engagement ring appraisal when you get an engagement ring insurance policy or any other jewelry insurance.
Once you have a jewelry appraiser you trust getting regular jewelry appraisals should be pretty easy. Having a detailed jewelry appraisal and a researched engagement ring insurance policy are important steps to take when it comes to protecting your valuable jewelry.
_____________________________________
_____________________________________