When it comes to jewelry, you may see the appraisal process as daunting and unnecessary. If you’ve purchased a new piece of jewelry or inherited one, it’s crucial that you have it appraised so you know how much your item is worth and if you’ve gotten your money’s worth after purchasing it.
What is a Jewelry Appraisal?
A jewelry appraisal is a process in which a certified professional examines a piece of jewelry to determine its monetary value. Appraisals provide the necessary proof of value and features for insurance purposes.
How Does a Jewelry Appraisal Work?
When performing an appraisal, the jeweler will also look at other factors that will be included in the written appraisal. These factors can include:
- Condition and quality of the piece
- Gemstones and their characteristics (cut, color, clarity, and carat weight)
- Design details
- Measurements
- Setting
Why Should You Get Your Jewelry Appraised?
- Helps determine how much coverage you need: Your insurance company will use the appraisal when determining your premium and the coverage limit on your policy. Without an appraisal, you could either be underinsured or have your jewelry over-inflated, leading to higher premiums or insufficient coverage. As a result, you may have to pay more out-of-pocket expenses to repair or replace an item.
- Helps to determine the item’s replacement value: If your piece of jewelry is lost, damaged, or stolen, you can refer to your appraisal to settle your insurance claim. A detailed description of the item from the appraisal will help the jeweler replace it with something of equal value.
Types of Jewelry Appraisals
- Replacement Value Appraisal: This type of appraisal is done for insurance purposes, providing the item’s value if it gets lost or needs replacement. It is not the same as the resale value; the replacement value will be much higher because you must buy a new piece.
- Fair Market Value Appraisal: This appraisal determines the resale value of your item. It is the price you can expect to receive if you want to resell your piece, though this number won’t be exact. As stated above, this number will be lower than the replacement value.
- Liquidation Appraisal: This will tell you how much you can get if you immediately need to liquidate your assets. This price will be lower than the fair market value because you’re trying to resell the item quickly.
Get to “Noe” Your Jeweler!
If you’re looking to get your jewelry appraised, make sure you seek out a reputable jeweler. With over four decades in the industry, Noe’s Jewelry offers many services, including appraisals for both your insurance and for peace of mind.
Visit our website to view more about our services and how we can help with your jewelry appraisal needs.
Sources
Everything You Need to Know About Jewelry Appraisal (richardscustomjewelers.com)
Jewelry Appraisal for Insurance | Jewelers Mutual Group
Appraisals | Jewelers of America
Noe’s Jewelry – Jewelry Sales, Jewelry & Watch Repair, Engraving (noesjewelryflorida.com)