Preparing for Your Appraisal

  1. Step #1: Schedule an appointment
  2. Step #2: Collect all items you think you need to have appraised. Bring the questionable items too. We will help you sort out the items you need to have appraised.
  3. Step #3: Gather any old appraisals, laboratory reports, sales slips or anything pertinent to the value of the items.

Appraisal Process

  • When you arrive for your appointment, you may sit in our office and watch as we appraise your jewelry, or you may leave it with us and return for it later in the day. Please note we are fully insured. We are accustomed to handling jewelry of great value.
  • We will clean your jewelry, point out needed repairs, and test the metal fineness (i.e., 14k, 18k, Platinum)
  • We will identify your gemstones, measure, estimate weights, grade and plot the stones as required.
  • We will photograph your jewelry.
  • We will gather the information necessary to enable us to prepare the appraisal report as appropriate to its purpose and intended use.
  • When we have finished inspecting, describing and photographing your jewelry, you may take your jewelry home. We may need additional time to research values and prepare your appraisal report, but you and your jewelry do not need to be present.
  • When the report is complete, we will send it to you in a PDF file. Click here for sample. You may print as many copies as you like. You may also send it to your insurance agent or other appropriate user by e-mail.
  • Best of all, you will have a complete and accurate documentation of your jewelry, with an appropriate value, performed by methods that will stand up to scrutiny when it really matters.

Appraisal Prices

Professional appraisers charge for their services based upon an hourly rate or a per-item fee, never by a percentage of the appraised value. The total price is based on the number of items, the complexity of the designs and age of the items. Estate and antique items require additional market research which adds to the total cost.

* The minimum fee for a single item insurance appraisal is $85, additional items on the same appraisal $65 each.
* Insurance appraisals for diamond engagement rings are usually $100 to 150 and up depending on the size of the centerstone and the complexity of the mounting.
* Large lot insurance appraisals (15 or more pieces) average $35 to $50 per piece and up.


For your peace of mind and security, all fees will be firmly established during the initial consultation. There is no charge for the initial consultation.

When completed, your appraisal will remain active in our database for five years. If you would like to have the jewelry re-appraised or updated during the five-year period, the time required for re-appraising your jewelry, and thus your costs, will be greatly reduced.

Diamond Appraisals