Are you ready for your special jewelry to be appraised? Do you have questions about what this even means? We're here to help you determine when an appraisal is right for you! An appraisal is an unbiased valuation document, generated by an experienced, accredited appraiser. This document fully describes in complete technical detail the story of your jewelry. There are three main types of jewelry appraisals to consider.
1) Insurance Value—A jewelry appraisal is a professional assessment that determines the current market value of a piece of jewelry for insurance purposes. Insurance companies use this document to determine the appropriate coverage and settlement amount in case of loss, theft, or damage. Depending on market changes, it is recommended that this type of appraisal be recalculated every three to seven years to maintain accurate value and coverage. Insurance replacement value is based on the cost to replace a new, similar item.
2) Fair Market Value - A fair market value jewelry appraisal determines the estimated price a potential willing buyer and seller would agree upon in an open market. It considers the current condition of the jewelry and the prevailing market conditions of the jewelry item. This value is useful when selling your jewelry privately. This type of appraisal is also useful for people who want a detailed written description of the jewelry item, as part of its story, despite the actual monetary value.
3) Estate Value - An estate jewelry appraisal is a professional evaluation of the worth of jewelry for estate purposes, often involving fair market value determination. This type of appraisal is crucial for estate planning, estate tax evaluation, fair asset distribution, and resolving disputes, as it helps determine the value of jewelry for inheritance or sale.
Now that you know what kind of appraisal you may need, what are the next steps? When you make an appointment with one of our sales associates, we will help you prioritize your jewelry, evaluate any repairs that may need to be completed before the appraisal process, or start the intake process. We ensure your jewelry pieces are thoroughly cleaned before entering them into our computer system.
Twice a month, an independent, fully-accredited appraiser visits Blue Heron Jewelry. She brings her portable lab equipment to examine, identify, and document your valuable jewelry and watches. During her visit, she photographs and takes complete notes on your items so they never leave our store. Our appraiser has over twenty years of experience.
SPACES ARE LIMITED: Only 20 items will be taken in per appraisal date (20 items total from all clients, not per individual. Items will be taken in for appraisal on a first-come, first-served basis. See store for details.)
We ask that you bring us your jewelry NO LATER than the Tuesday before the appraisal date. If you have multiple items, contact us to make an appointment.
Prices are as follows for Insurance, Fair Market, or Estate Appraisals:
- $140 each single item or a wedding ring set soldered together.
- $200 for both rings in a wedding set that are NOT soldered together. $95 additional for a third ring worn as part of the wedding ring set.
- $165 for a charm bracelet including up to 5 charms.
- $13 additional per charm over 5 charms.
- $200 for each complicated item, such as a tennis necklace, brooch, or items having more than 30 gemstones.
- $65 each for one gem or diamond ID, no written description or value.
- $140 each for one gem or diamond ID, written description & value.
- $165 each for wristwatch appraisal.
- $95 each for an update to an appraisal document we have completed at an earlier date.
Call the store for more details or with your questions.
We will contact you within 24 to 48 hours after the examination, letting you know your jewelry is ready to be collected. The appraisal fee is due at this time. The appraisal documents, one original and one copy, are sent to our store approximately two weeks after the initial examination. We’ll contact you when the documents are ready to be picked up. We are prepared to go over the appraisal with you in person so we can answer any questions you have immediately.