Are you ready for your special jewelry to be appraised? 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 independent 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 — A jewelry appraisal is a professional assessment that determines the current market value of a piece of jewelry for insurance coverage 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 - A fair market value jewelry appraisal determines the estimated price in the secondary market. This value is useful when selling your jewelry privately. This type of appraisal is also useful for people who want a detailed description of the jewelry item as part of its story, regardless of its monetary value.
3) Estate - 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? Clients can make an appointment with one of our sales associates; we will help you prioritize your jewelry items. We will evaluate any repairs that may need to be completed before the appraisal process before the intake process. We ensure your jewelry pieces are thoroughly cleaned before entering them into our computer system. It's important to bring any identification documents, such as diamond or gemstone certification.
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. Your jewelry never leaves 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 your jewelry to us 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 all types of appraisal:
- $140 per 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 any items with 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 a wristwatch appraisal.
- $95 each for an update to an appraisal document we have generated in our system.
Call the store for more details or to ask 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 is created in a PDF form for easier communication & faster delivery to insurance companies. In addition to the PDF form, you can request a bound, printed form when you drop off your items.