Jewelry is like most other forms of art and fashion, it is subject to the trends of the moment. What is considered stylish today may be viewed as tragically out of date in a couple of years. Fortunately, stylistic preferences are cyclical and what was once considered fashionable will inevitably revive its status at some point in the future.
Because of this, it is very important to have jewelry appraised before making in purchasing or selling decisions. While there are some appraisal sites that allow items to be shipped for appraisal, not everyone is comfortable with this approach. If you are near a major city, you will be able to find someone locally. It is worth the drive to visit one of the jewelry appraisers in San Diego, or a city nearest you, in order to get an accurate idea of the value of your collection or individual piece of jewelry.
Insurance
One of the biggest reasons to take the time to have jewelry appraised is in the event that they are ever stolen or destroyed. Without an official appraisal, most home insurance policies will not cover the value of more expensive pieces of jewelry. They require additional premiums in order to be covered for the full appraised value, otherwise it will be included with the amount available to cover belongings within the home.
It is important to note that the insurance appraisal price will probably be different than the resale appraisal figure. Be sure to let the appraiser know which the appraisal will be used for ahead of time.
Inheritance
Another common reason people need to have their jewelry appraised is an inheritance of one or more pieces. Antique jewelry can be difficult to appraise accurately for an estate sale and the investment in time and money used for the appraisal can help justify a higher price for some pieces.
On the other hand, you may also find out that the broach your great grandmother left you was an elaborate piece of costume jewelry. Interestingly, there is a booming market for some of the art deco pieces and designer pieces from the 60s and 70s.
Individual Gem Value
Occasionally, people will find they have a piece of jewelry they don’t like but which has one or more gems they do find attractive. In this type of situation, a jewelry appraisal can tell the owners more about the individual gems and what they are worth so a decision can be made about removing it from the setting and having a new setting custom designed to showcase the gemstone.
It may be discovered that the original design is more valuable kept intact due to the history of the piece. If the designer was popular or the design itself was limited, it may be a collectable. If that is the case the piece could be put aside and saved for a future child or grandchild, sold to finance a new custom piece, or taken apart to keep some of the sentimental value the customer may place on the jewelry.
Whether you need an appraisal for a piece before you wear it for a red carpet appearance or you want to find out more about a necklace inherited from your great grandmother, a jewelry appraisal can be immensely beneficial.