Peace of mind is priceless
Many people seek valuations for their most treasured items for insurance and legal purposes to protect themselves from loss or theft.
We understand that the value of jewellery is often more in its sentimentality to you but certifying its monetary value provides an important safety net.
It is vital that your items are not over or undervalued – Lisa produces accurate and fair valuations you can trust and is a qualified gemmologist and NCJV registered valuer.
How is your jewellery valued?
The cost of each valuation will depend on the type of appraisal, complexity of your jewellery and how fast you need it done. However, Lisa will set the price with you before going ahead with the valuation, so there will be no surprises!
VALUATION TYPES
Individual reports:
Standard (Silver)- A digital copy of our standard valuation report, suitable for insurance & resale.
Upgrade (Gold) - Printed report + digital copy, with general information on gems in your jewellery (as applicable), presented in one luxury folder. Suitable for engagement rings, anniversary gifts & special events.
Extensive (Platinum) - This is a highly detailed printed and digital report. The report displays microscopic photographs of your gemstone as well as a thorough description on condition, hallmarks etc. Suitable for legal proceedings, identification & divorce settlements and presented in a luxury folder and usually recommended for high value items.
Multiple items:
Heirloom/ Family Jewellery Catalogue
Printed report + digital copy on each jewellery item, with general information on gems in your jewellery (as applicable), presented in one luxury folder.
This report will also contain a summary of all of the items in your collection, providing an easy reference of images/ pricing/ etc to help you keep track of your jewellery, provide proof of ownership and make estate planning easier.
This is also the cheapest option for multiple items.
To be fully insured, your jewellery items may need to be listed separately on your Contents Insurance Policy and their values updated regularly.
The professional appraisal and valuing of jewellery, gems, and diamonds, calls for a considerable amount of knowledge, training, and experience, gained over many years.
The true measure of an appraisal—whether a gem, or jewellery —is a combination of sophisticated laboratory technology, and the expertise in interpreting the test results.
Appointment Process
Upon your arrival, Lisa will discuss the purpose of the valuation with you, give your jewellery an initial visual examination and discuss any immediate issues (such as wear & tear, damaged gemstones or gemstone mounts etc) and review any existing documentation you may have such as purchase receipts, lab reports and previous valuations.
Quote
Lisa will then provide a competitive quote for your valuation.
Time frame
For most pieces, it takes approximately 10+ working days to appraise your jewellery.
Same day priority service is available for an additional fee of $50 per item.
Issue Receipt
Once we have agreed, we will issue you with a receipt for your jewellery which will list your details (name, address etc.) required for the document, contact details, a brief description of all items left, the type of valuation/s required, the agreed completion date and the agreed charge.
Cleaning
If needed, jewellery will first be cleaned in an ultra-sonic to remove any dirt that might be lodged within the settings and thereby affect the identification or grading of the stone/s.
Precious Metals Identification & Purity
All gold or other metals will be tested for identification and purity and the hallmarks will be identified.
Mount Quality & Build
The mount of the item will be examined and the type and quality of the manufacturing process determined. This will vary from item to item, depending if it has been hand-made, cast (either from a cad-cam produced model or a mass produced wax model), or made by a stamping press or a machine. Along with the carat of gold and the final gram weight of the item, this information will be used to arrive at a final value for the mount.
Diamond & Gemstone Identification / Grading
Any diamonds or gemstones will be tested for identification of the type of stone and whether it is a natural (produced by nature within the earth) or synthetic (laboratory grown by man), and/or undergone any treatments.
Gems will then be graded based on the quality of their colour, clarity and cut.
Calculate Carat Weight
The carat weight of any diamonds or gemstones will then be calculated. Unless specifically requested and authorized, we do not remove any gemstones from the mount. Therefore, the carat weight of any gemstones must be estimated. This can be done quite accurately using precise millimetre gauges and volumetric calculation formula’s.
Determine Value
Using all of the above information on diamonds & gemstones costings, gold &/or precious metals, manufacturing quality and time taken to manufacture, setting of gemstones, finishing & polishing, any rhodium plating and any other manufacturing costs, we arrive at a final value for the item and compare this with recent market sales of similar items.
Photograph
Last of all, the item is then photographed with a macro-lens to allow for an accurate close-up image.
Extensive valuations may also include images of internal inclusions, unique markers within your gem.
Safe Keeping
All items are then transferred back to our safe where all clients goods are kept until collection.