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Appraisal Service
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Susan Rychlik of Gemological Resource, Inc. provides us with her prompt, professional appraisal services.
• Over 25 years of jewelry experience
• Over 15 years as an independent appraiser
• Graduate Gemologist, Gemological Institiute of America
• Accredited Member, International Society of Appraisers
• Experience in providing expert witness testimony
• University of Minnesota, B.S. in Retail Merchandising
•GIA graduate in jewelry appraisal, diamond grading, pearl grading, and identifying synthetics |
Susan Rychlik |
Reasons To Have Your Jewelry Appraised
Appraisals for your diamond ring and other jewelry items are required by the insurance company in order that they may specifically cover your items of jewelry against all risks and hazards. Insure each item separately with a separate policy for each item that you will forward to your insurance agent. Be advised that having an item of jewelry insured on your regular household policy is not the same as having an item separately insured with a separate policy. Should your diamond fall out of its setting while away from home and you did not have a separate policy insurance, you would probably not be covered. Please consult with your insurance agent for more details on this important matter.
If you lose a ring, or it is stolen, the insurance company very rarely offers you a cash settlement. The insurance company will shop around for their best price in order to replace the jewelry for you. Of course, you would only accept the jewelry upon your satisfaction on an independent appraisal from your independent gemologist. It is important for the appraisal to be detailed and specific so that in fact you can get back exactly what was lost or stolen. The appraisal should also have a photo to ensure that you get back a ring that very closely resembles the one that was lost or stolen. Other reasons for obtaining an appraisal
1.) The appraisal may be used as a general check on the quality and value of your diamond ring as represented by your jeweler.
2.) The appraisal is valid for customs purposes when traveling from one country to another.
3.) The appraisals are useful and necessary if attempting to sell an item.
Appraisals are useful for helping to settle estates, inheritances, and wills etc. etc.
Tips For Having Your Jewelry Appraised
- Deal only with a qualified, trained appraiser and have them provide you with a thorough, detailed document that would supply a third party with all pertinent information. Be clear about the purpose of the appraisal (insurance, donation, estate). An insurance appraisal, for example, requires jewelry to be appraised at retail replacement cost, while an estate appraisal does not.
- The appraisal should include millimeter dimensions, quality, weight and identification of each stone, plus a description of small stones or groups of stones. Cut, color, clarity and carat weight of diamonds should be included. For colored stones, the hue, tone, intensity, transparency and clarity of the stones should be noted. For pearls, the report should describe the luster, nacre thickness, color, shape and blemishes. Identification and assessment of the workmanship of the metals used in the mounting are also important, as are a thorough description or photograph of the items and the estimated value of the items.
- Be cautious of appraisers who charge a percentage of the jewelry's value for the appraisal, rather than an hourly fee.
- Be prepared to leave your jewelry with the appraiser.
- Get the appraisal in writing, signed by the appraiser.
- Have your jewelry appraisals updated approximately every two years to keep current with changing gemstone and metals value. Remember to have your piece appraised for its characteristics, not just its worth. Worth can change drastically, but the characteristics will remain the same.
Tips For Maintaining Your Jewelry
- Put your jewelry in a covered space to protect it as well as make it easy to find. Examples of commonly used containers are fishing tackle boxes, empty egg cartons, ice-cube trays (for earrings), velvet-covered frames, plastic shoe bags and utensil trays.
- Never store jewelry in the freezer, as some gemstones can become discolored.
- Never put your jewelry in tissue, as it could be mistaken for a piece of trash.
- If you have a lot of small pieces, choose a container that has several compartments, rather than putting it all into one large container. Some stones can scratch one another and leave permanent marks.
- Fasten the clasps of necklaces and bracelets so they won't wind around each other and become tangled.
- When storing pearls, use a cloth or velvet bag because plastic can dry them out.
- When getting dressed, always put on makeup, hairspray or perfume before you put on your jewelry because the chemicals in hairspray and perfume can damage the finish.
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