Appraising the market value of jewelry helps not only to confirm the authenticity of the property but also to determine its current value, taking into account the exchange value of precious metals and other price-forming factors.

This type of appraisal is considered quite complex, so choosing the right appraiser should be approached responsibly. Insufficient qualifications of the appraiser can significantly lower the estimated value, resulting in lost profit or additional expenses in various transactions, inheritance proceedings, etc.

Why Appraise Jewelry and Precious Stones?

Most often, appraisal services are used during the buying and selling of property: both the seller and the buyer are interested in the most honest, fair, and objective price that takes into account all the characteristics, advantages, and even flaws of the jewelry.

In addition, appraisals are conducted for the following purposes:

• Inheritance: the value of inherited property affects the amount of state duty that the heir must pay.
• Property division, including during divorce proceedings.
• Obtaining a loan secured by property.
• Court and pre-trial proceedings.
• Civil-law transactions (exchange, gift).
• Insurance: the value of the jewelry affects insurance payouts and the size of regular premiums.
• Transporting property across borders: the value of jewelry and stones must be indicated in customs declarations.

Specialists are highly qualified to work with all types of jewelry. Our appraisal of the market value of precious stones by our employees is distinguished by the accuracy of calculations and objectivity, ensuring that the results of the appraisal procedure have legal force and can be used in court, government, and regional authorities, as well as other organizations.

What Jewelry Do We Appraise?

Our specialists are ready to appraise any jewelry items, including:

• Personal jewelry (for men and women);
• Accessories (from cufflinks and tie clips to compacts and jewelry boxes);
• Tableware and cutlery, both as part of sets and individually;
• Interior items: table and wall decorations, statuettes, vases;
• Watch bracelets, chains;
• Souvenirs.

Regarding materials, we work with items made from gold, silver, platinum, nickel silver, and jewelry alloys (white, rose, blue gold). We appraise gilded, silver-plated, engraved, and inlaid items of various purposes.

We also appraise all types of precious stones (diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, rubies, alexandrites, opals, topazes, tourmalines, amethysts, garnets, etc.), and, if necessary, semi-precious and ornamental stones (amber, jade, malachite, agate, jasper, jet, etc.).

You can always contact our specialists to clarify the possibility of appraising items made from certain types of precious stones.

Features of the Appraisal Process

Appraising the market value of jewelry often requires preliminary preparation and specialized expert examinations. The documents with expert conclusions are then provided to the appraiser for further work.

Below is an approximate list of specialized expert examinations:

• Gemological examination: identifies the stone, evaluates the presence and type of cut (or other enhancement methods), and determines quality characteristics such as color, brilliance, etc.
• Examination of the metal alloy composition and its compliance with the accepted assay system.
• Metallurgical examination to detect possible defects in the item’s structure.
• Determination of the manufacturing method of the jewelry and compliance with current standards.
• Merchandising examination: identifies consumer properties, including preservation and wear level (for used jewelry).
• Establishing historical and artistic value: determines the uniqueness of items and their association with certain historical, stylistic, or technological periods.

The more complex and exclusive the item, the more expert examinations are required to determine its current market value.

Appraisal Factors Considered by “BIG” Group Specialists:

• Manufacture date.
• Alloy composition, metal or mineral quality characteristics.
• Completeness (if appraising a set, service, etc.).
• Exclusivity: brand, series, author.
• Assay mark of the metal.
• Weight.
• Artistic or historical value.
• Jeweler’s craftsmanship and work quality.
• Presence of documents confirming specific characteristics of the item.

Expert reviews and price indexes in the specialized market (e.g., Michelsen Gemstone Index, The GemGuide, Rapaport Diamond Report, etc.) are also considered.

Documents Required by the Appraiser

A minimal set of documents is needed for jewelry appraisal:

• The client’s passport or legal entity details for the contract and report.
• Documents confirming ownership rights. If there are additional documents such as quality certificates or previous expert conclusions, they should be provided along with other papers.

Benefits of Appraising at “BIG” Group

A jewelry and precious stones appraiser must have a relevant education, work experience, regularly confirm their qualifications, possess sufficient theoretical knowledge, adhere to industry appraisal standards, and use only proven methodologies when determining the value of jewelry and precious stones. Only in this way will the appraisal results have legal force.

Specialists at “Platinum” Group fully meet these requirements. Our appraisers bear full material and legal responsibility for the appraisal results and are authorized to participate as experts in court hearings.

What Affects the Appraisal?

• Models from current and rare limited collections are valued higher.
• Products from more expensive and popular brands usually appraise higher.
• Jewelry from renowned brands with authentic certificates and original packaging can also appraise for more.
• Stones in the jewelry are appraised based on type, cut, and the quality of inlays.
• Good technical condition can also impact the price, including the integrity and assay mark of the precious metal, and minimal scratches and chips.
• Handcrafted jewelry and items with high artistic value may be valued higher.