Inheriting jewelry is often met with anxiety over what to do with it. Often times these pieces aren't something the new owner would like to wear, so they want to entertain the possibility of selling unwanted pieces. If you're reading this, you're likely in the same boat of determining the best course of action for moving on from these pieces, or keeping them. 
 

What is the difference between an appraisal and an offer to buy?

An offer to buy is made by the owner to purchase your piece outright. Upon his evaluation, he will make an offer if it’s something that he is interested in, and you will receive a check. It is also possible to receive a trade in value towards a new piece of jewelry! 

Appointments are not required, but heavily suggested to ensure that the owner is available to take a look at your jewelry. There’s no charge to sell your jewelry. 

An appraisal is a service that results in a full evaluation of your jewelry by the owner. He is a GIA graduate gemologist, and he completes your appraisal service in-house. Upon completion, you will receive a document that will detail the specifics of any gemstones as well as the metal, and it will include a replacement value. This document is to be used for insurance purposes in the case of loss, theft, or severe damage -- quite literally when the piece would need to be replaced.

The price of our appraisal services is dependent upon the size of any stones as well as the number of pieces you bring at one time. 

How do I know which service to choose?

This really comes down to whether the piece is something that you’d consider holding onto personally, or as a family heirloom. If it doesn’t have a future in your hands, then it’s probably best to bring it in to sell, or receive a trade in value.

Do I have to leave my piece, or can I schedule an appointment to have it appraised on the spot?

Simply put, you must leave the piece for up to two weeks, but rest assured that it never leaves the building. An appraisal is a service that takes time and expertise, and our appraiser adheres to the strict standards of GIA, which results in an extremely accurate evaluation. At the time of intake, your piece waits in line with other pieces that he needs to appraise. 

What are the benefits of having a piece appraised?

We recommend insurance on any piece that is valued at $1000 or greater, and that’s why we include an appraisal with all new pieces! It’s also nice to determine the value and to know the specifications of the gemstones and metal, especially for family heirloom pieces. 

What do I do when I don’t know if a piece is valuable, or not?

One of the most common questions we receive is whether to choose the appraisal service, or to just sell it because they don’t know what it’s worth. For this reason, our appraisal services only require half of the total charge at the time of take-in. If, in fact, your piece is not something that is worth at least $1000, the appraiser does not complete the service, and therefore, you will not owe the remaining half of the charge. 

How often should I have a piece appraised? 

We recommend updating your appraisals within a ten year timeframe. This is due to the fluctuating values of metal and the increases in gemstone replacement value as well. Remember that if your appraisal is old, it reflects what it cost at that point in time to replace your jewelry. If something were to happen today, you would end up paying a good portion out-of-pocket in order to replace the piece. 

Plus we do offer an incentive for updating your appraisals within the ten year timeframe. The cost is 50% of the appraisal fee applicable to your piece. 
 

Once I have my appraisal, do you have a recommendation for where to insure my piece?

When you purchase a new piece with us, you’ll receive a message from Zillion, who will have the appraisal already uploaded to their site. It’s super easy, and you’ll walk away from our store with 10 days of complimentary coverage when you follow the text prompts. We also find that Jewelers Mutual is very user-friendly as well! 


We hope that this overview provides you with a few things to consider regarding appraisals or selling your jewelry. We are always happy to speak with you in person, or over the phone to help you determine which option best suits your needs.