Appraisals are written by Tamara Callender, GIA GG, NAJA. A graduate of the Gemological Institute of America and a member of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers.

We try to be as flexible as possible. All consultations are by appointment only. Please email us to book a convenient time:
tcallender@gemfinedesign.com

Our office is near the airport in Nassau for a location click here.
 

During our appointment we sit together at a table while I examine your jewelry and take measurements, notes and photographs. At the end of your appointment, you take your jewelry home with you. I use my written measurements, notes and photographs to construct your appraisal(s).

You do not leave your jewelry.

The GIA is the Gemological Institute of America.They issue lab reports on diamonds and colored gems and they operate a school teaching students how to be gemologists. The GlA is known as the world's foremost authority in gemology.

Lab-grown and natural-mined diamonds are chemically,optically, and physically the same. Both kinds grow as rough crystals and must be cut to their final shape.

A good general rule is to update your jewelry valuations every 5 years. Should you suffer a loss your insurance company will refer to your last valuation to help settle your claim. Consult with your insurance company for their requirements.

All of our appraisals are written on a cloud-based system with advanced data encryption. As an additional level of security we give our customers a choice on whether their appraisals include their address or P.O. Box. Our customers are given online access to their
personalized online portal giving them the ability to view and manage their appraisals directly from their mobile devices or computers.

Each appointment takes 20 to 45 minutes for measurements, notes and photography of your jewelry. The time it takes is somewhat dependent on the complexity of your jewelry. Your official written valuation will be ready in approximately 3 business days.

This can be discussed – as the type is guided by the purpose of the valuation.

The main types of reports are:

Insurance or Retail Replacement Valuations: This report describes and documents the quality of jewelry and gemstone(s) listed and estimates the cost of replacing those items in a retail jewelry store.

We employ the most appropriate use of sales comparisons, cost analysis and market level approaches to arrive at our valuations.

This document will enable the insurance company to replace an item that has been either lost or stolen or provide a cash equivalent, depending on the policy coverage.

This type of appraisal isused to determine an appropriate amount of Insurance coverage.

Fair Market Valuation Reports: Fair Market is defined by the amount for which the items would be sold in a voluntary manner between a willing buyer and a willing seller neither of whom is under any obligation to buy or sell and both having reasonable knowledge of relevant facts. It is neither a forced sale or a sale price. The need for this type of appraisal may arise from the disposition of assets prior to or after divorce proceedings as
well as assets received from gifts.

Estate Services: This appraisal will assist the equitable distribution/division of jewelry assets of an estate.
This type of appraisal takes into account that antique jewelry may contain additional value due to age, rarity and provenance. The venues for sales are not limited to retail jewelry store but also include antique and bricks and mortar auction houses and online sales.

Hypothetical or Theoretical Valuation (Estimate to Replace): This type of valuation is performed after jewelry has either been lost or stolen. A bill of sale, older valuation, photo or the description of the item by the owner or a third party
will aid in its production.

Gem Identification (Qualitative Report): This service is provided to both the retail jewelry trade and private clients for determining the identification and verification of gemstone and jewelry that have been out of the possession of their owners.

The fair market value (FMV) for a piece of jewelry is based on research of the secondary marketplaces (used jewelry marketplaces} for a comparable item. Exactly which secondary marketplaces depends upon the item, of course, but can include places like current results from sales at auction houses, eBay and various estate jewelry websites.

The details of the jewelry will be accurate; however, it is important to note the fact that, generally speaking, insurance replacement values are higher than what the jewelry would resell for.

The estimated retail insurance replacement value for apiece of jewelry based on the average of what fine independent online retail jewelry stores would sell a comparable item for.

Written valuations start at $150.00 per item such as a 0.75 carat solitaire engagement ring and will go higher if the item is complex or will take extensive research. All fees will be discussed at the beginning of your appointment.

This falls under my "Consultation" category which is charged at $150.00 per hour or fraction thereof. We sit together for the consultation so you get to watch me do the gemological testing of your items and then we discuss my results and the values of each item. This does not include written reports only a verbal consultation.  

With many gems it is common, routine and expected for them to be enhanced in some way to improve their color, clarity and appearance. For example, 99% of all emeralds are enhanced to make them look better. The most common form of enhancement with emeralds is oiling.

Rubies and sapphires also have a history going back hundreds of years for having been heated after they are mined. It is estimated that 99% of all rubies and sapphires currently for sale have been heat treated.

There are many limitations in visibility and examination ofa mounted diamond due to prongs and bezels and the mounting itself that can hide chips, indented naturals, damage and inclusions.

A diamond plot consists of two hand drawn diagrams showingthe internal and external characteristics of a diamond, called the identifying characteristics.

 One diagram maps the identifying characteristics lookingdown from the top of the diamond and the second diagram maps the identifying characteristics looking from the bottom of the diamond that cannot be seen from the top of the diamond (as well as a mounted diamond can be seen from the bottom surround by prongs).

In place of a hand-drawn plot our appraisals have a writtendescription of the types of inclusions seen in the major focal diamonds that are over ½ carat.

Laser inscription service (your diamond may already haveit) is a unique 10-digit laser inscription number on the girdle of your diamond.

The inscription number is issued along with a lab report detailingall of the specs on your diamond. If your jewelry is later stolen and recovered by the police, they know to look for inscription numbers and they can return your diamond to you. Also, if you leave your jewelry item at a jewelry store for repair you can look for your inscription number on your diamond when you pick it up. Inscription numbers cannot be changed, added-on to or removed by a jeweler.

Laser inscription service (your diamond may already haveit) is a unique 10-digit laser inscription number on the girdle of your diamond.

The inscription number is issued along with a lab report detailingall of the specs on your diamond. If your jewelry is later stolen and recovered by the police, they know to look for inscription numbers and they can return your diamond to you. Also, if you leave your jewelry item at a jewelry store for repair you can look for your inscription number on your diamond when you pick it up. Inscription numbers cannot be changed, added-on to or removed by a jeweler.

We inspect for worn prongs, cracks in both prongs and mountings, loose gems, damaged gems, thinning shanks, etc. and will make repair recommendations as required. 

I clean most jewelry items before I inspect them in an ultrasonic cleaner.

Please bring any paperwork you have related to your jewelry item being appraised, such as a lab report, old appraisal, or the original sales slip. We have the same goal which is to get you a current appraisal that has all of the item's information pulled together in one new document.

A diamond grading report is a scientifically based assessment of a single diamond. These reports tell you if the diamond is natural or synthetic and describe the diamond shape, weight, body color, clarity, proportions, and any enhancements.

A jewelry valuation is based on the idea that the diamond is already set in a piece of jewelry.

A valuation assigns a monetary value based upon whether the diamond
is natural or synthetic, and also the shape, weight, body color, clarity, proportions, and any enhancements.

In addition to these diamond characteristics the appraiser is also taking into account a multitude of other considerations. Some of these include whether the jewelry is set in platinum, gold, or some other metal.

Values vary on whether the item is new, antique or a reproduction of an antique, and whether the maker’s hallmarks are genuine or fake. The overall quality of craftsmanship is also considered.

If you have questions about your jewelry a consultation with a GIA trained Graduate Gemologist is a great place to start.