Your jewelry should be cleaned before it is appraised. A conscientious appraiser will clean your diamonds and precious gemstones in order to make the best possible estimate of their color and clarity under the already significant restrictions of grading stones in their mountings. However, you can save the appraiser’s time. I recommend that you read "Cleaning Your Jewelry" before cleaning your jewelry at home.
As you are cleaning the jewelry, check for loose stones, sharp prongs, weak clasps, stretched-out strings on beads and pearls, and any other indications that repairs may be needed. The appraiser is obligated to point out any needed repairs on the appraisal. If the appraisal is for insurance scheduling, you would then need to have the repairs carried out, and show your insurance agent a receipt so stating. It is not the insurance company’s function to pay for its client’s negligence in keeping their jewelry in good repair. It is much less trouble to have the jewelry in good repair before the appraiser inspects it. Should any additional problems be noted, your appraiser will point them out.
Your appraiser may be booked up for a couple of weeks in advance. Be sure to call for an appointment ahead of time, especially if your appraisal involves numerous items. An appraisal by a trained professional appraiser is a detailed documentation of your jewelry, including photographs. It should not be done in haste. Do not wait until a few days prior to your insurance company’s or attorney’s deadline to arrange for your appraisal!
A jewelry appraisal is largely a matter of research, you are the source for sales records of personal property such as jewelry. If you withhold documents at the beginning of an appraisal, then produce them for consideration after the appraisal is complete, the appraiser has every right to charge you for the extra time it will take to re-check his original estimates. You will not benefit in the end by playing "mind games" with your appraiser.
Get together any documentation that might be of use to the appraiser. These establish a "paper trail" of your ownership history of the jewelry, and may contain information that will speed up the appraisal process.
- Sales receipts (best proof of ownership)
- Warranties (very important)
- Diamond or gemstone certificates from GIA, etc. (also very important)
- Gemprint certificates
- Old insurance summaries listing the jewelry
- Old appraisals (helpful if previous appraiser took stone measurements, or examined stones before they were mounted)
- Letters, etc. with facts relating to the jewelry or its history
You can save even more time by making an inventory of the jewelry before you come in for your appointment, this makes for a great way to compare your list to the appraisers list.
- Rings
- Earrings,
- Pendants & chains
- Brooches, pins & tie tacks
- Bracelets, cuff links, and watches.