Frequently Asked Questions

---

There are many reasons you might need a jewellery appraisal report. For example, you might want to sell a piece of jewellery and would like to be sure you are getting a fair price. Or you might be updating your home insurance policy and want to ensure that your valuable jewellery and watches are adequately covered.  

Or maybe you are considering donating a jewellery to your local museum and need to know how much you can claim as a tax relief. For each of these scenarios, you need a professional appraiser. 

In order to expedite your upcoming appraisal, there are several things you can do to prepare: 

• Decide which items you want to have appraised. 
• Gather any receipts, invoices, or earlier appraisals and place them near the appropriate items. Jewellery boxes are of great importance as well. Make certain to have them available for the appraisal meeting.
• Gather any historical information or family history that relates to the items being appraised. This might include articles or books that refer to the artwork, exhibition catalogues, family letters, conservation/restoration reports, or names of family member from whom the work descended.  
• If there is a will, please ensure that all items specifically bequeathed in the will are available for inspection. 

Surprisingly, there are no government-issued or state license requirements for personal property appraisers in the United Kingdom and most other counties such as the United States. When placing a value on your grandmother’s jewellery or the painting hanging in your living room, anybody can say that they are an appraiser.   

In a field with no degree and no licenses, membership in an appraisal organisation is one of the most important credentials to look for when choosing a personal property appraiser.  Anyone that holds themselves out as an appraiser should be trained, tested, and certified through one of the professional such as the UK National Association of Jewellers' Institute of Registered Valuers (IRV). 

You should also look for an appraiser with a formal jewellery education and experience in the jewellery market. An appraiser should be highly trained and have an extensive education and training in gemmology and appraisal studies.