Jewelry Appraisal FAQs

What are the four C’s of diamond quality?

The four C’s are cut, clarity, color, and carat. Each stands for a separate part of the stone’s value, and only two of them, carat and cut, can be affected by the jeweler. The clarity and color of a stone are decided by mother nature long before we dig it up. Once we have the stone, a jeweler must decide how best to cut the stone to maximize both the stone’s internal brilliance, and the size, or carat weight, of the stone.

What good is a jewelry appraisal?

Well when you’re buying a piece of jewelry, it’s always a good idea to have it appraised to ensure that you got what you thought you paid for. It’s very tough for a jeweler to stay in business conning its customers, but honest mistakes do happen, and having a written appraisal gives you something to work with when confronting a jeweler. The other major reason for a jewelry appraisal is that they are required if you want to insure the jewelry, either on its own, or under a homeowner’s insurance policy.

Why would I get a house or business appraised?

The reasons are similar, but not identical depending on whether you are buying or selling. Either way, a major motivator is to make sure you’re getting a fair deal. When you’re selling, you don’t want to get less than the property is worth. If you’re buying you don’t want to pay more than it’s worth. In both cases, an appraisal can help you meet your goal.