Jewelry Insurance

Do I really need a jewelry appraisal?

Dustin Lemick

Author

Dustin Lemick

Have you ever wondered if you need a jewelry appraisal? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ll help you understand why jewelry appraisals are important and what to expect.

Do I really need a jewelry appraisal Image

What You Will Learn

Should you get a jewelry appraisal?

Yes, you absolutely should get your jewelry appraised! Here’s why…

A jewelry appraisal documents the value and key details of a piece. It doesn’t matter how you got the piece – maybe you’re planning to buy an engagement ring and pop the question, making a jewelry purchase for yourself or someone else, or you’re inheriting a piece of jewelry, like a diamond bracelet. No matter what the scenario, if you are giving or receiving a valuable piece of jewelry, then you need to know its value. Buying a piece of jewelry without an appraisal is like buying a pre-owned vehicle without a CARFAX certificate. You simply need proper documentation on your jewelry, which for many people is among their biggest purchases, after cars and homes.

Why is it important to get a jewelry appraisal?

  1. Check For Damages

    You want to have a jeweler make sure your newly purchased ring, necklace, bracelet, etc. is in prime condition. If your item is not evaluated and appraised properly, you may risk it becoming damaged or lost due to a loose prong or other defect not immediately obvious to someone who isn’t professionally trained.

  2. Low Cost, High Reward

    It’s not expensive to get an appraisal! Most jewelers charge anywhere from $75-$125 for a jewelry appraisal. Therefore, the cost to have your jewelry appraised is absolutely justified when you compare it to the value of your jewelry piece.

  3. Confirm Jewelry Value & Ownership

    Documenting the true value of your diamond engagement ring and other pieces of fine jewelry can help you avoid disputes about the jewelry’s value down the road should you ever need to make an insurance claim. If it’s a new purchase, getting jewelry appraised is also another way to validate your ownership.

  4. Back-up Plan For Lost Or Damaged Jewelry

    If you ever lose or damage your piece of jewelry, then you will need to provide a detailed description of the piece so that your jeweler will be able to get or create a replacement that is as close to the original as possible. Imagine losing an item, not having proper documentation, and your jeweler telling you there’s not enough information to properly replace your jewelry. With a good appraisal, the jeweler would have the details they need to replace the piece. For example, an engagement ring appraisal is a great way to make sure your special ring will always look as good as the day you got it if anything ever happened to it.

  5. Jewelry Insurance

    Insurance! Most jewelry insurance companies require an appraisal to insure your jewelry. If your insurance company doesn’t require a jewelry appraisal, then it might be time to look for a new insurance company. When you know the specific details of the piece of jewelry and its appraised value, you will get an accurate jewelry insurance quote. Otherwise, you could run the risk of underinsuring the piece and having to pay out of pocket costs to replace it, or you could end up overpaying for insurance (year after year) if the appraisal has an inflated value.

    Suggested Read:
    How to Insure Your Jewelry?
    What you need to know about jewelry appraisals

     

Do I need an appraisal to get jewelry insurance?

In most cases, yes!

At BriteCo™, we require a jewelry appraisal for several reasons. First and foremost, we verify (on your behalf) that all of the information is accurate and accounted for. Secondly, we want to make sure that you’re completely covered in the event of a loss. Third, jewelry appraisals are essential when it comes to providing you with an accurate insurance quote for a jewelry policy. When you insure your jewelry with BriteCo™, we work directly with your preferred jeweler to completely streamline the jewelry appraisal and insurance process to save you money and time. This way, you get all the complete and accurate information you need in your appraisal with a jewelry insurance quote that’s exactly the right amount based on the appraised value.

We always recommend be very wary of working with any insurance company that will write you a policy without required a jewelry appraisal first to validate that the information is correct. It may seem easy on the front end but could well be a disaster when it comes time to a make a claim.

jewelry appraisals are essential when it comes to providing you with an accurate insurance quote for a jewelry policy.

How much does a jewelry appraisal cost?

A jewelry appraisal can cost anywhere from $50 to $150, depending on the appraiser.

In general, the average price of a jewelry appraisal is $75-$100. Some jewelry appraisers charge a flat rate per piece, while others will discount if you have numerous items of jewelry all needing to be appraised at once. This is especially helpful if you have a large estate that you’re valuing. In some situations, you may find a jewelry appraiser that charges per hour but we would generally recommend staying away from this since it will be exponentially more difficult to figure out up front what the cost of your jewelry appraisal will be.

Where can I get jewelry appraised & does it matter where I do?

Yes, who and where you get your jewelry appraised is very important.

A great option is finding a trusted local jeweler with the skills and experience to properly appraise your item. The good news is that there are many qualified jewelers in communities all over the country.

The good news is that there are many qualified jewelers in communities all over the country.

 

If you are interested in receiving an appraisal from the comfort of your own home, please check out BriteCo Online Appraisals to see if you qualify.

Peace Of Mind With Jewelry Insurance From BriteCo™

So there you have it! There’s no doubt that we absolutely recommend getting your fine jewelry appraised. Whether it’s your grandma’s brooch, an engagement ring, or a new watch, it’s worth spending a little extra to gain lasting peace of mind.

To learn more about our super-convenient process, check out our blog to see why BriteCo™ was Voted Best Overall Jewelry Insurance or get started today with a FREE jewelry insurance quote!

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Dustin Lemick

Author

Dustin Lemick

Dustin Lemick is the Founder and CEO of BriteCo and a third-generation jeweler with over thirteen years of retail jewelry experience. He holds a Graduate Gemologist degree from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and has in-depth knowledge and expertise in appraisal systems, diamond and gemstone markets, retail pricing models, insurance replacement models, and jewelry quotation pricing systems.