The Appraisal Process
The appraisal process is often more involved than most people realize. It is often a misconception that an appraiser can just casually glance at a piece and instinctively “know what it’s worth.” In reality, it’s a multi-step process that involves a complete hands-on examination to determine the identity of the item, researching the appropriate market for the purpose of the appraisal, using the most appropriate approach to value to form an impartial, unbiased, objective opinion of its value, and finally, editing the pictures and generating a USPAP-compliant appraisal report. ​​​
Step by Step Overview
During our appointment, we will mainly cover the “hands-on” portion of the appraisal process.
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Payment by check, cash, or credit card is required at the end of the appointment.
Discussion of Appraisal Needs and Timing of Report
We will begin by discussing the purpose and timing of the appraisal.
Do you have paperwork for the piece, including lab reports for larger diamonds and gemstones, old receipts/appraisals from the original seller
Preliminary Examination
Examination of the items under a microscope, noting any damage to the mounting, loose or chipped stones present with recommendations for possible repair, followed by a thorough cleaning.
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Documenting the physical attributes of all items by taking pictures and notes pertinent to the type of item, so a thorough description can be made in the report – the more detailed the description, the more you will be protected should you need to make a claim.
Diamonds of a certain size will be fully graded using GIA’s diamond grading system, larger stones will be plotted, and items will be screened for the presence of any lab-grown diamonds that were not previously disclosed.
Written Appraisal Report
Delivery of the report occurs within 1 to 2 weeks of the examination. The report will be emailed as a digital file in PDF format that can be immediately forwarded to your insurance company; a hard copy can be mailed directly from should you request one.
Appraisal Updates
To keep your insurance coverage current, updated appraisals are encouraged every 3-5 years. Appraisals previously provided by Leanne Tashjian Designs will be done at half the regular fee at preset time.