What Is An Appraisal?

An insurance appraisal is an official document created by a professional appraiser. It details your jewelry and provides an estimate of the cost to replace it in the event of loss or damage. This estimated value is typically higher than the cash value you would receive if you sold the piece, as it reflects the retail price, including any markups associated with purchasing a replacement.

How Much Does An Insurance Appraisal Cost?

We charge $125 for your first item and $100 for each additional item for insurance appraisals.

Do I Need An Insurance Appraisal or a Cash Value Appraisal?

An "Insurance Appraisal" is an official document required by insurance companies to insure your jewelry. In contrast, a "Cash Value" appraisal provides a less detailed estimate of what we would be willing to pay you for your jewelry at that moment, based on current metal and gemstone prices. Typically, this quote is much lower than an insurance appraisal, as it reflects a wholesale price and does not include any retail mark-ups or overhead costs associated with preparing the piece for resale. This type of appraisal is usually done if you want to know what you could sell your jewelry for, and it does not come with documentation.

At Estate Jewelers, cash value appraisals are generally offered at no cost for single items.

However, there may be an hourly fee for appraising multiple pieces of jewelry that need to be individually priced.

What You'll Receive With Your Estate Jewelers Insurance Appraisal

• Your appraisal will be prepared under the eye of our Graduate Gemologist, Diamontologists, Watches Experts and Antique Jewelry Experts

• The insurance replacement value of your jewelry will be accurately calculated using our expert opinions and cutting-edge jewelry appraisal software

• Your appraisal will be emailed to you for convenient printing at any time. We can also print out a professional copy and provide it at your request

• In addition to receiving your insurance appraisal, you'll also have the option to insure your jewelry through our third-party partners based on your appraised value

Why Get Your Appraisal At Estate Jewelers?

Appraisals are not always straightforward; they are a blend of art and science. Online appraisers and big box stores often rely on generic formulas and current gold values to generate a number representing your jewelry. If they are also selling the piece, they may dramatically inflate its actual value to justify their pricing. However, an appraisal involves much more than that. You want an appraisal that is not only accurate but also reflects the true value of your jewelry beneath the surface.

An appraisal represents the "replacement value" of your piece. It is not simply the resale value or just based on the weight of the materials. It considers the rarity of the individual components, where and how those stones or features can be sourced, the labor costs involved in recreating the piece from scratch, and more. It takes decades of experience and training for an appraiser to assess not just the weight and quality of your jewelry, but also to understand its true intrinsic value.

At Estate Jewelers, our qualified appraisers who examine and research your jewelry are not just experts; we are also enthusiasts, collectors, and lovers of jewelry. Some of us collect rare watches, while others have a special interest in vintage designers. We are all dedicated to learning everything there is to know about your cherished jewelry pieces.

Ultimately, working with local appraisers who you can meet in person—appraisers who truly want to understand the history and details of your jewelry—results in a more accurate appraisal. We care deeply about your jewelry, just as you do.

Interested in an Appraisal?

Contact us for questions, pricing information and more!

Contact Us