APPRAISALS

Our Certified Master Appraiser is a GIA Graduate Gemologist that specializes in the appraisal of gems, jewelry, and watches.  We offer appraisal services for many different situations, which you can read about below.


(By Appointment Only)

email:  scott@globalgemology.com

Insurance Appraisals

Jewelry appraisals are required in order to protect you in the event of loss, damage, or theft.  Your insurance company will require an appraisal of your jewelry's Retail Replacement Value.  Your appraisal report will be emailed to you in .pdf format, which you can simply forward to your insurance agent in order to obtain proper coverage.

Estate Appraisals

We provide jewelry appraisal reports for estate tax purposes, as well as for division of estate assets between heirs.  Depending on the purpose, the jewelry contents may be appraised at Fair Market Value or Marketable Cash Value.

Divorce Appraisals

In the unfortunate event of a divorce, you may be required to have your jewelry appraised to determine an equitable division of marital assets.  The jewelry items will be appraised at Fair Market Value.

Missing Jewelry Appraisals

If you've lost your jewelry, damaged your jewelry, or have been an unfortunate victim of jewelry theft, we offer appraisals to help assist in post-loss insurance claims, police reports, or litigation.  Our inability to physically examine your jewelry does not prevent us from offering an opinion of value of the missing items using photos, a description, receipts, previous appraisals, etc. provided to us by the client.  Your situation may require your jewelry to be appraised at Retail Replacement Value, Fair Market Value, or Marketable Cash Value.

Donation Appraisals

For charitable contributions of gems and jewelry valued at $5,000 and above, your accountant may require you to have the items appraised.  The IRS will require your jewelry items be appraised at Fair Market Value.

Forced Liquidation Appraisals

We provide appraisal services for various liquidation scenarios.  Depending on the urgency, the jewelry contents may be appraised at Orderly Liquidation Value or Forced Liquidation Value.

Appraisals Through Email

In many situations, it is possible for us to appraise your gem and jewelry items through email.  The appraisal will be based off the photos and information provided to us.  If you have purchase receipts, Lab Reports (GIA, AGL, AGS, etc.) old appraisals, etc., please be sure to include those in your email.

Below is a checklist of information needed for appraisals through email.  The more info, the better.

PHOTOS	Clear photos, preferably of multiple angles.
DESCRIPTION	Include all information you have about the item, including stone count, carat weight and gross weight, if possible.
METAL TYPE	Is your item yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, platinum, silver, or a combination of the above?
METAL PURITY	​Is your item 10K, 14K, 18K, sterling silver, platinum, or something else?
DIAMONDS	How many diamonds? What type of shape and cutting style? Do you know the color and clairty? ​What's the approximate total carat weight?
GEMSTONES	Include all information you have about the gemstones in your item.
PEARLS	How many? Pearl type Shape Color Size
LAB REPORTS	If you have a lab report, please be sure to include either a photograph or the report number.  This includes GIA, AGL, AGS, GRS, IGI, etc.
MISC.	Please attach any copies of original receipts, previous appraisals, etc.

VALUE TYPES

Retail Replacement Value
(Highest value, usually for insurance purpose) is defined as the highest amount in terms of US dollars that would be required to replace a property with another of similar age, quality, origin, appearance, provenance, and condition within a reasonable length of time in an appropriate and relevant market.  When applicable, sales and/or import tax, commissions, advisement fees, and/or premiums are included in this amount.  (AAA 2019 Definitions of Value, p.2)

Fair Market Value
(Middle “secondary Market” value, usually for IRS purpose) Appraised "fair market value" is the IRS definition as stated in the Treasury Regulation Sections 20.2031-1 (b) is "the price at which the property would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither being under any compulsion to buy or to sell and both having reasonable knowledge of relevant facts." (According to Technical Advisory Memorandum 9235005 [May 27, 1992], fair market value should include the buyer's premium.) The fair market value of a particular item of property includible in the decedent’s gross estate is not to be determined by a forced sale price. Nor is the fair market value of an item of property to be determined by the sale price of the item in a market other than that in which such item is most commonly sold to the public, taking into account the location of the item wherever appropriate. Thus, in the case of an item of property includible in the decedent’s gross estate, which is generally obtained by the public in the retail market, the fair market value of such an item of property is the price at which the item or a comparable item would be sold at retail. (AAA 2019 Definitions of Value, p.1)

Marketable Cash Value
(Middle/low “net” value, usually for equitable distribution, resale or estate planning purposes) is defined as the net value a willing seller realizes after disposing of property in a competitive and open market to a willing buyer. Both the buyer and seller must be reasonably knowledgeable of all relevant facts, and neither being under constraint to buy or sell. Marketable cash value takes into consideration insurance, dealer commissions, advertising, travel, and shipping expenses that may be involved in the sale.  (AAA 2019 Definitions of Value, p.1)

Orderly Liquidation Value
(Low range “net” value, usually for quick sale purposes) is defined as "the most probable price in terms of cash, or other precisely revealed terms, for which the property would change hands under required and limiting conditions in an orderly manner, generally advertised, with reasonable time constraints, in an appropriate and relevant marketplace, with knowledgeable buyers.” (ASA 1994 Handbook, p.2)​

Forced Liquidation Value
(Lowest range “net” value, usually for a quick and forced sale purposes) is defined as the net price in terms of cash, or other precisely revealed terms, for which the property would change hands if sold immediately, without regard to relevant market place and appropriate use. In certain cases, this may be a negative value as labor and other costs may be required to disassemble and dispose of the property in a quickly and expedient manner.  (AAA 2019 Definitions of Value, p.1)

CREDENTIALS

Scott Papper, GIA GG, CMA, AJP

Graduate Gemologist (GG)
Graduate Gemologist is the highest credential awarded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in the field of Gemology.  GIA’s Graduate Gemologist program teaches both the technical and the practical skills needed to evaluate diamonds, colored gemstones and pearls.  Topics covered in this program include diamonds and diamond grading, colored stones and colored stones grading, gem identification, equipment and instrumentation, gem treatments and imitations, as well as market and supply chains.  The Graduate Gemologist credential may be earned upon completion of five (5) online courses and three (3) hands-on lab courses.

Certified Master Appraiser (CMA)
Certified Master Appraiser is the highest credential awarded by the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers (NAJA).  A Certified Master Appraiser must have been engaged in the practice of writing gem and jewelry appraisals for at least seven (7) years and have accumulated a minimum of nineteen (19) education points.  A Certified Master Appraiser must have successfully completed the NAJA Appraisal Studies Course as well as the practical appraisal examination.  A Certified Master Appraiser must have an NAJA Accredited Gem Laboratory and must achieve sixteen (16) hours of continuing education each year to maintain Certified status.

Applied Jewelry Professional (AJP)
Applied Jewelry Professional is a credential awarded by GIA upon the completion of the following three (3) courses:  Jewelry Essentials, Diamond Essentials and Colored Stones Essentials.  The Applied Jewelry Professional program covers topics such as jewelry designs, setting styles, jewelry care, as well as basic information about diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds.

ITEMS WE APPRAISE

Modern, Vintage & Antique Jewelry

Watches & Pocket Watches

Diamonds

Colored Gems

Pearls

Coins

FEES

We don't have a "one-size-fits-all" fee structure, as the fee is based upon the complexity of the assignment.  For large jobs, bulk rates can be negotiated.

Travel Lab rates can be discussed if the assignment requires the evaluation of your items at your house, safe deposit box, attorney's office, etc. in the following counties:  St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, and Brevard.


Get A Free Fee Estimate
Email a photo of your item with a brief description to:  scott@globalgemology.com

CONTACT

Email:  scott@globalgemology.com

Call or Text:  (888) 898-6963

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