


Disclaimer
CONDITIONS OF APPRAISAL
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1. ALL JEWELRY ITEMS AND ANY CORRESPONDING DOCUMENTS MUST BE PRESENT AT THE TIME OF EVALUATION.
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Please provide any previous paperwork, invoices, or other information to assist with the current evaluation of the items in question. If changes or edits need to be made after completion, this will be considered an update.
2. WHAT IS AN APPRAISAL?
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An appraisal is an opinion of the veritableness, condition, design, and value of a jewelry piece.
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3. INSURANCE REPLACEMENT VALUE APPRAISAL
The values stated in this appraisal express the cost of reproducing the lost items at current market values. In the case of gemstones, a positive identification of said stone and its quality is not always achievable, unless the stones are removed from the setting. If the stones are mounted, the grading of cut, color, clarity, and weight are approximate.
4. JEWELRY INSURANCE
A homeowner’s insurance policy and Apartment Tenants policies normally include coverage for personal property and the value of jewelry is included in said limit of insurance. However, most policies restrict jewelry coverage for theft, burglary, or robbery. Such insurance is commonly for perils of wind, fire, building collapse, theft, vandalism, etc. and does not factor for “all risks” including loss of property or loss of a single stone or damage to an item. To obtain complete coverage to the full value of the item(s), an appraisal for each piece will be necessary, with a specific description of the item and an amount of insurance on each item, and the coverage can be scheduled on your policy. In order to obtain proper value coverage, a detailed professional appraisal is preeminent.
5. ESTATE APPRAISAL
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This requires an appraisal of the cash value of an item, based on what a willing buyer and a willing seller would agree to without a forced sale. An estate evaluation often consists of several pieces of jewelry, some in fair condition, while others may be badly worn. An estate appraisal is based on the understanding that the collection is to be liquidated. Since it does not consider selling costs nor current prices for labor or creative design, this type of appraisal is normally lower than appraisal for replacement value.
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6. IN CASE OF LOSS OR THEFT
In the event of the loss or theft of an appraised jewelry item, the importance of an accurately prepared, detailed appraisal becomes evident. The jeweler from whom the item was obtained would be the best source for authentic, quality replacement. If replacement by the original jeweler is not possible, the jeweler who appraised the item would be the next best option. The preparer of this appraisal should be consulted for verification of the quality and value of the proposed replacement.
When a loss or theft occurs, have your facts substantiated, and ensure that the authorities are notified immediately. Provide them with the details of your appraisal, which may assist them to a prompt closing of the investigation through efficient identification of your items. After filing the police report, notify your insurance agent.
Many insurance policies contain a clause which allows the company to supply you with a replacement rather than have the appraiser replace the item. If so, use your appraisal to verify that the quality of the replacement is comparable to the original lost item.
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7. LIMITATIONS
The development of a value for a fine piece of jewelry that already exists involves a judgement on identification, quality of gemstones, and manufacturing techniques. This is done naturally after the fact, just as an examination of gemstones is made while mounted. This will tend to mask some important aspects that are apparent only before assembly or manufacturing of an item. Gemstone quality variations can be very subtle, but greatly change the value. In cases where diamonds or gemstones are appraised while mounted, these precise variations cannot be judged as accurately, therefore the variation of the evaluation can be quite broad. APPRAISALS ARE JUDGEMENTAL AND CAN BE IN ERROR. WE ASSUME NO LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION WHICH MAY BE TAKEN BASED ON THIS APPRAISAL.
8. APPRAISAL VALUE
We recommend that your appraisal be updated periodically. Check annually with your jeweler about the necessity of updating your appraisal. ALL ITEMS MUST BE PRESENT AND REEVALUATED WHEN AN APPRAISAL IS UPDATED.
9. NOTICE
This appraisal is not an offer to buy unless specifically stated. Offers can be made if requested by client.