What is Involved in the Jewelry Appraisal Process

There are many different reasons a person may want to have their jewelry appraised. In some cases, people have their jewelry appraised so that they can sell it and in other cases they have it appraised for insurance reasons. If you are curious about what happens during the appraisal process, here is a general outline of the procedure:

Clean the item- One of the first things that a jewelry appraiser will do when you take them your item is making sure that it is properly cleaned. In order to thoroughly inspect the item, the appraiser will need to make sure that any dirt or debris is removed. This will help them to look at the quality of any diamonds and also any precious metals that the piece may contain. Most appraisers will use an ultrasonic device to clean the jewelry. Basically, all this device does is use ultrasonic waves to shake the dirt off of a piece. To use one you simply put the piece of jewelry into the ultrasonic tank that is full of cleaner and let the waves do all of the work. In just a few short minutes the piece will be completely cleaned. Often times once the piece is removed from the soap, the jewelry will use a steamer to clean off the soap and get it looking better than the day you purchased it.

Check for authenticity- Once your jewelry has been properly cleaned the appraiser will then begin to inspect it for authenticity. This will allow them to find out just what types of stones or precious metals were used to make this piece. Create an official offer document- After have cleaned the jewelry they will prepare an official offer or certificate of appraisal. This document is especially handy if you plan on having your jewelry insured or if you decide that you do want to sell.

At Valley Goldmine we pride ourselves on the fact that we offer free, honest consultations for anyone looking to sell their old or unused jewelry. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and see what your gold is worth!