There can be many reasons why you have jewellery or gemstones, and you do not know what they are or their value. You may have inherited them or bought them while abroad and did not receive any certification with them. Whatever the reason, you can easily find out what your gems are and their value by having them appraised by an expert. Below are some ways to find a reputable expert local to you that can identify your gemstones and let you know how much they are worth.
Search The Internet For An Expert Service
When you use the internet, it is easy to find all sorts of businesses and services, including gemstone identification services. Companies are providing this service worldwide, and all you need to do is take your gems or jewellery to them, where they will assess and value them. If you cannot get to their location, you can also send them to them using a secure courier service, but you will also want to ensure you send them with adequate insurance. Once received, they will test your jewellery and generate a report naming the gemstones and their quality and giving you an approximate value.
Look For Independent Jewellery Stores
Another alternative that is open to you is looking for reputable independent jewellery stores that may also offer this service. Some chain stores may also provide this service but will most likely have less experience in this area. An independent jewellery store that makes handmade jewellery will have the expertise required to evaluate and name gemstones and value them based on their quality and the current market. As with an expert testing service, they will give you a report with all the information you need, which you can use if you ever wish to sell them. There will be a cost for this service no matter who you use, so it is worthwhile shopping around to find a reputable company with competitive prices.
Why Valuations May Differ
You may find that if you take your gems to more than one location to be valued, that the values you receive may differ from each other. When asking for a valuation, you need to let them know whether it is for insurance purposes or not. An insurance valuation will look at the cost of replacing like for like, so it is often higher than when selling the jewellery. You can also get a valuation for your jewellery for selling it on the open market or to a jewellery shop. Unless it is a piece of exceptional beauty, you will most likely get the scrap value of the precious metals and gemstones in the jewellery, which will be lower than an insurance valuation.
