Established in 1986
Reasons for an Appraisal
Learn more about our Appraisals

There are many reasons for having your
jewelry appraised. Most jewelry appraisals
are done for insurance purposes, and it is
important to make sure you are insuring your
jewelry for the correct value.
Many of AGL’s customers request either an
Insurance Appraisal, or an Estate Appraisal.
An Estate Appraisal is usually done to esta-
blish value based on current market conditi-
ons and immediate liquidity, while an
Insurance Appraisal reflects the “Retail Rep-
lacement Value” of your jewelry. Retail
Replacement Value is calculated on current
retail pricing of the item. Many factors contri-
bute to the retail value of jewelry, including;
how the jewelry is made, where the jewelry
can be purchased, and estimations on future
value.
If you have homeowner’s insurance, or renters insurance, it may include coverage for “unscheduled” property
including jewelry. Generally, “unscheduled” coverage would cover you if your jewelry is stolen or destroyed in a fire.
However, coverage allowance is often only $1,000 or $2,000. In order to protect your fine jewelry investment, most
insurance companies require an additional rider on your existing policy. These riders require an independent
Insurance Appraisal from a Graduate Gemologist to allow for detailed description and retail replacement
value of your fine jewelry item.
If you have an old or unique piece of fine jewelry, you may want to get an appraisal to learn about the history of that
type of jewelry and its value. This is often described as an Estate Appraisal, which assigns value to a piece of jewelry
that is more in line with current pricing conditions and liquidity potential. Estate jewelry is often appraised to facilitate
a quick sale, or to help divide property for an Estate.
American Gemlab also manages a large Collateral Appraisal Service. Collateral Appraisals are a Business to
Business (B2B) Service offered to jewelry companies requiring inventory audits and confirmation of their inventory
current market value.
Ultimately; fine jewelry is a significant investment and should be documented, appraised, and recorded as an asset
to you, your company or your family. Make sure you use an appraiser such as AGL, who is properly qualified.