10 Steps Used At APR57 To Determine The Value Of A Piece Of Jewerly
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The first thing would be to understand what we looking at. We will carefully observe the item before giving it any value. In jewelry most times we have a piece of metal, maybe a ring, a bracelet, or a necklace. We should also look at the stone that metal might have. There are other attributes to pay attention to: quality, the year, age, decade, maybe made by a specific designer, or for some personality.
All of these items, either at the retail or wholesale level, play a crucial role to get all the information and help to determine whether it’s authentic, real, genuine, and what’s the quality. Once this first step is completed we can go to the next level in order to determine the price. -
Let’s assume the item we are trying to appraise is a ring. First we would look at the metal, as well as the stones. In this case, some of them might look like diamonds, other blue stones that look like sapphires, and some green ones that look like emeralds. We then check the markings, if any, at the back of the ring. We would carefully check the material, if it was 1900 plt, that would be probably platinum 10% radium it’s a symbol that 90% of the material is platinum, if the mark is there I assume it’s platinum).
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We will test if the diamond is real by measuring its pressure with a specific machine. If, on the other hand, we would have a ring made of gold we would perform an acid test. We take the ring and rub a little piece from the side, it doesn't damage the piece and if there is a spot, later it can be polished. What we do is scrap to get a little of the metal from the piece on the stone. Later, we will touch the stone with a drop of acid; if it is correct, the stone in the acid will have no effect on the piece they scratch, meaning the piece is genuine. if the piece - stone, color- disappears, it means it wasn’t solid metal as was represented.
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We would estimate the diamond size (example: 2,5 carats).
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Later we would estimate the diamond color (white- e color).
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Look at the clarity (VS2, i.e high quality).
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With the previous elements, we can appraise the diamond, the closest value of the center diamond alone is $30, 000.
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At that point we appraise the minor stones: The diamond is flanked by two triangle baguettes of sapphire, one on each side, each of them weighing one carat. The wholesale value of that is $2,000 a stone so that would be $4,000.
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The second to last step is to appraise the metal setting. In this case, the setting, a good work of filigree from the 1920s, would wholesale for $2,000. Putting it together we have a wholesale value of $ 36,000 which is $30,000 from the diamond, $4,000 from the sapphire stones and $2,000 from the setting.
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We look next for special details: If the piece is signed by a designer name, let’s say Cartier or Tiffany that would bring the value by another $15,000 perhaps. So now we are talking of $50,000 and the retail price could be $100,000.
You are always invited to come to our Brand New Gallery, APR57, located at 200 West 57th Street in New York City, for a free appraisal of your piece of jewelry. We have more than 100 years of combined experience in appraising all items of value. We buy, sell, trade, and appraise antiquities, coins and bullion, jewelry, memorabilia, watches, and more. We offer special wholesale prices to dealers and investors across the globe!