Education
Choosing an Appraiser
Anyone can write a number on a page. What separates a useful appraisal from a decorative one is independence and detail.
Written by the Mapple Gems workshop, Surat Β· Updated 9 October 2026
Short answer
Use someone independent of the sale β an appraiser who did not sell you the piece and is not selling you a replacement. Ask what gemmological credential they hold and what appraisal training sits on top of it, since those are two different things. And judge the document by its description, not its number: a useful appraisal records metal, karat, gram weight, measured stone dimensions, accent count and setting detail. A one-line valuation with a large figure is worth very little.
Appraisals matter mostly at the worst possible moment β a claim β and that is not when you want to discover the document describes almost nothing.
An appraisal is only as useful as its DESCRIPTION, because the number will be out of date within a few years and the description never will be. Replacement cost moves with metal prices, with stone markets, and β for lab grown diamonds β steadily downward. So the figure on a five-year-old appraisal is already approximate. What does not go stale is a precise record of the object: metal and karat, finished gram weight, the centre stoneβs measured millimetres and depth, the count and size of accent stones, the shank dimensions, the setting type and the inscription number. That description is what allows a piece to be reconstructed or replaced to the same specification rather than approximated, and it is what an insurerβs replacement jeweller will actually work from. It matters most for the parts with no other paperwork: melee under about 0.20Β ct is never individually certified in any material, so if the appraisal does not record the accent count and size, nothing does. So when comparing appraisers, ask to see a sample document rather than asking what they charge. One that runs to a paragraph of measurements is doing the job. One that says β14K gold diamond ringβ and a dollar figure is not.
What a useful appraisal contains
| Should record | Why it matters later |
|---|---|
| Metal, karat, gram weight | The verifiable component |
| Centre stone mm and depth | A head is built to a stone |
| Accent count and size | Melee has no other record |
| Inscription / report number | Ties paper to this stone |
| Shank width and thickness | Rebuilding to the same ring |
| Photographs | What a claim asks for first |
| The basis of value, stated | Replacement cost, not resale |
That last row is worth checking explicitly. An insurance appraisal states retail replacement cost β what an equivalent piece would cost new at retail today. It is not what you paid and not what anyone would pay you, and a document that does not say which basis it uses is ambiguous in exactly the wrong way.
Independence, and why it matters
The awkward part, stated plainly. An appraisal produced by the seller of the piece has an obvious incentive to be generous, and a high figure is frequently used as a selling point β βappraised at far more than you paid.β
Most of that gap is structural rather than a bargain: replacement cost includes a retail margin, so buying direct from a workshop will always produce a figure below retail replacement. The number is doing its job; presenting it as proof of value is not.
The same logic applies at the other end. An appraiser who also buys jewellery has an incentive in the opposite direction. Neither situation makes anyone dishonest β it just means the useful appraisal comes from someone with no stake in the transaction.
Questions to ask before booking
- βWhat gemmological qualification do you hold, and what appraisal training?β Identifying stones and valuing property are different skills, and a good appraiser has both.
- βCan I see a sample report with the values removed?β The single most revealing question on this page.
- βDo you charge a flat fee or an hourly rate?β A fee based on a percentage of the appraised value creates an incentive you do not want.
- βWill you examine it unmounted or in the setting?β Most work is done in the setting, which is normal β but it limits what can be measured, and the report should say so.
- βWill you tell me if a stone is lab grown or mined?β They should. Distinguishing them requires laboratory equipment, so an honest appraiser will either test or state that they are relying on the inscription and report.
On lab grown and moissanite specifically
Two things worth knowing before an appraisal is written. Lab grown diamond prices have been falling, so a revaluation may come back lower than the original figure β that is the market, not an error, and it can surprise people at renewal.
And no laboratory grades moissanite for cut, colour or clarity. So any grades on a moissanite appraisal are the appraiserβs own assessment rather than certified facts. A good report will say so rather than presenting them as though a laboratory had issued them.
For either material, the parts of the document that hold their usefulness are the same: the measurements, the metal, the weights and the photographs.
How often, and what to keep
Most insurers expect a refresh every few years, and an out-of-date appraisal complicates a claim. Ask your own insurer what they require rather than assuming.
Store the appraisal with the written specification, the grading report and photographs β digitally, and somewhere separate from the jewellery itself. A safe holding both the pieces and their only documentation is a single point of failure, and the documentation is the half that cannot be replaced.
Keep reading
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose a jewellery appraiser?
Someone independent of the sale, with both a gemmological qualification and appraisal training β they are different skills. Ask to see a sample report with values removed; one that runs to a paragraph of measurements is doing the job, and a flat fee avoids a percentage-based incentive.
What should an appraisal actually contain?
Metal, karat and gram weight; the centre stoneβs measured millimetres and depth; accent count and size; the inscription number; shank dimensions; photographs; and the basis of value stated explicitly. The description outlasts the number, which goes stale within a few years.
Should the seller do the appraisal?
Better not β there is an obvious incentive to be generous, and a high figure is often used as a selling point. Most of the gap above what you paid is structural, since replacement cost includes a retail margin. An appraiser who also buys jewellery has the opposite incentive.
Can moissanite be appraised with grades?
Not certified ones β no laboratory grades moissanite for cut, colour or clarity, so any grades are the appraiserβs own assessment. A good report says so rather than presenting them as laboratory findings. The measurements and metal details are the parts that stay useful.
Ask an appraiser for a sample report, not a price.
The length of the description tells you everything the fee does not.
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