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Our Resident Gemologists
Troy Schmidt BA, FCGmA, GJ
and his daughter
Stephanie Schmidt GG(GIA), GJ
certified & accredited
gemologists
Troy studied
jewellery arts at the Gemological
Institute of America and graduated in
1984 from the Canadian Gemmological
Association.
He has over 25 years experience and
also serves as a consultant to legal and
insurance companies.
Stephanie, following in her father's footsteps is a recent graduate
of the Gemmological Institute of America (GIA)
Appraisal Procedure
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Each item is polished and
ultrasonically cleaned, then checked for
security and any required repairs
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Each item is electronically weighed and
measured
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The item
is examined for karatage and trademark
stamps and
tested for gold content
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The
gems are identified with gem instruments
and gem laboratory equipment
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The gems are measured and quality
graded
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The item
is
photographed
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The values are determined by our
appraisal system and research with
suppliers
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The appraisal describing and listing the
recommended insurance value for each
item is produced.
 APPRAISALS
 FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
Do
I need an appointment?
No. Our our staff will take-in
your items and issue you a receipt.
What should I bring to the store?
Bring all previous appraisals, bills of
sale and certificates. Anything that
could help the gemologist to get the most
accurate description and value.
Are pictures of the
items provided?
Yes each
item is photographed and the colour photo forms a part of the
appraisal.
Who can appraise jewellery?
Anyone - you can - there is no licensing
requirement. Just get a fancy
letterhead.
Many insurance companies will accept any
appraisal.
If the item is appraised too high they
collect the premiums and replace at the
real cost. If the item is too low
they settle at the low insured value.
You need to get it right.
Who should appraise jewellery?
A certified accredited gemologist, whose
appraisal will have legal credibility.
If you can't afford a gemologist or
there isn't one in your area, then at
the very least get the opinion from a
jewellery retailer who buys and sells a
lot of jewellery and has a good idea of
values. A goldsmith or watchmaker isn't a good
choice.
Why wouldn't I want a higher appraised
value?
An appraisal is a recommendation of
insurance, if inflated you pay higher
premiums than necessary.
Doesn't an appraisal tell me what its
worth?
No - what anything is worth - is
what a willing buyer will pay you for
it.
Shop around, compare prices of like
items - that's the closest you'll come
to what its worth today, in this market.
They have an appraisal with the ring I
want to buy?
Our industry is plagued by fraudulent
appraisals.
An appraisal is not a sales tool.
Be wary of anyone who presents an
appraisal when trying to sell you the
item. For more information and remedies
see
fraudulent
appraisals.
Be interested only in quality grading
reports from accredited independent
labs; GemScan,
EGL, IGL, GIA or CanadaMark.
Can I wait for the appraisal?
No. An accurate proper appraisal
takes time, we complete appraisals in
order they come in.
Do you remove gems to weigh them?
No. Never unless requested, carat
weights are estimated from measurements
and proportions.
How often should my jewellery be
appraised?
AGS recommends every 2 years, we
recommend at least every 3 years.
Ask your insurance
company for their recommendation.
What do I look for before leaving my
jewellery somewhere for appraisal?
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Is your jewellery safe and protected?
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If someone claims to be a gemologist
verify it - FCGmA, FGmA or GG (GIA) are
the accepted North American credentials.
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Is the business insured with a
'Jeweller's Block' policy'?
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Are they members of the Canadian
Jewellery Association and the Canadian
Professional Appraisers Association?
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Find out where the appraisal will be
done, many send them out of town to an
appraiser.
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Determine
what
certification, experience and equipment the appraiser
has.
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Obtain a receipt for your items left in
their trust.
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