We cover the top 5 pieces of jewelry you should always get appraised.
We’ve covered jewelry appraisals, from How much jewelry appraisal services cost, to the Types of jewelry appraisals explained and How do I insure my jewelry. Our customers commonly ask another question: What should be appraised?
This is a great question. Because many people have many different types of jewelry, it’s important to identify which pieces should be appraised. Over the years, we’ve identified 5 types or categories of jewelry that are vital to get appraised.
1 – Engagement Rings / Wedding Bands / Anniversary Bands
Rings, whether they’re engagement or wedding rings or even anniversary bands, are by far the most commonly appraised pieces of jewelry. Of all the jewelry items to be appraised, your ring(s) should top your list.
These types of rings are most likely being worn every day, and therefore are subjected to a lot of abuse. Since they’re on our hands and touch everything your hands do, they are more susceptible to wear and tear over time, compared with other types of jewelry.
If you haven’t put your engagement ring and wedding bands on an insurance rider, consider doing so. That way, if you chip a stone or lose a diamond, all you have to do is pay the deductible to get it fixed. This spares you much stress.
2 – Watches
We also highly recommend that you get your watch appraised. We’re not talking about fashion watches, but luxury watch brands like Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe, or Audemars Piguet. These high-end watches absolutely need to be on your rider because:
- They’re expensive, and;
- Your luxury watch is a target for thieves, whether it’s on your wrist or in that nice winder box sitting on the shelf in your closet.
3 – Diamond Necklaces and Bracelets
Tennis bracelets and necklaces usually have a high diamond karat weight, driving up the expense and value of even the smaller varieties. These should be insured because if your piece is lost or stolen, having a picture and a detailed description of the item (weight, clarity, color, etc.) is critical to replacing it with something equal in value.
4 – Diamond Studs
This is another item that is often worn and handled every day, making it susceptible to wear and tear over time. Diamond studs are small by nature and often high in karats. Since studs typically come in a matching set, if one goes missing, having an appraisal that lists the four C’s (Color, Cut, Clarity and Carat Weight) and how much you paid for them can help you replace the missing stud. What’s more, having the diamond studs on your insurance rider means you would only pay the deductible for the replacement.
5 – Cultured Pearls
This is a more difficult type of jewelry to pin down because there are several different types of pearls. Freshwater pearls are made using a more cost-effective process but create a more irregular pearl. Growing cultured pearls is labor intensive and expensive, but the process leads to a beautiful, almost perfect pearl with a deep luster. These strands can easily cost $3,000 to $4,000 and up, and, South Sea or Tahitian pearls are more expensive. Get your pearls appraised and insured so if the worst happens, you’re covered and aren’t responsible for the entire cost of replacing them.
Pearls go with every type of clothing, so they usually see a lot of use. Keep in mind, however, that pearls need to be restrung after a while simply because of normal wear and tear. The restringing process is relatively inexpensive and most likely will not cost as much as your deductible, so be aware that you’ll pay for this repair out of pocket. We cover the restringing process in detail in Your guide to cleaning & restringing pearls.
Closing thoughts on jewelry appraisals.
Jewelry appraisals are vital for protecting your jewelry. Appraised jewelry can be insured, and can be safeguarded in case the worst happens. While the above types of pieces are most important to insure as well as the most common, I encourage you to appraise any piece of jewelry that means something to you. Appraisal is a great way to learn the value of your special item, and it’s necessary to getting the piece insured.
To learn more about jewelry appraisals, feel free to visit either of our New Jersey jewelry store locations in Morristown or New Providence to see for yourself and talk to any of our expert jewelers.
If you’d like to talk to someone directly about jewelry appraisals, contact us online anytime by emailing us directly at info@braunschweiger.com, or simply fill out our contact form. We’ll answer your questions quickly.