August 18, 2005 • ISSUE 29 / VOLUME 1

Carats & Karats: Tips for fine jewelry appraisals

What are your 'treasures' worth?

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Brenda Reichel has a sense of humor and a generous amount of patience. As the owner of Carats & Karats Fine Jewelry, she's often asked – sometimes by total strangers – whether a particular piece of jewelry is a "real diamond" or not.

"People have the strangest sense of timing and they approach me at parties, in parking lots or after a casual introduction to inquire about jewelry they own. But, I know what response their looking for," smiles Reichel.

"Many people are curious about what their jewelry is worth, especially if they inherited a piece or bought it on the Internet," she explains. "Naturally, they want to know if they got a good deal and whether they can sell a ring, a bracelet or a pendant for a profit."

Offhand, even the most experienced jeweler would have difficulty making a snap judgment, and that's why Reichel suggests having an appraisal done by a Graduate Gemologist.

Ordinarily, jewelry appraisals are requested for a number of reasons.

Among them are insurance, divorce, collateral, establishing fair market value, distribution of the family assets, for a charitable donation, a trust fund or confirmation of value, notes Reichel.

It's only human nature for people to inquire about the value of what they own, and that's true of heirloom jewelry, a gemstone, an antique Hawaiian calabash, netsuke, samurai sword, coins, a rock collection or a oddity they may have uncovered at a neighborhood garage sale, she says.

Everyone is looking for a "treasure," just like the participants on the television program, "Antiques Roadshow."

Generally, an appraiser can help someone authenticate, evaluate and put a dollar value on the item they may have, says Reichel.

Research and looking at various markets to sell an item is also something that a qualified appraiser is capable of.

Sometimes an appraiser is hired as a consultant to determine what the best use is of personal property, says Reichel.

For example, is it better to repair "grandmother's ring" or should the diamonds be remounted into a contemporary setting that doesn't have worn prongs or a thin shank.

"More importantly, appraisers can provide owners with options regarding their personal property," she explains. "That way they can make an informed decision whether to keep a particular piece of jewelry, repair it, melt the item down, sell it at an auction house or solicit bids on the Internet."

Reichel also notes that appraisers are occasionally asked to provide expert testimony for civil and criminal court cases.

That's because professional experts can give an unbiased opinion on the value and quality of a particular piece of jewelry.

But how does a person go about hiring an appraiser whom they can trust with their family treasures? Reichel offers several guidelines:

It's also worthwhile to ask:

For appraisals anywhere in Hawaii or the Mainland, call Carats and Karats Fine Jewelry at 808-593-8122. On the Neighbor Islands, call toll-free 877-593-8122. E-mails may also be sent to Brenda Reichel at flawless@lava.net. For more information, visit Carats & Karats Fine Jewelry, 1254 South King St.