appraisal w/o removing stones?

[icelovr]

Hello -

I recently had an appraisal done on a ring. I feel the appraisal was a bit low - the jeweler said he did it based on current rap. figures. Is it possible to get a new appraisal - based on the GIA reports etc w/o taking the stones out of the setting? - The jeweler said he lined up the tables when setting them, I don''t want to upset the alignment (assuming this is a factor is how the ring looks) just for the sake of a higher appraisal.
EX: the ring total is about 4.20ctw - and he appraised it at 25K. just looking at some of the stones out there, the 2.04 G/SI1 center alone retails at almost that - nevermind the .58 and .59 GIA G/SI1''s on either side of it and the .20/.15/.10 down each side of the band?...

Please help - I don''t want it under-insured...
Icelovr

 

[Colored Gemstone Nut]

Richard Sherwood would be an excellent candidate for the job..




An appraisal can be done with the stones mounted...Based on the proportions of your stone it sounds as if maybe cut wasn't taken into account...There should be a fair estimate of the workmanship of the ring and cut quality of the stones with an average of 40 percent higher and up than what you paid to cover fluctuations in the market...




A very thorough appraisal should be done to properly replace these stones and ring in case of loss. Detail is critical in replacing stones in such circumstances..

 

[oldminer]

I don't see the specs anywhere in your posting about the main stone, so I can't figure the amount off-hand.

Alignment of the tables of the diamonds in the ring has NOTHING to do with the value, but only has a minor effect on the symmetrical appearance of the diamonds and the ring. It is a nice detail, but not much of anything to influence value. It may be indicative of the care that was taken in making the ring and that does count on the labor side of the cost column.

An appraisal is an estimate. If someone wanted my estimate of what a diamond retailed for on the Internet, I could readily use pricescope as a value research tool. If they want a B&M store, regular retail value estimate, I would use mark-ups that were more oriented to what stores sell such stones for. If someone wanted the highest possible retail, I'd look to what credit store chains initially tag their items for sale before they begin to sell them for 50% discounts to their customers.

A retailer has a right and duty to set the price they decide is retail in their particular market. An appraiser's job is to ascertain the appropriate market and assist the client to understand the value in that or some other market. We don't sit in judgment of what retailers do or how they set prices. We report what they do to our clients in a neutral way. I don't advise unless I am asked. It is not an appraiser's place to suggest who to buy from or how much to pay. This is something we leave up to consumers unless they want that sort of assistance.

If you are insured for what was recently paid you are likely to have sufficient insurance so long as nothing extraordinary happened in pricing the initial purchase. If you got a once in a lifetime deal, then the appraisal should reflect the normal purchase cost range in the approriate market where you obtained the diamonds or the ring. If you prefer a full retail replacement value appraisal regardless of where you bought the ring, then the appraiser can do that for you. It isn't totally necessary, but it is not unethical to do so.

If you don't mind the extra cost of insurance premiums and if you prefer what amounts to a "feel good" style of appraisal, then by all means, get the higher value one. This is more up to your preference than any necessity. Most people do seem to prefer the higher value, "feel good" reports. It must be something in human nature that leads us to generally want things to re-assure us that we did okay.

 

[strmrdr]

With Debeers or whatever they are calling themselves this week raising prices every couple months it is insane to be too tight on an insurance appraisal right now.
I would want atleast a 30% hedge to cover the next 3-5 years.
Then have it re-appraised at that time while checking the market once in a while to make sure im covered in between.