question about designers and appraisals

[isis~goddess]

i''ve been looking at mountings lately for a remounting project, and i''ve noticed a rather large price difference between what i am told is a "designer" setting and what is not. some of the designer settings are rather nice, but then, when i think about the appraisal process, i think to myself, does it make sense to invest in a designer mounting? when your fully mounted stone goes to the appraiser, doesn''t he/she just value the stone, the gold and stones in the setting? a stone set in a mountingt with 1/2 ct of gh vs stones (excluding the center) is going to come back valued the same as a designer setting with 1/2 ct gh vs stones isn''t it? you are only paying extra for the name and the return for your money is not as high, am i right?

 

[denverappraiser]

If your appraiser is doing their job right they are considering everything about a piece that gives it value in the relevant marketplace. In most cases the relevant marketplace has to do with replacing the piece with another new one like it in the case of a loss. The designer is absolutely relevant. If artist XYZ charges big bucks for her work, and her clients are willing to pay it, then it’s likely that the insurance company is going to need to meet her price at replacement time. A genuine XYZ is not the same as a knockoff, even if the appraiser or the adjuster doesn’t care for her work and even if the knockoff is superb. I don’t much like Picasso and it’s unlikely that I’ll ever buy a Ferrari, but that doesn’t mean that they’re worth less.

Neil Beaty
GG(GIA) ICGA(AGS) NAJA
Professional Jewelry Appraisals in Denver

 

[isis~goddess]

i did not even think about the points you made, they never even crossed my mind, but they are relevent indeed when you think of it that way. this makes my desicion easier, thanks you very much!