Too much for an appraisal? (Martin Fuller Appraisals)

[vashts85]

Hello all,

I am trying to make an appointment with Martin Fuller Appraisals in the Wash, DC/Tysons Corner area.

They are asking me for $300 -- $200 for the loose stone, then $100 for when I bring in the diamond/setting.

Is that too much? That's $200 per hour, so $300 for 1.5 hours. I hear they are really good and helpful/nice, just wondering if I am paying too much for this.

Anyone have experience with them?

 

[kenny]

What's the carat weight?

Right or wrong, I think they charge more for larger stones.

 

[CMC]

How many items are you looking at? i know sometimes it's by the scope of the project. (ie. single stone vs estate collection)

I just got my single loose diamond appraised in LA and it ran about $100, and when I bring it back to verify after the setting it will only be additional $50. I'm not familiar with Martin Fuller, is he on the pricescope appraisers list? I'd suggest picking one from there if he's not on there.

 

[elle_chris]

Unless that's a very large stone, that's high. Mine was something like 200 for loose. Then after it was set, I just brought it in to verify it was the same stone, and the quality of the setting. I didn't get charged extra for it.

 

[RhubarbPie]

Hm, Chris DiCamillo (in Philly) is charging us 175.00 to do an appraisal for my engagement ring (which I don't have yet haha...we already made the appt) which is 2.78 tcw and my earrings (1.5 tcw). So 175.00 for both (maybe will take an hour or so). I think 300 is a little high. Though Martin Fuller has gotten some good reviews on PS.

 

[soontomarry2]

That seems very high. My fiance's first ring was a 1.25ct and it cost $78 for the appraisal for both the diamond and the setting it was mounted in.