With nearly every appraisal, after exchanging pleasantries, the first thing to happen will be the appraiser will ask you your purpose or intended...
Education
Education.
Jewelry is a peculiar market. It’s very trust sensitive, but more and more, people don’t trust easily. They’ve been burned before. They want to back up their trust with verifiable facts. Lab reports. Tests. Appraisals. It makes sense. It’s the same reason that people hire an independent inspector to look over a house they’re considering instead of relying entirely on the advertisement. Trust, but verify.
This section is made up of several articles on individual jewelry and appraisal related topics. They’re all under the aegis of education and you can navigate however you like. They aren’t presented in any particular order and are no way intended to be a complete study on the topic. It’s more of casual discussion of things that I, or my customers, might find interesting.

Platinum ring with emeralds and diamonds.
Learn More About Jewelry
Education is the bridge between trusting what the jeweler and the appraiser are telling you and knowing if it’s right. With jewelry, that mostly takes place on the Internet and with tutorials like this one. Why is one item SOO much more expensive than another one?
Unfortunately, there’s no short answer for how to navigate this. The closest is to choose your expert and to read up on what interests you. For example, you don’t need to become experts on Tanzanite if you’re trying to buy a diamond or visa versa. This is a huge advantage that consumers have over jewelers. They are supposed to know everything while you can pick and choose. Self education is your friend.


More Information About Education
Already on information overload? Schedule an appointment with me today and get your items appraised by one of the best jewelry appraisers in Denver.
Articles Related To This Topic
What is Jewelry?
Jew·el·ry /ˈjo͞o(ə)lrē/ noun personal ornaments, such as necklaces, rings, or bracelets, that are typically made from or contain jewels and precious...
What About that ‘Appraisal’ That Was Included With the Shipment?
Many internet and even local vendors will include an ‘appraisal’ with your purchase....for FREE! Is that good enough for your insurance...
Everybody’s Got ‘A Guy:’ How to Find a Jeweler You Can Trust
It’s often said that jewelry is more ‘trust dependent’ than it is ‘price dependent.’ Everyone wants a good deal, of course, but it’s not all about...
Selling Lab-Grown Diamonds
One of the popular discussion pieces of the discourse about lab-grown diamonds is that they "have no resale value. That’s why you should buy...
Why Do I Need an Appraiser: Quality Control
One of the key reasons to get an independent appraisal on a new item is quality control. Sure, you’ve got a GIA report with a bunch of the...
Consumer Tips for Selling Diamonds
"A diamond is forever." Everyone has heard this slogan to advertise DeBeers’ diamonds, and it’s basically true. Al though you can break or lose...
What are Blood Diamonds
The exploitation of people in poor countries by gangs, rebels and even corrupt legitimate governments is an ongoing global problem. The term...
Why Does Every Website Have the Same Stones?
If you've been shopping for a diamond using one of the big Internet databases, you may have noticed a curious phenomenon: It's called “Diamond...
Free Jewelry Appraisals
A “free” jewelry appraisal may sound great; but “free” is not free. Read this article to learn about what to ask of your potential Jewelry Appraiser.