Diamond Ring Appraisals: Everything You Need to Know
Why diamond appraisals are not a replacement for independent certification
An appraisal is a comprehensive evaluation of your ring’s value, typically conducted by a certified gemologist or jewelry appraiser. The appraisal process involves assessing the ring’s metal, design, and gemstone quality to provide a detailed report that serves as the authoritative value statement for the piece. Obtaining an appraisal is crucial when you’re insuring your ring, considering resale, or handling an estate. The ideal time to get an appraisal is immediately after the purchase or when there’s a significant change in the market for precious metals and stones.
Certified gemologists are often the best professionals for this task, and you can find them at reputable jewelry stores, gemological laboratories, or independent appraisal services. The cost of an appraisal varies depending on the complexity of the ring but generally ranges from $50 to $150 per item. Always ensure your chosen appraiser is accredited by a recognized industry organization to ensure the most accurate and reliable valuation.
Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:
What is a diamond ring appraisal?
How much does a diamond ring appraisal cost?
How do appraisers evaluate a ring?
Where to get a ring appraisal?
Is a diamond appraisal important to have?
What is the difference between a diamond appraisal and a diamond certificate?
Why you should trust us
To help you with the diamond buying process we lean on our expertise and experience. The author of this article, our CEO, Mike Fried has over 20 years of experience in the diamond industry. Mike started from the bottom, sorting and evaluating hundreds of thousands of diamonds to learn every facet (pun intended) of diamond quality and value. Mike followed that up by spending years buying and selling diamonds on the wholesale market as well as selling tens of millions of dollars worth of diamonds to diamond retailers.
Bottom Line Recommendation:
We recommend having your diamond ring appraised for peace of mind as well as being eligible to receive the full financial reimbursement for your jewelry through an insurance company. Blue Nile and James Allen are two reputable diamond vendors who provide complimentary appraisals with their engagement rings and other fine jewelry. For the what, when, why and how of appraisals, read our full article below.
If you would like to have an independent evaluation of your ring when purchasing, I suggest reaching out to BriteCo, a revolutionary online jewelry insurance company. You can input the information from your purchase (from James Allen, Blue Nile or anywhere) and they will give you estimated value, along with an insurance quote. They are also one of the best insurance options around, so you are killing two birds with one stone.
For more resources on trading in or upgrading your ring, read our article here. If you’re looking to sell your ring, be sure to read this expert guide.
What is a Diamond Ring Appraisal?
An appraisal is one form of assessing a diamond ring. This official piece of paper will describe the assigned value of your entire ring—including your diamond, other stones and your setting. Professional appraisers and jewelers provide these value assessments. In the jewelry industry, it’s standard for appraisals to be inflated, usually at 100% above the retail value.
In other words, the appraisal doesn’t represent the true value of the diamond ring. For example, this Halo Diamond ring from James Allen sold for $4,582. It would likely be appraised at double the price at $9,164. And this five-stone diamond ring from Blue Nile, sold at $4,110 would likely be appraised at around $8,344.
When you first receive your appraisal, it may seem like you snagged a great deal. But both the insurance company and the jeweler benefit from the elevated appraisal. Insurance companies can charge higher premiums and the jeweler can boast an excellent deal.
This is why appraisals need to be taken with a grain of salt. They are a tool that serves two purposes. Ensuring you aren’t getting ripped off when purchasing a diamond and a necessary paper for you to get insurance. This is why we think BriteCo is such an easy and cost effective solution for consumers.
Because an appraisal doesn’t reflect the actual value of your diamond ring, you need to be realistic about what to expect when you sell or trade-in your stone. You may be surprised at how little you receive in comparison with your appraisal. Your appraisal is not a good indicator of what you’ll get for a resale price. It is more for insurance purposes. For additional information on what it’s like to sell your diamond, read our article on selling diamonds here.
Deal Alert: Get 25% off engagement ring settings at Blue Nile!
Cost of Diamond Ring Appraisal
Based on the appraiser’s expertise and your location, the rate for a diamond ring appraisal can range from as low as $45 to $155 or more per hour.
When you’re getting a diamond ring appraised, there are two key things that you should look out for:
- An extremely low rate. Appraisers that charge significantly less than others often seem like a good deal. However, choosing someone that charges very little may mean dealing with an inexperienced appraiser that isn’t properly credentialed, or increasing your risk of being the victim of a jewelry appraisal scam.
- A rate based on a percentage of the jewelry’s value. Reliable appraisers charge a flat rate based on their time, not a percentage-based fee. This allows them to offer unbiased information on how much your ring is worth.
To avoid any problems, make sure that you choose an appraiser that charges a flat rate, or one that charges by the hour or by the piece. Ask for a minimum fee before committing so that you know how much you’ll need to pay ahead of time.
Valuation of a Ring
Appraisers look at a range of factors to calculate a diamond ring’s value. To work out a value for your diamond ring, an appraiser will consider:
- The quality and carat weight of the diamond. Diamonds vary hugely in value based on the four Cs — diamond cut, diamond clarity, carat weight and diamond color. A large, flawless, colorless and well-cut stone is almost always worth significantly more than a smaller, poorly cut one.
To value your diamond, an appraiser will look at all of these factors, as well as a variety of secondary factors related to the diamond’s value. The higher the quality of the stone, the higher its valuation will typically be.
Because diamond prices can increase exponentially with carat weight and other factors, what seems like a small difference in quality can often translate into a large difference in value between two diamonds.
- The metal value of the setting. Most engagement rings are made from precious metals such as gold, platinum or palladium. An appraiser will look at the value of the metal used to produce your engagement ring setting to determine its value.
- Markup, labor and brand recognition. Factors such as a ring’s brand name and place of manufacture can affect its value, although this aspect of the appraisal process can be more subjective than valuing a diamond or setting.
If your engagement ring was produced in a certain location or has a sophisticated and ornate design that obviously required significant time and effort, this may factor into its valuation and result in a higher appraisal.
Likewise, certain brand names — for example, Tiffany & Co. or Van Cleef & Arpels — can command a value of their own, making your ring worth more than the aggregate value of its diamond and setting.
Where to get a Ring Appraised
Obviously we mentioned above that your best bet is to use BriteCo. They will help you avoid some of the pitfalls below. If you are looking for alternatives, there are several different places that you can go to in order to get your engagement ring or other diamond jewelry appraised.
Nearly all jewelry stores offer appraisals. Many jewelry stores have a jewelry appraiser on their staff. You can often contact the jewelry store ahead of time to schedule an appointment to have your jewelry appraised in front of you.
Another option is to go to an independent diamond jewelry appraiser. If you bought your jewelry from a diamond company, you may be able to get a complimentary jewelry appraisal along with your purchase.
Whichever option you choose, it’s important to make sure that your appraisal is carried out by someone with the proper training and qualifications. As Investopedia points out “Pretty much anyone can claim to be a jewelry appraiser, whether they own a jewelry store or not. There are no federal or state licensing requirements the way there are for real estate appraisers.”
We recommend choosing a gemologist-appraiser. These people are trained in both gemology and jewelry appraisal techniques, allowing them to provide a thorough and unbiased analysis, description and valuation for your diamond jewelry.
There are numerous different appraisal and gemology entities out there, several of which offer jewelry appraisal training. We recommend using the GIA’s list of appraisal associations to pick out a trustworthy, professional appraiser for your diamond jewelry.
You can also use this “find an appraiser” search tool from the American Gem Society to locate AGS-certified appraisers in your area.
An Independent Appraiser: What to Know
If you buy a diamond and have it appraised independently, be very careful when choosing someone.
Firstly, you want to be sure they’re credentialed, and ideally have an educational background in gemology.
Secondly, be aware that even an accredited jeweler, appraiser or gemologist can be tempted to be harsh in their appraisal of your ring. They might bash a ring you bought from another source if they think they can convince you to buy something from them. Their incentive is that the profit on a ring is significantly higher than the charge for an appraisal. Even if there is an appraiser that works “independently,” they may receive kickbacks for referrals. Because of these financial kickbacks, they can be tempted to be harsh.
When agreeing to an appraisal, always state upfront that you already purchased the diamond and are unable to return it. This way, they have no incentive to bash the ring unnecessarily. Certainly, not all jewelers or appraisers work like this, but you should protect yourself in case you run into the exception to the rule.
Thirdly, try to have your appraisal conducted in front of your eyes to verify that your ring isn’t switched with another one. You can also familiarize yourself with your diamond’s details, such as its measurements and blemishes, to ensure you receive the correct ring in return.
To find an appraiser in your area, search The American Gem Society website.
Diamond Sellers who Provide Complimentary Appraisals
If you’re purchasing through a highly reputable diamond vendor, like James Allen or Blue Nile, your diamond ring will likely already come with an official appraisal. This saves you time, hassle and money.
With a James Allen diamond ring, your package arrives with your lab report and an appraisal. You won’t need to hunt down an appraiser or find a jewelry store to have your ring appraised.
Similar to James Allen, Blue Nile engagement rings come with a calculated appraisal using current market data. This appraisal document can be given directly to your insurance company.
Why You Should Get an Appraisal
Receiving a value appraisal for your ring is useful for two reasons:
- Peace of mind in knowing your ring’s value is near to what you paid for it
- Insuring your ring for its full replacement value
Appraisals are necessary for an insurance company to begin a policy for your ring. Having that official appraisal makes you eligible for the full financial investment should your ring ever be lost, stolen or damaged. You can either purchase specific ring insurance or add a rider to an existing homeowner’s or renter’s policy.
Review a few insurance plan options before selecting one that’s best for you (and gives you the most value for what you’re paying).
When You Should Get an Appraisal
As soon as you have your ring in hand, you can have it appraised (unless it already came with an appraisal from Blue Nile or James Allen). The earlier you have your ring appraised, the better. That way, you can get your ring insured immediately—leaving you with one less thing to worry about.
Because the cost of diamonds and precious metals rise over time, have your ring appraised every five years. With an appraisal that’s a decade old, the recorded value of your ring will likely be far less than what it’s actually worth. And you want to make sure you receive the full current value of the ring should anything happen to it.
The Difference Between A Diamond Appraisal and a Certificate
An appraisal is different than the diamond grading certificate that comes with your ring. A diamond grading report, like one from the GIA or AGS, provides details like carat weight, cut, color and clarity. A grading certificate does not provide a dollar estimate or value like an appraisal does.
Unlike the professionals at lab grading entities, appraisers don’t have access to all of the equipment that laboratories use. In addition, despite the fact that there are appraisal societies and organizations, it’s impossible for them to be as uniform in their grading as a laboratory. In a lab, professionals are working for a single company under established guidelines and parameters. With appraisals, professionals can operate independently, or be affiliated with a small or large jewelry company.
For additional questions on diamonds or engagement rings, contact our experts.
What we love about them:
- No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. James Allen will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
- Lifetime Warranty
- Free International Shipping
- Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
- Provide insurance appraisals
- One free resizing within 60 days of purchase
- Free ring inscriptions
- Best-in-class high quality imagery of all diamonds in stock
- 24/7 Customer Service
- Best-in-class packaging
What we love about them:
- No questions asked returns within 30 days of shipment. Blue Nile will send you a paid shipping label to return the ring.
- Lifetime Warranty
- Free Shipping
- Free prong tightening, repolishing, rhodium plating and cleaning every 6 months
- Provide insurance appraisal
- One free resizing within the first year of purchase
- High quality images of about half of their diamonds
- 24/7 Customer Service
- 100% credit towards future upgrades (must be at least double in value)
- Best in class fulfillment
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