Blog: Exactly What is a Good Insurance Jewelry Appraisal Anyway?

Brevity may be the soul of wit but it's definitely not the soul of a good appraisal. The days of the one-line appraisal—"one gold and diamond ring, $2000"—are over. Or at least they shouldn't be accepted by insurers.

An insurance appraisal must be useful to the underwriter and, should a claim be made, the adjuster. It needs a detailed description as well as a valuation, and it must be prepared by a reliable appraiser.

Valuation is the first thing the underwriter wants to know. The valuation should be based on the current selling price—not an imaginary "list price" that the store always discounts, and not necessarily the purchase price. The date on the appraisal shows when the valuation was determined. This is important, since jewelry can rise or fall in value. Particularly with expensive jewelry, the valuation should be updated every few years to keep it current and the premiums appropriate.

A detailed description is important to the underwriter but crucial in settling a claim. Descriptive appraisals can be hard to come by. A survey by JCRS of appraisals submitted to 21 insurance companies found that most of them lacked the most basic information. For example, 43% of diamond appraisals neglected to give even carat weight. Although the survey was conducted several years ago, little has changed. How long will the insurance industry continue to accept inadequate appraisals?

Unlike other property claims, where the item is usually damaged, most jewelry losses are total. When a claim is made, there's nothing to inspect. Without a detailed description, the adjuster is at the jeweler's mercy, and even the most honest jeweler will have to rely on guesswork. For such a settlement the insurer will probably pay more than is necessary and the claimant will likely be disappointed. On the other hand, with a description of the lost piece, the adjuster can ask several jewelers to price a replacement and choose the lowest bid, and the policyholder is assured of a like-kind replacement.

The accuracy of both valuation and description depends on the reliability of the jeweler/appraiser. TV reporters who took a piece of jewelry to several jewelers for appraisal received widely varying valuations. Even the same jeweler would come up with different valuations for the same piece presented on different occasions.

The title "jeweler" implies no training or expertise—anyone who sells jewelry is a "jeweler." The survey of insurance appraisals in 16 states found that only 21% were prepared by graduate gemologists. It is possible for a jeweler to gain some expertise on the job, so you could cross your fingers and hope for a truthful appraisal. A better approach is to seek out an appraiser who has a graduate gemologist (GG) degree. Note that a jeweler can become a gemologist by taking a brief correspondence course, with no lab work involved. A graduate gemologist (GG) degree requires six months' training and includes practical experience in a gem lab.

Paul Shikhvarger GG

Graduate Gemologist G.I.A.

Pacific Jewelry Appraisers

860 Via De La Paz Ste. F9

Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

www.pacificjewelryappraiser.com