Antique Costume Jewelry Appraisal

The simple fact of the matter is this: Not acting now and getting an antique costume jewelry appraisal will cause you to miss one of the greatest opportunities of a lifetime. Getting a true appraisal can turn into a tricky situation so it will be to your advantage to be informed. The first thing to do is to determine your exact purpose. For instance, you may want an appraisal for insurance or tax purposes only or simply because you have a growing curiosity about how much the jewelry may be worth. This is important because your purpose will play a large part of the amount you spend on your the appraisal.

If your reason for getting an antique costume jewelry appraisal is more than just mere curiosity, a good rule of thumb is to show your piece to a person you trust. Start out contacting a generalist. If they are unable to do the job properly, ask to be referred to a specialist. If your piece is flanked by diamonds, call the Appraisers Association of America for guidance and help. Other reputable groups who give trustworthy information include the International Society of Appraisers and the American Society of Appraisers.

Something else you need to know is that you must get your Antique costume jewelry appraisal in writing if it is for tax or insurance purposes. Disclose to the appraiser that you need to learn the replacement value of the antique costume jewelery which will, in most cases, be greater than its fair market value. Remember that appraisers must see the jewelry in order to give you an honest answer. Pictures or written descriptions will not give the appraiser what he or she needs to determine the value of the piece.