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PROTECT YOUR

VALUABLES
 
A SHORT APPRAISAL LESSON
 
  • Robbery ! They came home to a broken window and a missing jewelry box. Gone forever, were those special pieces of jewelry from loved ones, no longer alive. Memories gone .... but they would have been in worse shape had they not been adequately insured. 
    • Many people elect to keep their jewelry in a safety deposit box at a local bank. This prevents theft, but also separates you from your possessions. You no longer have spontaneous access to your own belongings. I believe that this solution is joyless and time consuming.
  • Life is too short to visit your jewelry. It is better to have it periodically 
  • appraised and at your disposal. Due to world changes in supply and demand, the value of your pieces is subject to the fluctuating market.
SOME VALUABLE MATERIALS
This is an alloy of copper and tin, usually dark brown with a shiny patina. Many sculptures have been made of this material throughout the ages. Pieces range in value from a few dollars to many millions; those from Austria are particularly valuable.
U.S. 90% silver coins are dimes, quarters or halves dated 1964 or older. Silver Dollars were minted up to 1935. I buy all early U.S. coins if they are not damaged in any way. In general, the better the condition, the higher the prices. I particularly want to buy gold coins. When a gold coin has been used as jewelry, it has signicantly less value because the frame nicks the milled edge.
Usually stamped 10K, 14K and 18K. It is bought by the pennyweight (dwt). There are 18.2 dwt to the avoir oz. or 20 to the troy oz. Dental gold must be yellow and is always 16K. Items stamped '1/20 12K - H.G.E.' are gold plated and worth relatively little. I will be happy to test items that look like gold and are unmarked. If there are diamonds or other precious stones in the item I will add their value to the weight of the gold.
Items must be stamped 'Sterling, .925, .900, .800 or 84 (which is Russian and often very valuable). Many items stamped 'Sterling' are weighted with plaster and must be broken to get the true weight. Knives which have sterling handles are figured at 1/3 to 1/2 oz each.
Gold pocket watches made in the last 20 or 30 years are probably worth their weight in gold only. Hunting case watches (flip covers) that are working or repairable are valuable. Repeater watches which chime the time are very valuable - often worth over $1,000. Old silver watches are also worth a premium. Rolex, Patek Phillippe, Franck Meuller, Bulgari, Van Cleef & Arpels are just a few of the world's most valuable examples.
As a licensed appraiser, I would suggest the following:
    Every 2 years, have all pieces worth over $1,000 re-appraised.Never bother to insure any jewelry that is worth less than $1,000. Your aim is not to support your insurance company. Remember that your premiums will go up with each piece you insure.
  • Most insurance companies will provide a blanket floater, covering less valuable pieces.
  • Never send an original appraisal with the corporate seal to an insurance company. Zerox the original and keep it in a safe place. 


    • If you are robbed, do not accept the amount offered by your insurance carrier. Your aim is to 
    get FAIR return on your policy. Their aim is to save themselves as much money as possible. 
    Don't give up. NEGOTIATE! 

    Don't forget to make a proper police report. Also, contact the CRIME VICTIMS BUREAU. 
    They may help to compensate you financially.
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this page revised February 19, 2001