Our clients put their valuables in our hands and their trust in our expertise…
and we are careful with both.
Appointments are booked on weekdays. All appraisal work is done on-site by David Conger, a GIA Graduate Gemologist.
Education, integrity, and decades of expertise stand behind our appraisal service.
Same-day service is available if time permits. Please contact us to book a time.
David Conger is a highly experienced jewellery appraiser in Ottawa, with over 40 years of experience. He has worked as an independent appraiser for 30 fine jewellery stores in the area. He completed the Resident Program in Gemology at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Santa Monica, California and is recognized as a respected gemologist and jewellery appraiser by the trade.
For all-risk jewellery insurance coverage, we recommend a professional jewellery appraisal by our experienced GIA Graduate Gemologist.
The evaluation is a report which details the components of your jewellery and concludes with a Retail Replacement Value. It includes a photograph of the item and the expert credentials of the appraiser.
Our appraisals are accepted by all insurance companies locally.
Jewellery evaluations are often needed for divorce settlements in order to divide property equitably. We have a good understanding of Fair Market Value.
Fair Market Value is determined in these instances.
For Estate and Probate purposes, jewellery should be evaluated for its Fair Market Value.
A qualified jewellery appraiser will research the marketplace and create a report that will stand up in a court of law if challenged.
The value of an item of jewellery depends on the purpose of the evaluation. It’s the same as your car. If you sell it, the value is most likely lower than the cost of replacing it new. The first value would be the Fair Market Value and the second would be the Replacement Value.
An insurance appraisal is a complete description of an item of jewellery, supporting an estimate of the value, to be used as the basis for establishing the coverage and cost of an insurance policy. It establishes the upper limit of insurance coverage for an item of jewellery and is based on that item’s most common source for replacement. This is called the replacement value. For example, if an item is an antique cameo brooch, the value of that item will be established by researching the costs of similar items at an auction, antique stores, or estate sales, rather than a retail jewellery store. This is because a retail jewellery store would not be the most common source for an antique cameo brooch.
When an item is sold by brand name and is clearly identified by way of markings, the appraisal value is the cost to replace the item with the same brand. If the branded item is no longer available, a comparable value will be used.
Check with your insurance company. Without a jewellery appraisal, most home policies may offer a minimal level of insurance coverage in the event of theft. It is normally required that you to submit a jewellery appraisal to receive proper and full coverage for all risks. Without the appraisal, you may be subject to a limit of coverage and often have to pay a deductible in the event of a claim. Deductibles are normally between $500 and $1000. Your broker or agent would be able to help answer questions regarding your coverage and make good suggestions to help you insure your jewellery in the best possible way.
Insurance premiums are expensive before a loss and really inexpensive after one.
When a person passes away, their property (including jewellery) is described and evaluated for probate. In the case of assets like jewellery, the Fair Market Value, rather than the Replacement Value is used. This is the value that the item would sell for in an open market. Even if the jewellery is not for sale, the Ontario government requires an estimated value of the jewellery as though it was sold one minute before the time of death. It is advised that you have a professional jewellery appraiser prepare the estimated value because the government has the right to question any estimate for several years after the time of death. As the Executor of the will, you are responsible for proving the value of the jewellery and other assets were honest and legitimate.
The price that a given property or asset would fetch in the marketplace, subject to the following conditions:
Comparisons are made to estate auctions, antique store selling prices, and the second-hand market of eBay and other online sources. These are places where you would find similar items for sale. The Fair Market Value of an article of jewellery is often a small portion of the cost to replace it with a comparable item in new condition. Exceptions are very collectable or rare items in high demand.
