Common Questions

What is a professional appraisal?

Questions you should ask to your insurance agent regarding your policy:

Who can insure my jewelry?

Do I have to leave my jewelry to have it appraised?

How often should I update my appraisals?

Is my jewelry worth appraising? How can I tell?

How do I select a jewelry appraiser?

Why should I have my jewelry appraised?

Can any jeweler appraise my jewelry?

Questions you should ask to your insurance agent regarding coverage.

Your regular homeowner insurance policy may offer a general and limited protection for your jewelry. Please read these restrictions in your policy. Please click here for suggested question you should know in buying insurance protection for your jewelry.

Who can insure my jewelry?

If you are a homeowner, your regular homeowners policy may offer a general or limited protection plan for your jewelry. Sometimes it is best to deal with one company for all your personal insurance needs. Please be sure to ask to schedule your jewelry or to have a separate coverage for your jewelry as part of your regular homeowner policy.

If you don't have a homeowner policy, we recommend Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company. Their Personal Jewelry Insurance program offers comprehensive coverage at affordable prices! Application forms are available in our store, or you may apply online by clicking the link below.

Do I have to leave my jewelry to have it appraised?

You may leave your jewelry for appraisal or schedule an appointment to wait and watch while the appraisal is performed. All customers who choose to leave their jewelry with us will receive a receipt for all of the pieces which includes a detailed repair ticket with descriptions, pictures and declared values. All diamond solitaires and diamonds larger than .50 carats will be plotted for identification purposes and will be shown to the customer when leaving the item and upon receiving the item after the appraisal is completed. Your jewelry will also be protected and insured while in our possession.

If you are interested in scheduling an express appraisal, please click here.

How often should I update my appraisals?

The Insurance Institute of America recommends that jewelry be re-appraised every two years. Updating your appraisal can be done quickly and inexpensively.

Is my jewelry worth appraising? How can I tell?

Putting a limit on the items to be appraised should be determined by the owner, accompanied with the expert knowledge of the appraiser. If you own a piece that you could not afford to replace, and it is something that you wear daily like a wedding set, diamond stud earrings or a fine watch, then insuring the item is critical.

How do I select a jewelry appraiser?

Since a jewelry appraisal may be one of the most important and complicated documents to complete accurately, it is highly recommended that only a Certified Gemologist Appraiser provide reliable information and documentation on the quality and value of your jewelry.

AGS’s Certified Gemologist Appraiser title is the most highly regarded in the industry. Earning the CGA title requires additional advanced training and experience in determining the value of gemstones and jewelry. All CGA titleholders also must pass annual re-certification exams to maintain this prestigious title.

Hannon Accredited Gem Laboratory

Hannon Jewelers also provides our customers with a welcoming and professional environment. An Accredited Gem Laboratory is a special designation awarded only to qualifying AGS member firms that have proven their dedication to professional gemological identification in accordance with the Membership Standards of the AGS. Hannon Jewelers Gem Lab contains gemological equipment and reference materials in a dedicated space for research and analytical purposes. For more information.

Why should I have my jewelry appraised?

• Insurance coverage is the most common reason for getting an appraisal. A full appraisal is a detailed document that will assure you of a comparable replacement in case of loss.
• With the popularity of purchasing jewelry over the internet, an appraisal from an independent appraiser can verify that diamonds and other jewelry match the certification or appraisal that accompany the item. Schedule an appointment to give you an idea of the value and peace of mind.
• A detailed appraisal is a valuable document to have whenever you choose to sell, trade or bequeath your jewelry.
• An appraisal is necessary in the event of Estate Settlement, forming a Trust, or Equitable Distribution.
• You will need an appraisal to claim a casualty loss for your insurance company or uninsured loss for the IRS.
• You should have an appraisal for division of property in a divorce.
• You will need an appraisal for tax deduction of a charitable contribution.