What Does a Jewelry Appraisal Cost?
Written Appraisals, Consultations, Expert Witness & Other Services
The cost to have jewelry appraised by a reputable independent appraiser in Las Vegas and Southern Nevada depends on many factors, including purpose of the appraisal, which market the appraisal is for, complexity of the piece, etc.
That being said, here are some guidelines to give you an idea of costs associated with using the services of HGL Certified Jewelry Appraisers.
Appraisals for Insurance
The most common type of appraisals we see are for insurance purposes. If you need a Retail Replacement Value appraisal for insurance, the cost starts at $125 for the first item and $95 for each additional item. Heavy pave custom jewelry and diamond chains or customized watches start at $250 per item. Bands that are not soldered, and sizeable chains are considered one piece. Sets of jewelry is still charged per individual item.
These costs assume there is nothing extraordinary about your item(s) . Most items fall within these price parameters. If you are unsure if your items would fall under normal jewelry you can email us photos to get better price estimates. However, if your item is exceptional and there is any additional cost, we will inform you at the beginning of the appointment.
Some examples of item (s) that will cost more are single diamonds over 3 carats in weight, rare watches and or rare and antique designer jewelry, necklaces or bracelets with more than one size and types of gemstones items that are custom made with specialty colored stones or colored diamonds, Items that require extra testing or GIA reports for accuracy, etc.
For high-volume appraisals, hourly rates may be more suitable and efficient, please inquire about our hourly rates if you have more than 10 items. There is a 3 hour minimum for hourly rates.
Updates for items previously appraised by HGL Certified Jewelry Appraisers within 5 years of the original appraisal date are billed at 50% of the current appraisal rates.
Estate Jewelry Appraisals
If the intended use of your appraisal is for Estate or Equitable Distribution purposes, the scope of the assignment expands to meet the particular need of the executor or bank trust department. These assignments are most appropriately billed at an hourly rate, which is $250 per hour when conducted in our office lab. Outside of our office, is situation dependant. The rate is $300 per hour with a 3-hour minimum (portal to portal) with a $900 retainer fee in advance.
Other appraisals that fall into this category include those whose intended use include fair market value for taxation purposes, appraisals that require hypothetical scenarios or extraordinary assumptions.
Read more about estate jewelry appraisals here.
Expert Witness & Deposition Services
Deposition & Expert Witness Services
We have extensive experience providing deposition and expert witness services in jewelry appraisal, gemology, valuation, and related matters. Please refer to our Credentials page for additional information.
Because our primary focus is serving appraisal clients and managing our business, we accept expert witness and litigation support engagements only on a limited, case-by-case basis. We reserve the right to decline assignments that are not a good fit for our expertise, schedule, or professional practice.
If accepted, expert witness services are billed at $350 per hour with a two-hour minimum. A $700 non-refundable retainer, applied toward actual time billed, is required before work begins. A signed engagement agreement is also required. Additional fees may apply for travel, court appearances, document review, report preparation, depositions, and other litigation-related services.
If you believe your matter aligns with our expertise, please contact us to discuss the details and determine whether we are the appropriate expert for your case.
Verbal Consultation
Verbal consultation is done in our office and starts at a fee of $50.00 per item. The appraiser does all the work normally associated with an appraisal report but does not provide printed documentation. Payment is due at the end of the appointment.
Traveling Appraisals (Local)
On-Site Appraisal Services
Most appraisals can be completed more efficiently at our office, where we have access to our full complement of gemological and testing equipment. Because some specialized instruments cannot be transported, office appointments generally provide the most thorough examination and documentation.
For clients who are unable to bring their jewelry to us, on-site appraisal services may be available on a limited, case-by-case basis, subject to scheduling and location.
On-site appraisals are billed at $300 per hour with a three-hour minimum, calculated portal to portal (from departure until return). A $900 non-refundable retainer, applied toward the total fee, is required to reserve an appointment.
Please contact us to discuss your appraisal needs and determine whether an on-site visit is appropriate.
Brokering Services
Please call for additional information.