Verbal & Written Appraisals

An appraisal is the act of assessing the value of an item on today's markets.
This valuation is based on several factors, including the item’s materials, condition, and construction. Current market demands and the availability of similar items also play a role in determining value. 

Please note: an appraisal is not the same as an offer to buy. Offers to buy have to take additional costs like repairing, re-selling, and shipping an item into consideration. If you would like more information on selling your items, please visit the ‘Sell Your Jewelry’ page of our website or contact us directly.

For a verbal appraisal, you will bring the items you wish to have appraised to our office where Aunty Erin will test and evaluate your items in front of you. She will then verbally tell you your item’s value and answer any questions you may have.

For written appraisals, your items are put through the same rigorous testing and evaluation steps, but the gathered information is compiled into a written document for you to keep. These documents are extremely detailed (to the point where a piece could be reproduced if necessary) and serve as a sort of ‘time stamp’ of your item’s value in the current market.

Written appraisals are best for situations where you need a physical document for personal or legal reasons. These can include:

• Establishing, altering, or updating insurance policies. 
• Estate planning. 
• Determining equitable division of property.

Verbal appraisals are usually best for answering general questions like:

• Are these diamonds real?
• What kind of metal is this?
• Is this a topaz or a tourmaline?
• Does this piece have significant monetary value?

Answering these simple questions can allow you to do things like:

• Divide estates effectively and fairly.
• Verify the authenticity of a recent purchase.

Because they work exclusively with the US Military, USAA requires specific credentials in order to produce appraisals that are compliant with their policies. 

As a GIA Graduate Gemologist, Aunty Erin has the education necessary for producing USAA-suitable appraisals. 

All of Aunty Erin's written appraisals are USAA compliant.

‘Retail Replacement Value’ refers to the price you would likely pay if you walked into a retail store and purchased a similar item today. Think of it as the price of a new car, fresh off the lot.
‘Fair Market Value’ refers to the price you would be able to ask on a secondary market. This is similar to selling a pre-owned car - you won’t be able to ask as much as a brand new car because of depreciation.

Appraisals made for insurance documentation are based on Retail Replacement Value. Estate and Resale appraisals generally require Fair Market Values.
Aunty Erin’s offers both kinds of valuations in order to serve your needs. 

Not sure which valuation you require? Give us a call! We will advise you as best we can.

Yes, Aunty Erin’s appraisal services are fully mobile!
This is extremely useful in situations when:

• You have large items/volumes of items that are difficult to transport. 
• Banks require valuations before releasing estate items. 
• You are unable to physically bring your items to our office.

In order to tailor our mobile appraisal to your specific needs, we ask that you contact us via call, text, or e-mail before booking this service. 

Please note, there are additional fees associated with mobile appraisals. Contact us for more details.

Verbal appraisals: $99 / item
Written appraisals: $195 / item

Mobile appraisals are priced on a case-by-case basis depending on your specific needs. Please contact us directly for pricing information.

We can offer bulk discounts if you need multiple items appraised.
Bulk appraisal prices are based on the number of items, time each piece requires, and type of service you need. Please contact us directly for pricing on multiple appraisals.

For security purposes, we work by appointment only.

You can book an appointment online by selecting from the services listed above or by contacting us directly.