Frequently Asked Questions
Is my stone/jewellery fully insured?
Of course that’s everyone’s prime concern. We have comprehensive loss, theft of damage insurance through our policy with TH March. Up to £XXXXXXXXXXXX
Where is my jewellery kept, is it safe?
Your jewellery or gemstones will usually stay in our laboratory or safe at all times whilst in our care. We may occasionally need a second opinion or further testing in which case it will be transported via secure insured carriers to trusted third parties. If this is something you don’t feel comfortable with, please let us know and we can discuss the additional options available to you.
What is the process of booking in?
Booking in usually takes about 10 minutes per item, please make sure you leave enough time. We will need to take preliminary details, discuss your requirements and outline what we will and can do for you. If you have any previous receipts, valuations, lab reports or provenance please remember to bring them with you for your meeting as full and frank disclosure is part and parcel of our methodology and ensures you get the best possible service and outcome.
Can you do it while I wait?
For jewellery valuations usually not - sorry to say but all reports are complicated, have important consequences and require careful consideration. Depending on workload we may be able to take details for a valuation whilst you wait by prior arrangement but it will still take 1-2 weeks to do the research and prepare the documentation.
If you’re after a gemstone report it will depend on workload and the type of report and gem presented. Please speak to your technician in store or on the p[hone for more information.
Do you guarantee the results?
Your reports are prepared by fully qualified gemmologists and / or institute registered valuers - some of the best trained people in the industry.
But there are many clever fakes and forgeries, new gem treatments, manufacturing processes and tricks out there. We pride ourselves on constant education and continual professional development but its impossible to guarantee 100% accuracy 100% of the time. What we can say with surety is that we will apply ourselves diligently and with all our skill as best we can every single time. This usually gets the right result.
How long does it take?
Typically gemstone reports can take 3-5 working days to produce, jewellery valuations a bit longer at 1-2 weeks.
Why does it take so long?
In short diligence, accuracy and research. All figures are checked and double checked, items are measured, weighed, assessed, photographed and then compared to the market. Sometimes this is easy, sometimes very hard, complicated, rare or hard to source items will be difficult to find comparables or market prices and our job is to find as accurate and justifiable as possible.
Can I do it while I wait?
Very occasionally by prior arrangement - please ring and see how busy we are.
How good are you?
FGA, DGA, MIRV BSC, PJDip, just some of the catalogue of qualifications we hold as a team. Granted we don’t have the resources of the GIA, or the experiences of the Gueblin Lab in Switzerland. But we do have a lab, we do have the qualifications and we do have the experience and knowledge to solve and answer your questions. But the first criteria of any valuer is to ask themselves the question ‘can I perform this valuation?’ if you bring us an item that we aren’t sure about our job is to let you know and point you in the right direction.
Specialist collectors items, watches, may need to be referred to one of our associate specialists.
How can I trust you/will I get my diamond back?
Its always a perplexing but I supposed justified question. This is what we do for a living, if there was any doubt as to our integrity or honesty our entire retail business and laboratory business would fall apart. The financial benefit of ‘swapping’ a diamond is actually usually pretty marginal. But that’s not to say it hasn’t happened in lesser businesses in the past. We all have heard horror stories about that. And of course you don’t really know us so how can you trust us? Well first things first as I previously said this is what we do and honesty and integrity form the backbone of what we do. Secondly we are proud members of the National Association of Jewellers, the Institute of Registered Valuers and are gold Corporate members of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain all of the illustrious organisations have very strict codes regarding honesty and membership standards and should any member be found wanting, membership is suspended - again something that would massively impact our business.
Simon Johnson is a previous Chairman of the NAJ a post reserved for persons of the highest integrity.
But if that’s not enough, we have a lab on site, with equipment that can should you wish show you specific characteristics of your precious gems and even email you images if required to compare with on collection. - 100% guaranteed to assuage any worries you may have.
What does the report look like?
Beautifully bound and authenticated with all the details, images, letter of transmittal, notes to the schedule and final values contained therein. Click here to see a finished report.
How Much does it cost?
Click here to see a list of our charges.
Why does it cost so much?
A valuation is a quasi legal document, in the event of a claim, legal dispute or query a valuation or report may well be called into question. This can and has impacted on individuals both professionally and personally. Our job is to not only produce a number or conclusion for you to use but also to be able to justify our conclusions in years to come.
What are your Opening Hours?
We are open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 6pm.
