appraisals
BACKGROUND
Jane Becker, owner and founder of JB Jewels, is an appraiser of fine jewelry with over 37 years in the industry. Trained by the Gemological Institute of America to grade diamonds and colored stones, she is also USPAP-compliant and able to write an appraisal adhering to the uniform standards of professional appraisal practice. She is also a member of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers (NAJA).
As of 2021, 50% of the work that Jane does is in the appraisal arena.
APPRAISALS MAY BE DONE FOR
estate
Jane has extensive experience filing appraisal for estate tax purposes. Estate planning appraisals will assist you in the decision-making process regarding the equitable division of property among your heirs and beneficiaries.
insurance
Insurance appraisals document the existence, condition and replacement value, ensuring you will be able to replace lost or damaged treasures with similar items. Generally accepted industry guidelines recommend that all fine jewelry be re-appraised every three to five years.
donation
Donation appraisals adhere to strict IRS technical requirements for the value of the donation. Jane can assist with the development of proposals to suitable museums and other non-profit organizations.
JEWELRY APPRAISALS INCLUDE
Evaluation of precious metals content of each piece of jewelry
Grading of diamonds and colored gemstones for color, clarity, cut, and carat weight
With pearls – looking for shape, size, luster, and age of the pearls
Determination of craftsmanship and value
Brands of designers
Age of each piece
The time each piece was manufactured (for example: Art Deco, 1950s, etc)
HOW APPRAISALS ARE CONDUCTED
Each piece is examined, weighed, and the gemstones are carefully measured and identified. A full and detailed description is provided. Then, each item is separately photographed as an accurate record. Depending on what type of appraisal is required, an appropriate dollar value is determined.
WHEN ARE APPRAISALS CONDUCTED
When you own a piece of jewelry that if lost or stolen would really hurt. Think about the piece and ask yourself how important it is to you. At that point it should be appraised so you can replace it with the proper value and show a photograph to the appropriate authority. Upon the distribution of an estate, a proper appraisal can help mitigate any conflicts that may arise amongst the heirs.
Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice
The Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) is the generally recognized ethical and performance standards for the appraisal profession in the United States. USPAP was adopted by Congress in 1989, and contains standards for all types of appraisal services, including real estate, personal property, business and mass appraisal. Compliance is required for state-licensed and state-certified appraisers involved in federally-related real estate transactions. USPAP is updated every two years so that appraisers have the information they need to deliver unbiased and thoughtful opinions of value.
JB Jewels all written reports conform to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice of the Appraisal Foundation (USPAP), the Code of Ethics of the Appraisers Association of America (AAA) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations. All reports are confidential and are not released to any party without the permission of the client.