I started The Gem Lab to provide a unique service to the gem and jewellery industry, which includes gem and jewellery valuations. This is important because we don’t want to be found selling stones that aren’t authentic, or under- (or over!) insuring a precious stone.
But did you know that a jewellery valuation is actually a legal document?
This very important document has to be able stand up in a court of law. In my line of work, I have had to give evidence in court – more than once. On one occasion, the jewellery had been valued seven years prior to the theft. If it wasn’t for my accurate record keeping, and a commitment to doing the job properly, my client would have lost the case. In the end, two solid hours of cross examination couldn’t prove that I had slipped up in any way.
To be able to defend your work with conviction, you really need to know what you’re doing. You have to have the necessary knowledge – and experience – to do jewellery valuations. If you don’t, it could cost you dearly.
Over the years, I have seen so many jewellery valuations with incorrect information. In a large portion of them, the stones have been incorrectly identified. Frankly, most jewellery valuations I see aren’t worth the paper they are written on. This puts the valuer at risk. It can also damage the relationship a jewller has both with his client, and with the valuer he has trusted.
As you’ll recall, in our last email I described an eternity ring with five blue stones, which had been sent to the lab for testing. That ring was taken in for a valuation. The client had been assured by some other jeweller that the stones were sapphires. Fortunately the jeweller who was given the ring for a valuation took the initiative to have them tested first – and they turned out to be garnet-topped composite stones.
Taking the initiative like that saved the jeweller a good deal of embarrassment.
We have extensive knowledge and many years of jewellery valuation experience. Because this is what we do, have the time to devote to getting it right – and to staying on top of the con artist trends. We do valuations for jewellers, who are often too busy with the running of a successful store to devote the same time and energy to the field.
The Gem Lab empowers jewellers to offer a reliable valuation service to their clients, without the time and hassle of having to do the valuations themselves.
If you would like to know more about this service please contact me on 021 761 1746 or email jeremy@gemlab.co.za.
