Have a question about appraisals? You’ve come to the right place! Here are the most commonly asked questions we receive:

Q: Why should I consider an appraisal from Heritage Appraisers?

A: Our appraisers are experienced and highly qualified. All of our appraisers are graduates of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or a Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (FGA). Heritage Appraisers has been in business since 2006. Our appraisals meet or exceed the requirements of NAJA (National Association of Jewelry Appraisers) and USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice). All of our appraisals include scope of work, listing of conditions, appraisal details, the appraiser’s qualifications, a privacy statement, and a certification of appraisal practice. Heritage Appraisers is the national jewelry appraisal company in over 250 retail locations and independent appraisers have partnered with them as affiliates.

Q: I’m a bit nervous about digital appraisals. Are my fine jewelry appraisals kept confidential and secure?

A: Absolutely! We do everything we can to secure your appraisals. We follow a strict confidentiality statement, and will only share information with you unless legally ordered to do otherwise. Your encrypted appraisals are kept on our private server. We monitor our server 24/7 and have several firewalls and security protocols in place to fend off intruders or hackers. Our developers are regularly upgraded with new security patches as they become available.

Q: I see that your appraisal business is located in Ohio. How does that work for me?

A: Our main office is in Ohio, but we operate in over 250 retail and affiliate locations throughout the United States. You can easily find a location near you on our locations page. As our tagline states, Where You Are We Are®!

Q: What types of jewelry appraisals do you offer?

A: We provide Insurance, Estate, Fair Market Value, and Divorce/Property Dissolution Appraisals.

Q: Who will perform the appraisal and what are their credentials?

A: Our appraisers are degreed Graduate Gemologists from the Gemological Institute of America, members of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers, and allied with many other notable professional organizations and identifiers.

Q. How long will the appraisal take?

A: Based on the complexity of your item being appraised, most items can be completed while you wait. On average, appraisals take approximately 45 minutes to complete. However, the appraiser will be able to provide a more accurate estimate of time upon review. 

Q: Do I need to leave my item to be appraised?

A: You can choose our "While You Wait” option or leave your item(s) to be picked up at a later time. Please note that the time it takes for appraisals vary.

Q: Does fine jewelry have to have a minimum value before it can be appraised?

A: No. However, we suggest that you speak with your insurance carrier or agent on what items or value of items should be appraised.

Q: The retail jeweler I bought from has closed their business. What do I do now? 

A: Heritage Appraisers will appraise from any retailer or source where an item was purchased. 

Q: Does the value of jewelry increase over time?

A: Jewelry values fluctuate over time and are based on the current market at the time of the appraisal. There is no guarantee that the value will increase over a period of time.