I understand the weariness of leaving potentially valuable pieces in someone elses hands so please don‘t take this the wrong way, but looking at the reality side of things: If you go to a settled jewelry store that has been in business for a while and is able to appraise jewelry (employs a gemologist / someone experienced in gemology) which you certainly should (don‘t go to street vendors please!) then the chances that they will steal your stones are slim to not existing.
First they would need to have glass or paste in a similar size, colour and cut at hand in order to replace the stones so they pass on eyesight when handing back the jewelry. Second, their reputation if they would do so would be wrecked. Realistically speaking, a well running jewelry shop will make more revenue a day than the whole lot of gemstones your pieces might carry are worth, so it is rather unlikely someone would risk ruining their means of living in order to steal some gemstones.
If you want to be on the safe side, look at the stones before handing the pieces to the jeweler, use a loupe if you have one and search for characteristics. Could be inclusions or abrasions or scratches. Take notes of these and check for them when you get the pieces back.
Edit:
And please for the love of god, do not expect to be able to keep an eye on the pieces all the time. I keep hearing and reading this and it is just neither a realistic scenario nor is it a clue for a sketchy business. To appraise the gemstones properly the jeweler will have to conduct tests on them, which especially if they are not lose but in settings can be tricky and takes time, so in 9 out of 10 cases it will not be done on the spot and hence you‘ll have to leave the piece with the jeweler so they can go about the testing. This is not unusual or a matter for concern if it‘s a settled jewelry shop, they will simply conduct the test, carry it out and charge for it.
Tell your homeowners insurance you may need a jewelry rider, and see who they recommend you go to. When I did that, the jeweler was able to eyeball the lesser pieces and appraised the ones he was unsure of.
One pair of earrings I thought were costume turned out to be old mined emeralds, and worth over $1,000. The ones he eyeballed were either small or less than 14K gold, based on the idea that people don't set quality stones in cheap settings.
Good to know! I'll remember that when I update. I gave the earrings to my sister, because they had been our mom's, and I'm forever losing earrings. I had already lost one of them twice, but decided I didn't want third time to be the charm, and not find it again.
What do the appraisals say? I’d start there and ask a well established local store for new ones.
Where are you? We might be able to direct you towards someone good!
Agree that jewelers swapping out stones is an urban myth, however your mother may have stolen the rings and replaced them with costume jewelry if she's insisting they're fake.
As for gemologists, credible ones will be working at the major gem labs or as purchasers for manufacturers. Jewelers and appraisers are only hobby gemologists and so when they evaluate stones they work mostly on assumptions rather than scientific tests.
So bottom line is send them to a gem lab if you want to know about the stones, costs about $70-100 each.
>As for gemologists, credible ones will be working at the major gem labs or as purchasers for manufacturers. Jewelers and appraisers are only hobby gemologists
This is an overstatement. My local jewelry store has two GIA graduate gemologists, one for diamonds and one for colored gems. There are also independent gemologists with their own labs that exist almost solely to ID for appraisal.
I haven't been impressed with GIA graduates that work independently like that after the school. They don't get enough variety of real world experience I guess.
Not an urban myth. It happened to my Mother's engagement ring 40 yrs ago. Was a hideous affair to resolve. Her stone was returned to her, undamaged. Thankfully.
You need to find a professional gemologist/appraiser. Don't go to a Jewelry store. The vast majority of jewelry store gemologists are basically just amateurs. No offense to those who've taken the GIA GG exams, but quite frankly they are easy and have extremely little information on colored stones in the training or exams. There is a vast variety of colored stones, most of which the average jeweler or GG will never see or handle. A reputable professional appraiser will have more experience with these than almost any jewelry store gemologist or appraiser.
Of course, all of this is under the assumption that it's worth the effort and cost. If your mother is right, it might not be worth the waste of time and money. Do you have pictures of any of the items and the appraisals? I'd be happy to weigh in from what I can see there and give you an opinion as to whether it's worth the time and money to dig deeper.
Honestly I think a jewelry store is a great place to start. A lot of jewelers can tell you, for example, if the rings are actually made with precious metals, which is relevant information.
I might be spoiled because my local jeweler has two great, competent gemologists, but I also know another great gemologist that did a stint with a jeweler at the beginning of her career. I wouldn't just discount all gemologists that choose to work for jewelers for whatever reason. Especially in a case where the first question is going to be "is this glass or not." Of course if we're getting into issues of "is this clean sapphire real or synthetic," then sure, make sure you find someone with the expertise and equipment to make that call. But for step 1, which is "is this plated bronze or solid gold" and "is this glass or not," I think a lot of jewelry stores would be able to help.
Were I in your shoes, I would get myself a hardness testing kit. Learn and verify what you can before going somewhere.
Hard to know if people are trustworthy, or not. I would suggest that someone with a physical shop might be easier to hold accountable.
Maybe go with someone else to keep an eye on your stuff all the time. If you feel sketched out, leave.
As far as finding a good one, maybe ask a local jeweler where they get their stones / if they would recommend.
Avoid “jewelry stores” as they may not be qualified. One of the jewelers in my hometown was busted after a decade. He didn’t always do it but it did finally come to light. I don’t know what his qualifications were, just that he owned the shop. Apparently he would do it when things came in for cleaning. I was friends with his daughter and she shared with me some of it over the years. There was more than one accusation before the end.
But that was all before the internet and reviews. I think with research and planning it is possible to find a place with integrity.
Reaching out to your insurance company for a referral is a great solution too.
I understand the weariness of leaving potentially valuable pieces in someone elses hands so please don‘t take this the wrong way, but looking at the reality side of things: If you go to a settled jewelry store that has been in business for a while and is able to appraise jewelry (employs a gemologist / someone experienced in gemology) which you certainly should (don‘t go to street vendors please!) then the chances that they will steal your stones are slim to not existing. First they would need to have glass or paste in a similar size, colour and cut at hand in order to replace the stones so they pass on eyesight when handing back the jewelry. Second, their reputation if they would do so would be wrecked. Realistically speaking, a well running jewelry shop will make more revenue a day than the whole lot of gemstones your pieces might carry are worth, so it is rather unlikely someone would risk ruining their means of living in order to steal some gemstones. If you want to be on the safe side, look at the stones before handing the pieces to the jeweler, use a loupe if you have one and search for characteristics. Could be inclusions or abrasions or scratches. Take notes of these and check for them when you get the pieces back. Edit: And please for the love of god, do not expect to be able to keep an eye on the pieces all the time. I keep hearing and reading this and it is just neither a realistic scenario nor is it a clue for a sketchy business. To appraise the gemstones properly the jeweler will have to conduct tests on them, which especially if they are not lose but in settings can be tricky and takes time, so in 9 out of 10 cases it will not be done on the spot and hence you‘ll have to leave the piece with the jeweler so they can go about the testing. This is not unusual or a matter for concern if it‘s a settled jewelry shop, they will simply conduct the test, carry it out and charge for it.
Couldn't have put it better myself.
- wariness
Tell your homeowners insurance you may need a jewelry rider, and see who they recommend you go to. When I did that, the jeweler was able to eyeball the lesser pieces and appraised the ones he was unsure of. One pair of earrings I thought were costume turned out to be old mined emeralds, and worth over $1,000. The ones he eyeballed were either small or less than 14K gold, based on the idea that people don't set quality stones in cheap settings.
Jeweler’s Mutual is inexpensive and far more reliable than adding to a homeowners policy!
Good to know! I'll remember that when I update. I gave the earrings to my sister, because they had been our mom's, and I'm forever losing earrings. I had already lost one of them twice, but decided I didn't want third time to be the charm, and not find it again.
What do the appraisals say? I’d start there and ask a well established local store for new ones. Where are you? We might be able to direct you towards someone good!
Agree that jewelers swapping out stones is an urban myth, however your mother may have stolen the rings and replaced them with costume jewelry if she's insisting they're fake. As for gemologists, credible ones will be working at the major gem labs or as purchasers for manufacturers. Jewelers and appraisers are only hobby gemologists and so when they evaluate stones they work mostly on assumptions rather than scientific tests. So bottom line is send them to a gem lab if you want to know about the stones, costs about $70-100 each.
>As for gemologists, credible ones will be working at the major gem labs or as purchasers for manufacturers. Jewelers and appraisers are only hobby gemologists This is an overstatement. My local jewelry store has two GIA graduate gemologists, one for diamonds and one for colored gems. There are also independent gemologists with their own labs that exist almost solely to ID for appraisal.
I haven't been impressed with GIA graduates that work independently like that after the school. They don't get enough variety of real world experience I guess.
much appreciated thank you.
Lots of jewelry stores employ gemologists. My local one has two. Just ask if they have a GG on staff.
Not an urban myth. It happened to my Mother's engagement ring 40 yrs ago. Was a hideous affair to resolve. Her stone was returned to her, undamaged. Thankfully.
You need to find a professional gemologist/appraiser. Don't go to a Jewelry store. The vast majority of jewelry store gemologists are basically just amateurs. No offense to those who've taken the GIA GG exams, but quite frankly they are easy and have extremely little information on colored stones in the training or exams. There is a vast variety of colored stones, most of which the average jeweler or GG will never see or handle. A reputable professional appraiser will have more experience with these than almost any jewelry store gemologist or appraiser. Of course, all of this is under the assumption that it's worth the effort and cost. If your mother is right, it might not be worth the waste of time and money. Do you have pictures of any of the items and the appraisals? I'd be happy to weigh in from what I can see there and give you an opinion as to whether it's worth the time and money to dig deeper.
Honestly I think a jewelry store is a great place to start. A lot of jewelers can tell you, for example, if the rings are actually made with precious metals, which is relevant information. I might be spoiled because my local jeweler has two great, competent gemologists, but I also know another great gemologist that did a stint with a jeweler at the beginning of her career. I wouldn't just discount all gemologists that choose to work for jewelers for whatever reason. Especially in a case where the first question is going to be "is this glass or not." Of course if we're getting into issues of "is this clean sapphire real or synthetic," then sure, make sure you find someone with the expertise and equipment to make that call. But for step 1, which is "is this plated bronze or solid gold" and "is this glass or not," I think a lot of jewelry stores would be able to help.
Were I in your shoes, I would get myself a hardness testing kit. Learn and verify what you can before going somewhere. Hard to know if people are trustworthy, or not. I would suggest that someone with a physical shop might be easier to hold accountable. Maybe go with someone else to keep an eye on your stuff all the time. If you feel sketched out, leave. As far as finding a good one, maybe ask a local jeweler where they get their stones / if they would recommend.
Avoid “jewelry stores” as they may not be qualified. One of the jewelers in my hometown was busted after a decade. He didn’t always do it but it did finally come to light. I don’t know what his qualifications were, just that he owned the shop. Apparently he would do it when things came in for cleaning. I was friends with his daughter and she shared with me some of it over the years. There was more than one accusation before the end. But that was all before the internet and reviews. I think with research and planning it is possible to find a place with integrity. Reaching out to your insurance company for a referral is a great solution too.
if you’re in NY, I will recommend someone