Services

Jewellery Valuations

Why you should have your jewellery valued?

Having your jewellery and other precious belongings valued is vital in making sure you are adequately covered by your insurance company.

Insurance Replacement Valuations are the most common type that we carry out.

Without an accurate up to date valuation you run the risk of being under insured in the event of loss or theft. Many insurance companies even insist that you have items over a certain value specified individually on your policy and regularly valued to ensure the limits are adequate. Please check your individual policy details for further information.

Guild Valuations provide full details including size and qualities of your items should your insurance company require it in the event of a claim. Without this proof you may find that replacement is based on an item of “average” quality rather than what you have actually lost. Having your jewellery valued every 2-3 years will ensure any information about market values is up to date.

Professional Valuation Software is used for all client valuations. Every conceivable details and measurement are recorded including photographs of your treasured pieces.

 

  • In the unfortunate event of a loss we have direct lines to SaferGems – The Art Loss Register – Insurers – Police – Trade Associations – Retailers & Dealers networks and many more are notified to assist the recovery of your property.
  • We assist you with dealing with Insurers and Loss Adjusters
  • Replacement sourcing and discounting.

A Guild Valuation Includes:

  • A detailed description of each item including stone measurements, colour and clarity of stones, metal types and weight.
  • Insurance replacement values.
  • Colour images of each piece.
  • Explanatory notes on terms and abbreviations.
  • An Insurer Notice to pass to your insurance company.
  • Registration to the central e-register database with free access via My Portfolio.
  • Condition report where necessary.
  • Other forms of valuation include probate, family division, sale between parties and open market valuations. Please contact us for explanations and advice on which valuation you require.

The valuation document should be kept safe and separate from your jewellery. 

The jewellery valuation process

A professionally prepared valuation contains a comprehensive list of information which includes the name of the company instructed to carry it out and the address at which it is performed. It clearly states the purpose of the valuation and for whom it is being prepared. It provides a sufficiently detailed description to enable identification, together with an opinion of the value, as well as the total of the valuation. It is dated and bears the signature of the valuer who produced it. All of this information must appear on a valuation schedule to make it valid.

In line with recommendations by the police and insurance companies, we provide a photographic record of your jewellery at the same time as your written valuation. As with every assessment we carry out, any individual item which is deemed to be worth £500 or more will automatically receive a free photograph. The photographs are taken with a digital camera and are produced as an integral part of the valuation. If your jewellery is stolen, this photograph will give the police the best possible chance of recovering your property and it provides you with proof of ownership if the items are recovered.

Jewellery valuations are carried out on the premises and your items are covered by our own insurance whilst they are in our care.

Reasons for a jewellery valuation:

Insurance valuations for jewellery

In the unfortunate event that an item of yours is lost, stolen or broken, we will compose a letter for presentation to your insurance company. The modest fee for this service will be refunded in full when the items are either replaced or repaired by us.

With hundreds of homes broken into every day and thousands of pounds worth of jewellery stolen, an insurance valuation could well be an excellent investment.

A professionally prepared valuation is based on the current cost of replacing your jewellery with similar items. Due to ever fluctuating costs, we recommend having your jewellery re-valued every three years. This ensures adequate financial cover in the event of loss, damage or theft.

Probate valuation on jewellery

A valuation for probate is a confirmation of the value of jewellery in an estate. It is based on the likely sale price had the jewellery been sold at auction at the time of the owner’s death. Since this value is determined by market forces, it will be considerably lower than if it was for insurance purposes.

Jewellery valuation for a private sale

This type of valuation determines a fair selling price on a piece offered for private sale by one individual to another. The value is typically higher than that for probate but lower than the replacement retail amount.

Why choose Attenborough for your jewellery valuation?

When requiring a jewellery valuation from Attenborough, you can rest assured that professionalism is guaranteed. We are members of the National Association of Jewellers and Guild of Valuers. We also participate in the SaferGems Alert scheme which notifies all members of any stolen property.

Global prices are constantly rising so it’s important to ensure your valuables are not underinsured. For your own peace of mind, get in touch today for a professional valuation of your jewellery.

Our Valuation Charges

Document fee – £20.00
Percentage fee  – 2% for first £1,000.00 and 1% thereafter