Our Jewelry Appraisal Helps Protect What’s Important.

What Makes a Quality Jewelry Appraisal

A well-prepared jewelry appraisal serves as essential documentation when you need it most. At Johantgen Jewelers, we focus on creating appraisals that are accurate, detailed, and useful.

Accurate Valuations

We appraise jewelry based on what it would actually cost to replace it today with a piece of equivalent quality. We use current market data combined with our 130 years of expertise to arrive at defensible values.

Detailed Descriptions

Our appraisals include precise measurements, stone grades, metal content, construction details, and condition notes. This level of detail satisfies insurance company requirements and supports claims if the need ever arises.

Appropriate Values

We provide values that reflect reality. Insurance appraisals document replacement value at current retail prices. Fair market appraisals reflect what pieces would sell for. We match the valuation type to your specific needs.

Current Documentation

Jewelry values change as gold prices fluctuate and markets shift. We recommend updating appraisals every three to five years to ensure your coverage accurately reflects current values.

Types of Jewelry Appraisals We Provide

Different situations call for different types of valuations. We provide the right appraisal for your specific needs:

1. Insurance Appraisals

The most common type. Insurance appraisals document replacement value, what it would cost to replace your piece with one of equivalent quality at current retail prices. This is what you need for scheduling jewelry on your homeowner’s policy or obtaining separate jewelry insurance. We provide detailed documentation that insurance companies accept.

2. Estate Appraisals

When someone passes away, their jewelry needs to be valued for estate settlement, inheritance distribution, or tax purposes. Estate appraisals require fair market value rather than replacement value. We provide thorough documentation suitable for attorneys, executors, and tax authorities.

3. Fair Market Value Appraisals

Sometimes you need to know what your jewelry would actually sell for rather than what it would cost to replace. This might be for divorce proceedings, charitable donations, or understanding your options. We provide honest assessments of what your pieces would bring in the current market.

4. Pre-Purchase Appraisals

Thinking about buying a significant piece from a private seller, estate sale, or auction? A pre-purchase appraisal tells you whether the asking price is reasonable before you commit. We examine the piece, assess its quality and condition, and give you an honest opinion of its value.

5. Update Appraisals

Already have appraisals, but they’re getting old? We provide updated appraisals that reassess your pieces at current market values. Insurance companies typically want appraisals updated every three to five years.

6. Damage Assessment Appraisals

If your jewelry has been damaged and you’re filing an insurance claim, you may need documentation of the piece’s pre-damage value and the extent of the damage. We provide detailed assessments that help support your claim.

Not sure which type of appraisal you need?

How We Appraise Your Jewelry

Step 1: Understanding What You Need

What are you looking for in an appraisal? Insurance coverage? Estate settlement? The purpose determines the type of valuation and the level of detail required. We make sure we’re providing exactly what your situation calls for.

Step 2: Thorough Examination

We examine your jewelry carefully using professional tools and techniques. For gemstones, we assess cut, color, clarity, and carat weight. For metals, we test purity and weigh precisely. We evaluate craftsmanship, condition, and any factors that affect value. If there is any additional testing that needs to be done to verify your item’s value, we will let you know that, too.

Step 3: Research and Valuation

We research current market conditions for materials and comparable pieces. We use our 130 years of market knowledge plus current data to arrive at accurate, defensible values.

Step 4: Detailed Documentation

Your appraisal includes comprehensive information: item descriptions, measurements, weights, stone grades, metal content, condition notes, and our valuation with the methodology explained. Photography is available for an additional charge to provide visual documentation alongside the written description.

Step 5: Review and Questions

When your appraisal is ready, we review it with you. We explain what we found, how we arrived at the values, and answer any questions. You should understand your appraisal, not just file it away.

Step 6: Documentation You Can Use

You leave with professional documentation accepted by insurance companies, attorneys, and financial institutions. Keep your copy in a safe place separate from your jewelry.

Ready to know what your jewelry is really worth?

Why Minneapolis Families Trust Johantgen for Appraisals

Genuine Expertise

Accurate appraisals require real knowledge. We’ve been examining jewelry for over 130 years. We know how to grade diamonds, assess colored gemstones, evaluate craftsmanship, and identify factors that affect value. Our appraisals reflect generations of experience.

Family-Owned for Over 130 Years

As a reliable family-owned and operated business, our appraisals carry weight because our name carries weight. We’ve built trust with insurance companies, attorneys, and families throughout Minneapolis for over a century.

Accurate Valuations

Our focus is on providing accurate documentation that actually protects you. We base our valuations on current market conditions and real data. Our business is built on trust, and trust requires honesty.

Thorough Documentation

Our appraisals include the detail that matters when you need it. Precise measurements, accurate grades, proper terminology. When you file a claim or present our appraisal in a legal proceeding, it contains everything required.

We Explain What You Have

An appraisal shouldn’t be a mystery document. We walk you through what we found, explain any unfamiliar terminology, and help you understand the value of what you own.

Independent Assessment

We evaluate jewelry regardless of where it was purchased. Our assessment is independent of any sale or transaction. That independence is valuable when you need an objective opinion.

Looking for appraisers who value accuracy over flattery?