Where / How To Get Jewelery Valued

I was wondering where the best place to get jewelery valued is?
Can you just go to any old jeweler or is it better to go somewhere that specialises in that kind of thing?

My nan has given me an Opal pendant for DD1, it's 48 years old - given to her on her 21st - she said her parents paid 100 pound for it back then.

I have no idea on the value of jewelery or what to look for, the $ value really doesn't mean a lot to me but as i recently lost a sapphire & diamond ring she gave me i thought it best to check it's value and have it placed on our insurance if it is worth something.
I'm kicking myself over my ring and that i now have nothing from my pop, atleast if it had of been insured i could have tried to replace it :(

Or similarly does anyone have a rough idea on value, i can upload a pic.

Also the surround of the pendant has a 10 stamped into it, i don't think it's gold.

Most reputable jewellers will send away items to an independent specialist to have them valued. The other way is to contact your insurance company and see if they can recommend someone for you.

It is worth having it valued, as a valuation will come back with several photographs and a certificate (they will test the metal if they can't identify the hallmark) which can also be used for identification purposes if the worst should happen and it was stolen.

When we had my engagement ring made by the jeweller it was part of his service once the piece was complete - he sent it away to be valued for us, and it came back roughly double what we paid for it - I was pretty darn stoked I can tell you :)

Hun you've really gotta send it with someone you trust - too often I hear of someone leaving a ring or something with a Goldmark or Michael Hill and it comes back with different stones... do you know any jewellers?

I've got a friend who's a jeweller - I can ask him to recommend someone out your way?

DPs cousin has a guy she knows/trusts as a jeweler but don't know if he does valuations, guess I can ask her.

Stupid question but are opals valuable, someone said they are a good investment and I assume 100 pound was a lot of $ 40+ yrs ago?


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- Sent from my iPhone, more than likely while I should be doing something else!

Yep, definitely go off a recommendation. Maybe even ask the jeweler friend if it is worth getting it valued? Our jeweler friend doesn't do valuations officially, but unofficially he knew that the valuation we got was correct, like he could assess the worth but not do the official report ITMS.

As for opals? Not sure hun. Hopefully someone else might have an idea...

Thx Hun :)


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- Sent from my iPhone, more than likely while I should be doing something else!

If Percy Marks have a Melbourne store they are a reputable jeweler.
I have a client who is a diamond wholesaler. I could ask him for the name of a trustworthy valuer in Melbourne if you would like.

If it was worth £100 50 years it is probably worth valuing and insuring.
10 could refer to 10 carat.

ETA - used the RBA inflation calculator and £100 in 1966 = $2,439.58 in 2010.

ETA 2- my valuations have never come with photos, just descriptions. Maybe I should demand photos lol. My Dad takes photos for his insurance but I figure that if his house gets burnt down so will the photos so it is a waste of time.

Thanks hun that would be great, i might even try our insurance company and see what they suggest, the last thing i want is to send it to someone dodgy and get back some shotty stone thats not mine.

Will get a pic and upload it, it really needs a good cleanup too, anyone know the best way to clean opals?
I also have opal earrings for DD1 that i might get checked too ?

You have to be careful cleaning opals - they hate rough treatment. Gentle soap and water should do the trick.
With the water.... check the back of the opal. If it is very flat it might be what they call a doublet where an opal is placed on top of another material and glued with resin. They hate water so should only be wiped with a damp cloth.
You can ask the jeweler who does your valuation to clean it for you.

I second the insurance company. My jewellery is insured separately to our house and has had to be replaced before. There is an independent company that most reputable insurers use for their jewellery stuff. Only a couple of my certificates have photos.