How do I find a reputable jewellery valuer?

dorsetmiss_2

Hi

I've recently received a bequest from an elderly aunt of late Edwardian and Victorian jewellery,(+ the odd more modern piece). I need to get it vaued but haven't a clue as to how to go about finding someone to do it. Could anyone point me in the right direction please? Is there a 'guild' or valuers or something like that maybe? I particularly need someone who knows about 'old cut' diamonds. In the past I have had silver valued by an antiques dealer who based his fee on a % of the total value of the pieces and I now feel that he grossly inflated the value in order to inflate his fee and I want to avoid that this time!

Any ideas would be much appreciated.

alice's_mum

Try using this website, it the Valuers Guild. I used this when I was in a similar situation and I never felt they over charged or anything and I got a nicely written report detailing everything about the item in question.

http://www.gvj.org.uk/index.cfm?p=Store%20locations&s=Home&inc=15

dorsetmiss_2

Thank you alice's mum...I had a feeling that there was a guild of some sort or other...will look into that..much appreciated!

Tim_L

You can usually get a saleroom valuation from an auctioneer - Sotheby's run an online service I think. This gives some idea of the market value, but there's a difference between auction value and insurance value which ultimately needs a declaration from a valuer, and which can be a multiple of the saleroom valuation. However it's a good free place to start.