Where does one go to get antique jewelry appraised?
Most jewelry stores will provide you with an appraisal and that might be enough to help you with your decision. But if it’s really old, good jewelry I’d look for an appraiser who had lots of experience appraising estate and antique jewelry. And being a certified gemologist or otherwise credentialed appraiser wouldn’t hurt. The appraisal won’t be cheap but it will be thorough, which I think is what you’re looking for. Personally, I prefer established independently owned, especially family owned, stores as opposed to chains. They’re more likely to be staffed by people who have been in the business for a while and have some collective expertise. If you have friends or co-workers who wear jewelry similar to what you have, ask where they buy or get theirs cleaned and repaired. You can also check the ads in the papers or look in your phone book for established jewelers who handle estate jewelry and do appraisals. There’s an article about things to look for and types of expertise
