We evaluated and reviewed the top online jewelry appraisal services to help you find one that fits your needs best. Bonhams is a top-rated global auction house that offers free appraisals as part of its consignment process. It has experienced jewelers and gemologists on staff to evaluate and help sell your items. Bonhams offers a wide range of evaluation and auction services aimed at high-end art and jewelry enthusiasts from around the world. Bonhams has been in business since 1793 and has physical locations across the world, as well as local offices in major cities throughout the U.S. Free estimate appraisals can be submitted online, and paid private evaluations for insurance or estate purposes can be arranged in person. Bonhams offers a full-service consignment process including full evaluation, professional photos, and listing on its worldwide auctions. It does not require that you consign your items with the company for a free appraisal. If you are interested in a free auction estimate appraisal from Bonhams, simply fill out the online form and someone from the team will be in touch. Founded in 1744, Sotheby’s is the oldest and largest auction house for fine art and jewelry in the world. It operates online and locally in 40 countries around the world and is one of the most trusted names in the industry. Sotheby’s offers price estimates for jewelry online, allowing users to submit item details and photos for evaluation. While the estimates help give users an idea of how their items might be valued, they are not a formal appraisal to be used for legal or insurance purposes. Though users can submit items for a free appraisal without the intent to sell the item, Sotheby’s states that most items they evaluate are consigned directly with the company. To get started with a free Sotheby’s estimate, users can fill out and submit a simple online form. Evaluations take up to seven business days. Mearto is a startup that helps give quick appraisals for jewelry, fine art, and other collectibles. Started in 2015 in Islands Brygge, Copenhagen, Mearto aims to help streamline the appraisal process by combining expert reviews with auction house sales results. Mearto offers a 48-hour turnaround on your jewelry appraisal, complete with a PDF certificate. While this estimate is a simple appraisal based on details and photos provided, it may work for insurance purposes as well. The company also has an extensive auction price guide to help you gauge the approximate value of your items. These auction lists are only available after signing up for a free account. Mearto appraisals are only about $21 per item. To get started with Mearto, you will first need to sign up for a free account. Then, you can fill out the online application and payment form, and you will receive your appraisal within 48 hours. Jewelry Reports is an online-only jewelry appraiser that allows users to submit their valuables for appraisal and insurance coverage purposes. It offers a 24-hour turnaround time on appraisals and a PDF report to use for insurance coverage. Jewelry Reports only has one appraisal option: a simple report that will give a current replacement value estimate, including market prices for any precious metals in the jewelry. It claims to have jewelry experts on staff, though there is no “About” page that details who will be reviewing the items and whether they are accredited or not. To get started with an appraisal, simply fill out the online form and submit. The price for an appraisal is roughly $24. Worthy is an online auction house that can appraise and list your antiques for sale. It offers free appraisals for items that you consign with the understanding that you intend to sell your items with Worthy. However, you can decline the consignment step in the process. Worthy partners with GIA gemologists for precious stone appraisals and certifications, and uses a database of past auction prices to evaluate the retail price of the item. It will also take professional photos and provide you with an appraisal report. To get started with Worthy, fill out the online application to sell your item. Snap a few photos and describe the item you are looking to consign. Worthy will send you a pre-filled FedEx label for shipping your jewelry and it will evaluate the item, take photos, and certify the item by the GIA if needed. The final step is to sell at auction if you choose to consign. J & M Jewelry is a high-end jewelry and gemstone dealer that buys, sells, repairs, and appraises jewelry. It has physical locations in Texas, New York, and Israel, as well as an online store and appraisal service. J & M partners with large jewelry insurers to help expedite the appraisal and insurance process. It also can help with the claims process for jewelry repairs that it performs. The company offers a professional appraisal service, in-person or online, which can be used for insurance purposes. With appraisers and GIA gemologists on staff, J & M offers expert opinions on the replacement price of your jewelry. To get started with an online appraisal, simply fill out the appraisal request form, attach some photos of your jewelry, and a J & M expert will email you back with the next steps.
How Do You Know if an Online Jewelry Appraisal Service Is Reputable?
Checking the BBB ratings and online reviews can help identify quality online appraisers, as well as certifications from the Accredited Gemologists Association (AGA) or other professional groups. Large, established auction houses that provide appraisal services are typically more reputable than smaller dealers or websites.
How Much Do Online Jewelry Appraisal Services Cost?
Jewelry appraisals online can range from $0 to over $100 per item. The price depends on the level of service expected, and whether or not you are consigning your item with the appraisal company.
Are Online Jewelry Appraisal Services Better Than In-Person?
While getting your jewelry appraised online may seem easy, you shouldn’t discount the possibility of using a certified jeweler near you. Many online estimates do not provide authentications or certification services. Online appraisals may work for selling items quickly, but in-person evaluations from accredited jewelers may hold more weight in the eyes of buyers and insurance agencies.
When Should I Use an Online Jewelry Appraisal Service?
If you are looking to quickly value your jewelry or possibly consign and sell your items at auction, it makes sense to use an online jewelry appraisal service. Also, if you need to get an estimated replacement cost for insurance purposes, online appraisals are a quick way to get a valuation report.
Methodology
We compared a dozen online jewelry appraisal services based on cost, turn-around time, thoroughness, reputation, reviews, and customer service to find the best ones available. A wide range of offerings was considered, from free appraisal estimates to paid professional appraisals for insurance and estate purposes. We found that many online appraisers are available for free but that’s typical of auction houses looking to consign your jewelry. Professional appraisals can be done online, but you may be better off finding a certified professional locally for proper jewelry authentication and appraisal if you need certification.
