Why do you need your expensive jewelry appraised? Where should you go? How often?

Well you should get your jewelry appraised every two years and if you have a home insurance policy, look it over. See what it does and does not cover. Most likely you will need a separate policy just for your jewelry. Also if something happens to it while your not at home, that is where separate policies come into play because many home insurance policies wont cover it..

When looking for a appraiser, find one that is qualified and trained. A professional gemologist or graduate gemologist(GG). Preferably one that is not associated with a jewelry store. Appraisals should have the dimensions, weight, quality, identify each gemstone, the 4 C's and any other important information.

Avoid appraisers that charge a percentage of the jewelry's value. They can give it an inflated price and charge you a huge amount. Some appraisers do it while you wait but they might not be as thorough. So you may have to leave your jewelry with them.

When getting the appraisal, get it in writing and signed by them. It is a good idea to have photos of each piece as well. Whether they do it or you.

You should also tell them why you want your jewelry appraised because there might be different values for it.

Getting it insured is the next step. As mentioned before, look at your homeowners insurance policy or your renters policy. They might cover between $500-$1000 only for theft and not damaged or lost jewelry.

Your insurance company might have additional coverage that you can get. Some things to find out are, any deductibles, if so what are the price/coverage difference, only certain types of appraisers may accepted and are the items covered worldwide.

Also see how the item is covered. Is it the full replacement cost or can you get a cash settlement? Repairs on damaged jewelry? These are good things to find out when looking for a policy. Jeweler's Mutual or Chubb are two insurance companies that offer policies for jewelry.

And lastly, keep all receipts of jewelry purchased. That way you have proof of the amount paid.