Valuations – Why do you need one?

This is a question that many of our customers ask us.  Well, the simplest answer is that an up to date valuation lets you know what the current cost to, replace an item, is.  This is the one area that is hardest for any consumer to know definitively. It is however what we handle everyday – gems and jewellery etc!  By handling such items, every day, we are able to keep up with price changes, which can sometimes be quite extreme.   The price of gold is still at near record highs, whilst the price of platinum is also above its long term average.  The price increases have been most extreme over the last 6+ years.  It does mean that your items will be correctly valued at current market price, which will also ensure you are not under or over insured.  The overwhelming majority of valuations are carried out assuming that the valuation is required for Insurance of items which would be covered under a household insurance policy on a new for old basis, either as listed items or just for your own piece of mind.  Valuations can be carried out for Probate, Second Hand Replacement Value, Sale Between Parties, Auction Sale and other less used reasons.

This is one of the reasons why we run valuation days.  We get external experts to visit our Norwich store and carry out independent appraisals, of your item(s), on the spot, so that you do not have to send them away.

Secondly, if an item is appraised, the condition of it is noted.  If you wear a ring every day, for years, and the claws are starting to show signs of wearing thin, would you notice it?  When an item is brought in for appraisal, one of the first checks is its condition.  If a claw is worn or missing, and you lost a diamond because of it, will you be able to claim for a new one?  When an item is valued, points like these would be noted on the schedule.  We always like to carry out repairs prior to the valuation, so the item(s) are in as good a condition as possible.

Thirdly, do you remember what the item looks like if you lost it?  An item of jewellery that you wear every day may be a one off piece or something that we may have in stock. But, if it has stones in it, do you know what the difference is between a ¼, ⅓ and a ½ carat?  What about the weight of metal in a 9ct bracelet? Was the piece hollow or solid?  Facts like these and many besides help us to ensure we get the right item, for a quote, for you, if  something was  ever to happen to your jewellery, if it was damaged, lost, or worse.  We often have items in stock that look very similar and yet are slightly different.  This can make a huge difference to the price we give you, for a claim.  When a valuation is carried out, it should give a detailed and full description of the item(s) and show qualities, sizes and types of metal, along with any distinguishing features.  The more information that can be supplied by the valuer, the easier this is.

Fourthly, do you own the item? A valuer has to be able to inspect the item to give a detailed description of it. All of our valuations now have at least one colour photograph of each item attached to them (this also helps with the third point above).  If you have an heirloom that has been passed down your family for 2, 3 or more generations, you are highly unlikely to have a receipt, and, although we keep extensive records, we are not always able to trace back that far! 

Finally, if you are able to, you should keep copies of all documentation, receipts and certificates that come with anything you buy.  Quite often, Insurance companies give a single item limit below which you may not have to have everything listed.  I would suggest checking this with your insurers, and if there is any doubt, get them valued.  For everything else you should take lots of photos!

Barring exceptional circumstances a valuation should be carried out approximately every five years.

If you have any further questions please contact us!

Dipples

Tivon Fine Jewellery

In what I hope is going to be a regular feature within this blog, I have asked one of the companies we deal with to tell us a bit about themselves….

 

TIVON FINE JEWELLERY

A FAMILY COMPANY WITH OVER 45 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE!

With uncompromising standards, the beauty of TIVON’s creations radiates PURE LUXURY. Using only the finest gems with the finest life, lustre and purity, TIVON’s gems are specially faceted to ensure their beauty speaks volumes. Many designs are unique and hand-crafted by master craftsmen.

TIVON often features ‘Limited Edition’ pieces or ‘One-off’ creations, as the gemstones used are often so unique and so rare, this alone increases the value and exclusivity of the pieces.

A speciality of TIVON is their TIVON TANZANITE ROYALE ® collection.

Tanzanite – an intense violet-blue gemstone of unparalleled beauty and rarity – is only found in one place in the world – Tanzania. Since its launch in 1967 by Manhattan’s Tiffany & Company, it has become one of the world’s most popular and most sought-after coloured gemstones but by avid fans as well as investors and collectors. With an estimated 10-12 years left of mining until the main Tanzanite mine is completely exhausted, Tanzanite has been dubbed the HEIRLOOM GEMSTONE.

It has also been named as the NEWDECEMBER BIRTHSTONE.

TIVON selects only the finest specimens of Tanzanite ensuring that the quality is truly GEM QUALITY!

Tanzanite selected by TIVON is all specially faceted and cut to ensure maximum life, beauty and richness of the gemstone. Designs are kept exclusive and with only the best materials and gemstones being used, TIVON has ensured that our customers’ purchases measures up to its mantra –

FINE QUALITY, ENDURING VALUE!

Dipples in 2012

So Dipples blog!…..  In this post I am going to say a little about where we are now as a fifth generation business.  I (Chris) am the manager of the Norwich store, my step-mother Angela runs the Dereham store and my father, Rodney (fourth generation) owns the business.

We have 2 stores, one in Norwich city centre and the other in Dereham.  As the locations are so different so are the ranges that we carry.  My father has always had the mantra, that he tried to stock whatever was the ‘best in class’.  Thirty years ago when the Dereham store (which at that time was trading under his name, R Ellis) we became the first stockist of Swarovski crystal (now widely regarded as one of the best crystals in the world) in Norfolk.  Now many jewellers would not have considered a brand such as Swarovski as ‘suitable’ for a ‘proper’ jewellery store, but when you look at quantities sold, I am sure they would have re-considered!!!  Coming back to the present we stock Pandora charms in our Dereham store.  Over the last few years prior to the recession and trouble times most jewellers tried to introduce more upmarket items while stopping the starting prices…. So who would’ve wanted a silver bead company to be in store….  Well the answer to that is now MOST jewellers.  How times have changed.  We also stock Chamiliacharms in both the Norwich and Dereham stores, Pandora is only available in the Dereham branch.

In the Norwich store, we have been working hard to establish ourselves as the pre-eminent Diamond store in the East of England.  We have the world’s most Perfectly cut diamonds (Hearts on Fire), Perfect Colour D diamonds (CanDour) and probably the prettiest fancy diamonds (Mastercut), these sit alongside our large range of diamond jewellery that we source from the UK and beyond.  Hearts on Fire diamonds are also available from the Dereham store. Hearts on Fire and Mastercut are exlcusive to us in Norfolk, and CanDour is exclusive to us in Norwich.

Thanks for reading

Chris

Welcome!

Welcome to Dipples blog!  The main aim of this blog is to showcase what we do, the history of Dipples and the brands that we deal with.  I am also hoping to be able to add much more information on the watches, jewellery, gemstones and other items we have to aid purchases…. Hopefully with us.

Here’s hoping you enjoy what gets added.

Dipples