Jewellery

Synthetic Diamond Alert!

Synthetic Diamond Alert!

This is exactly why I invest so much time and money into training and equipment. And one of the many reasons why I don’t do unsighted valuations. (Link to article below) Synthetic Diamonds Threaten Italian Market with Inconsistent GIA Certificates As I have mentioned in previous articles and posts, synthetic diamonds have been a gold […]

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Is someone qualified to be a watch or jewellery valuer?

Is someone qualified to be a watch or jewellery valuer?

You can easily tell whether someone is qualified to be a watch or jewellery valuer based on their post-nominal initials. Post-nominal initials are those fancy little letters placed after someone’s name to indicate they hold a particular qualification or accreditation. And any post-nominal should be applauded, especially in the jewellery trade, as they can only […]

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Screening for Synthetic Diamonds

Screening for Synthetic Diamonds

Synthetic ‘lab-grown’ diamonds have become increasingly prevalent over the past few years. And their increasing availability has only been surpassed by how quickly their cost has dropped. Did you know that a synthetic diamond can cost over 90% less than the natural equivalent? The great part of this price difference is that buyers now have […]

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Education and training never stops!

Education and training never stops!

It’s often said that the most important piece of equipment a valuer will ever own is their eyes. And like all equipment, education and training are required to ensure you get the most out of your equipment. This image shows an included diamond with inclusions that appear as parallel rods. Which I appreciate means nothing […]

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Education and training

Education and training

I love so many things about my job, but one of the aspects that I get the most from is providing education and training. Over the years, I have delivered numerous workshops on identifying counterfeit watches, boxes, and accessories at valuers conferences. I designed a systematic step-by-step guide for watch inspections to aid new valuers […]

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2023 Valuer Of The Year

2023 Valuer Of The Year

I recently attended the Jewellery Valuers Association yearly conference, where I was awarded the prestigious Valuer of the Year award.   “It is an award for the valuer who has excelled in upholding the JVA’s professional valuation standards and continuously shows exceptional levels of integrity. It recognises the valuer’s commitment and dedication to supporting and developing […]

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Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

As I split my working time between meeting clients at my office and visiting them at their place of work or home, there are times when I feel like I am living in my own version of the classic 80’s comedy Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Although, in my version, I get the occasional ferry as […]

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Visiting clients in Jersey is all work and no play

Visiting clients in Jersey is all work and no play

Whenever I visit my clients in Jersey, I always make time to catch up with my insurance broker colleagues. It’s never just a social call, though.  Valuing watches and jewellery is a complex job at the best of times, but Jersey can often provide a unique set of challenges that we don’t find here in […]

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Fluorescence is more than just a bit of fun

Fluorescence is more than just a bit of fun

Whether inspecting gemstones or diamonds, professional valuers will undertake any number of tests to help determine and grade the particular stone they have in front of them. When dealing with diamonds, testing a stone’s reaction for fluorescence under both long and short-wave UV is quick and diagnostically relevant. Not only will the type and level […]

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