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Many thanks for taking the time to read this compact jewelry article entitled ‘How to Value your Jewelry at Home or Work’. You are about to discover the intricacies and formulas that highly qualified Gemologists and Valuers are using, right now, to evaluate and appraise gold, silver and platinum jewelry.

But before we begin, I would simply like to bring you ‘up to speed’ on what will be required. As you know, the art of valuing jewelry takes many years to learn (over five years before you can graduate) and then it takes several more years to gain the necessary experience to ‘get it right’.

Gemologists don’t all become Valuers because of this high level of study, which doesn’t include the expense of Microscopes and Refractometers and Dichroscopes and and and….

In this program we don’t even want to explain what these pieces of equipment are because firstly; they are too expensive (you can pay thousands of dollars just for a binocular microscope) and secondly because you are not a trained jeweler, and probably don’t want to be.

So don’t let that put you off because we are NOT trying to turn you into professionals overnight. That would be wrong of us to even try.

We don’t want the Jargon either. Just some simple facts. What we are going to achieve is nothing more than a simple understanding of what you need to know, to at least get a ‘Slippery Grip’ of basic terms. The hardest part is NOT the testing or algorithms involved but mainly the correct and systematic identification of what your are trying to value. The calculations are nothing more than a natural outcome, which just proves what can be accomplished using the most simple school mathematics. If you can multiply and divide, and add money, you can do this course.

We assume you are trying to get a ‘Ball Park’ figure on something you own, or want to own, or sell, or insure. Which brings us to the first question.

What exactly is a Valuation or Appraisal?

All of the calculations and procedures done throughout this series of articles are built into our ‘Online Jewelry Valuation Self Appraisal Kit’ which does all the work for you. Why? So you don’t have to. Simple…

You can go to the Valuation Appraisal Centre, to discover how easy it is to value your own jewelry at home or work (The address is listed at the bottom of this article) and discover why we use it ourselves.

This is an important yet sadly overlooked concept.

People, just like you, simply want to ‘Know what it’s Worth’ but that’s a very subjective statement. For example:

What’s it worth to you?

Does it have sentimental value?

If it does, there is no way we can measure or calculate for that. It’s a personal thing.

What’s it worth on EBay?

That depends if you are a Buyer or a Seller. At the end of the day the value lies in what two people agree upon.

What’s it worth if you bought it from your neighbor?

What’s it worth to them or what’s it worth to you?

These are two different things.

What’s it worth when your local Jewelry Store has a 50% Off Sale?
Are you really buying a bargain or is it just another ploy to get your money.

What’s it worth if it’s stolen?

Does this value represent the true figure?

If you were ‘Fagin’ in Oliver Twist, what was it worth to him?

Bet Fagin had a different price in mind when he traded with the Artful Dodger.

But what if you were the jewelry owner. What’s it worth then?
The Insurance company might have a different view to you. After all, they want to replace it as cheaply as possible, while you want it valued as high as you can. You pay the premium for the privilege, of course, but it still remains very loose.

Tip: A ‘Valuation or Appraisal’ is generally accepted as a price based on Insurance assessment. ALL other valuations flow from this one rate.

So the answer lies in some form of accepted standard which must be based on sound principles, backed by REPEATABLE formulas which can be expected to be ‘around the same figure’ no matter where you go in the world.

And thankfully, it is. Gold is Gold is gold… right?

The calculations used (behind the scene so you never need to see them) in our ‘Online Jewelry Valuation Self Appraisal Kit’ knows from your answers to multiple choice questions, exactly ‘What’s it worth’. Easy eh?

Go to the Valuation Appraisal Centre to uncover the secrets of just how stress-free it is to value your own jewelry at home or work (The address is listed at the bottom of this article) and let the ‘Kit’ do it for you.

Like humans, not all gold is created equally.

Thankfully. A lot will depend on what part of the world you come from and certainly can dramatically change the value of any jewelry item.

You may have wondered about that VERY yellow gold which comes from the Middle East or Asia. Is it the same as the gold on Sixth Avenue or Hatton Garden in old London Town?

Why is it that jewelers talk about CARAT weight in diamonds and gemstones, but also use the term CARAT when it comes to the quality of gold. Are they the same thing?

We will certainly be looking into that term in an upcoming issue.

You see, when it comes to Gold (this does not apply in quite the same magnitude for Silver or Platinum items) because it comes in more than one color and more than one quality.

You have the typical yellow gold, a green gold, the ever popular white gold which is currently making a bit of a comeback, and the sought after ‘Rose gold,’ fashionable in Victorian and Vintage Jewelry.

Each of these will have a different price structure when it comes to appraising your jewelry. Nothing dramatic, but a difference anyway.

Yet the bottom line could add several hundreds of dollars to a Bracelet or ring, so you will need to know ‘How to’ spot these distinctions in metal.

So how do you do it? By using the best tools a Valuer can possess (your eyes) while employing the greatest skills you can learn (how to measure things). Once you have these handy little methods in your arsenal, the rest is just a matter of arithmetic.

So watch out for your next issue of this mini-course, where we’ll reveal the single most important consideration when it comes to valuing ANY jewelry.

regards and please watch the road. David Foard F.G.A.A. Fellow of the Gemological Association of Australia and former member of JATVC - The Valuers Council (retired).

P.S. If you are really serious about getting a Valuation Appraisal done quickly and easily with minimum effort…. then go to the Valuation Appraisal Centre to discover just how easy it is to value your own jewelry and reproduce a Certificate on your own Printer at home or work (The address is listed below) and follow the advice given there. Couldn’t be any easier.

P.P.S.
If you administer a website or publish an ezine, please feel free to use this article as long as you leave all links in place, do not modify the content and include our resource box as listed below. Although it’s not compulsory just send me an email at gemmo1@online-jewelry-appraisals.com and let me know if and where you used it. If you need other great content - complimentary of course - then drop me a line at the email address given - ’cause I’ve got Gallons of the stuff….

David Foard has spent over 30 years in the Antique Jewelry Trade as a qualified gemologist and member of the Valuers Council. Get a FREE 10 part ‘Appraisal Course’ on How to Value your Jewelry at Home or Work by going to ==> http://www.online-jewelry-appraisals.com and grabbing yourself a
fistfull of Hints - Tips and Secrets.

gemmo1@online-jewelry-appraisals.com

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Gift for Dads:

The mom is always on the limelight when she is pregnant. Poor Dad! He is also excited as mom. It is his proudest moment too. After all it is his son or daughter too.. It would be nice to invite dad to the shower. If it is a ladies only shower, you could still get the proud Dad-to-be a gift. In this piece you will see some of the suggestions which could go as gifts for Dad.

It is the thought that counts:

The gift for dads need not be necessarily expensive. There are plenty of ideas for the perfect gift for dad to choose from. They would range from the inexpensive to the very expensive. It all depends on your budget and what you are willing to spend. Remember, it is the thought that counts, not so much the gift.

If you remember the gift that you got in the past, even the small inexpensive ones which came as a surprise were the memorable ones. They made you glad by reminding you that your friend or relative thought of you. Some of them you probably still have, like a figurine, or something more elaborate.

So the future Dad would feel just as good about getting the perfect gift for dads, especially if he wasn’t expecting to get a gift. So a surprise gift would add to his pleasure even more.

An expensive gift for dad would be nice too, but most people cannot afford to buy them. You could however all get together and get the father-to-be one gift. Let him know it came from all of you. That way nobody would feel left out of the giving. You don’t all have to give the same amount, just what you can afford.

A gift for Dad should be something which he likes or has a soft spot for. Some of the less expensive gifts could be cologne, after shave, a money clip, or gourmet coffee. If he writes letters, you could get him some manly looking stationary supplies. Or maybe something for his desk: A letter opener, paper weight, pen and pencil holder, drawer organizer, postage stamps - for the ugh! bills he has to send. Thank you notes would be the perfect gift for dads, he wouldn’t have to get them himself to thank the guests for the gifts.

Some gifts for the bedroom would be a small reading lamp, table for eating in bed, candy if he has a sweet tooth. Or maybe a bath robe, slippers, or a bath towel wrap.

If he likes jewelry, then you gift him jewelry as well. Remember, not all men like to wear jewelry. You might want to ask the mother-to-be about Dad’s tastes. An ID bracelet, necklace, earring if he wears them, or a nice ring.

If Dad works out at the YMCA or local gym, or just likes to jog he might appreciate a jogging suit, sports clothing, sport accessories, jogging shorts, ball cap, gloves for weight lifting, shirts for the gym, or maybe some sweatbands.

Golf balls or a golf club or set of clubs. Does he like racketball or tennis? Some tennis balls, a tennis racket or racketball racket for the worn out items he has now.

Does Dad like to go fishing? Pick him up some fishing lures, or a book on fishing. Maybe a gift for dad like a new reel, or rod, or rod and reel. A tackle box, some fishing accessories included, or just as is.

Hunting might be something Dad does. He would appreciate some gear related to hunting. A hunting jacket, orange cap, orange gloves, or some scents to attract the animals. A magazine subscription about one of the sports he likes.

A new watch to change his look or just to replace his old worn looking watch. Then add a billfold to make it complete.

Does he collect memorabilia? Get him memorabilia that he collects as the perfect gift for dad. Or just get him started collecting by buying him something. For example: boxing memorabilia, sports cards, or sports memorabilia.

An autographed ball, autographed jersey, or an authentic jersey of his favorite team would be good gifts for dad. There are so many sports; dad probably has a favorite sport he likes best.

If Dad likes to read, maybe he would like a magazine subscription, book or book gift basket. Lastly, a good gift for dads would be to get him a gift certificate for the local sports store, Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target, hardware store, or sports clothing store.

Again, ask his wife for help on this one. As hostess, give out some of these for a gift idea for dad in a list to the guests you are inviting.

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Randy is owner of Planning the Baby Shower where you can get more tips and ideas for your baby shower. You can also purchase and find free baby shower games. Randy owned and operated a very successful storefront/mailorder business from 1988 to 2003. Currently full time owner/operator of several online businesses.

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The best way to do this is, of course, digitally. Taking good quality pictures of jewelry for most is an unsolved mystery. However, there are some simple techniques used by the professional, which even amateur photographers can use to obtain dramatic results with minimal effort. The following examples show the basic setup that should allow anyone to achieve results they can be proud of.

The camera that I use is a Canon A520 Digital. It’s not too expensive, and if you go to our website you’ll see, it takes great pictures. The basic setup I use includes an “Ezcube” light tent to soften the shadows and eliminate glare, while providing a clean and clutter free background. I also use true color daylight balanced compact fluorescent bulbs as the main light source and clear acrylic risers to provide reflections for an added “professional touch”.

The keys to good jewelry photography are sharpness, lighting, and exposure.

Focus-

It is worth getting out your camera’s manual to find out how to put the camera in “spot focus” mode. The normal focus mode of digital cameras is some sort of average focus mode. That means that the camera will look at a wide area of a scene and base the focus on that area. Since you want to control where the camera is focusing, it’s better for jewelry photography to put the camera into spot focus mode, this will allow you to control more precisely what the camera will be focusing on. However, even in spot focus mode many digital cameras can’t really “lock-in” on a small shiny object like gemstone jewelry using auto focus. So unfortunately, for close-up jewelry photography, you need a camera with good manual focus capability.

Another key to a sharp image is a tripod. It is absolutely essential to use a tripod or similar camera support when shooting jewelry. A sturdy tripod is better than a flimsy one, but any tripod is many times better than no tripod. Use a tripod.

Lighting-

Another key to good jewelry photography is the lighting. Normally diffuse (soft) lighting works best for jewelry. You have probably already discovered that an on-camera flash does not lead to good jewelry photos. Not only is the camera’s flash too bright at such a close distance, but it is probably in the wrong position to actually light up the jewelry properly. An on camera flash will also create harsh and distracting shadows. Rather than flash, I like to use continuous lighting for product photography. Using continuous lights makes it easier to visualize what the final image will be like. I prefer daylight balanced compact fluorescent bulbs for lighting. These bulbs provide nice, natural-colored light and they produce very little heat so they can be left on for long photo sessions without over heating the photographer and everything else in the room. Even fluorescent light bulbs will need to be diffused and for that I, again, use a light tent as the diffuser. A small light tent makes it easy to reduce glare and control shadows for jewelry photography.

Exposure-

Proper exposure is also a key to good jewelry photography. If your background is actually white but appears grey in your image or if everything in your image appears darker than you would like, the image has been underexposed. It doesn’t mean you need more lights or bigger lights, it means you need to let more light get to your camera’s image sensor.

The most likely reason not enough light is getting to the camera’s image sensor is that the camera’s auto exposure mechanism has set the exposure too low. The camera’s auto exposure system doesn’t expect to see a very light background. Since it assumes the background is grey rather than white, it exposes the image to achieve a grey background rather than a white background. The result is that everything in the image appears darker than it should.

The solution is quite simple. Adjust your camera’s exposure compensation setting to slightly overexpose the image. [Nearly every digital camera has an exposure compensation setting, but you may need to read your camera’s user manual to find how to adjust yours]. Once you locate the controls for exposure compensation simply increase the exposure until the image looks correct. When photographing against a white background you will normally need to increase the exposure by about 1 to 1 1/3. (Camera makers make this confusing by labeling the exposure adjustment setting as EV, Exposure Value)

If you are comfortable with photography and understand how the camera’s aperture and shutter speed affect the exposure, you will want to pay attention to how the camera adjusts the exposure. If the camera increases the aperture it will decrease the depth of field.

A quick review:

1) In order to ensure your images are sharp, make sure you know how to focus your camera. Digital cameras with auto focus are often difficult to focus precisely, especially when shooting small objects. Read your owner’s manual and be sure you understand how your camera’s auto focus operates. Most digital cameras are designed to easily focus on large objects but have difficulty on small subjects.

2) Use a tripod, even the slightest movement when you are taking a picture will cause motion blur. The closer you get to an object the more obvious the motion blur becomes. Even an inexpensive tripod will make a big difference in the sharpness of your images. If you are going to be shooting a lot of images, it makes sense to invest in a good, stable tripod.

3) To get the largest area of your subject in focus put your camera in aperture priority mode and set the aperture to the highest number possible.

4) Use soft lighting. Your camera’s built-in flash will rarely give good results for product photography. For soft lighting either shoot outside on an overcast day or use a light tent or soft box.

5) Use imaging software. Even inexpensive software like Photoshop Elements

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