Services and Fee Schedule

Authentication & Historical Analysis

For More Information of these Services Click Here.

Authentication & Historical Service Costs:

• ​Verbal Historical Evaluation: $25 
• Written Historical Evaluation: $95
• Maker Identification: $300 (hallmark help)
• Designer Authentication: $250
• Verbal Hallmark Evaluation: $175
• Add Photo on Appraisal: Additional $25 per item
  

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Find out if your jewelry is antique, a reproduction, a marriage, genuine, or counterfeit. ​
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*Rush Service available on most services
​​*Some items may require advanced testing.
​*Service cost does not include shipping, insurance, or storage fees

 Insurance Appraisals 
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For More Information on Insurance Appraisals Click Here.

Insurance Appraisal Service Costs:

• Per Item written: $75 
• Watches: $150/item

• Signed & Designer Jewelry: $150/ item (when maker is known, proof of genuine)
• Maker Identification: $300 (hallmark help)
• Designer Authentication: $250
• Hourly written: (4 items per hour) $250
• Add Photo on Appraisal: Additional $25 per item

*Travel time to be billed separately if meeting outside our office.  The current travel fee is $125/hour and does not include other travel expenses (ex. tolls, airfare, lodging, food, etc.).  If applicable, these items will be billed separately. 
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​​*Rush Service available on most services
​*Some items may require advanced testing.
​*Service cost does not include shipping, insurance, or storage fees

Gem Identification
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For More Information on Gemstone and Diamond Appraisals Click Here.

Gemstone Identification Service Costs:

• Verbal Gem ID: $50
• Written Gem ID: $75
• Diamond or Gem Cutting Analysis: $150
• Diamond Cutting Analysis with Sarine: $425
• Submit to a Lab: *Price varies based on Service and laboratory type we use the services of GIA, AGL, Mason Kay and others
• Add Photo on Appraisal: Additional $25 per item
  

​Additional Testing: Determined Per Item- Stated prior to incurring charges

​*Rush Service available on most services
*Service cost does not include shipping, insurance, or storage fees
​*Some items may require advanced testing

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Estate Appraisals

For More Information on Estate Appraisals Click Here.
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​Estate Appraisal Service Costs:

• Per Item written: $75 (insurance, estate, or market purposes)NOTE: Items sold to us after written appraisal- appraisal fees credited
• Watches Estate Appraisal: $150/item
  
• Signed Jewelry Appraisal: $150/item
• Hourly written: (4 items per hour) $250  NOTE: Items sold to us after written appraisal- appraisal fees credited​
• Add Photo on Appraisal: Additional $25 per item
• ​Liquidation: FREE - for a verbal offer to purchase your items.  What We Purchase

​NOTE: Items sold to us after the estate appraisal will be credited back for the written appraisal

​​​*Rush Service available on most services
​*Some items may require advanced testing.
​*Service cost does not include shipping, insurance, or storage fees

Metal Analysis

For More Information on Metallic Analysis Click Here.
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​Metal Analysis Service Costs:

• General Metal Purity: $40 (verbal)
• XRF Metallic Analysis:  $50 (determines precious metals only) (verbal)
• XRF Advanced Analysis: $250 (verbal)
• XRF Metallic Analysis: $400 Full analysis (written)
• Add Photo on Appraisal: Additional $25 per item

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​​​*Rush Service available on most services
​*Some items may require advanced testing.
​*Service cost does not include shipping, insurance, or storage fees

Expert Witness & Court Matters

For More Information on Expert Witness & Court Related Matters Click Here.
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​Expert Witness & Court Related Costs:

• Retainer Fee: $1000
• Review Fee: $600
• ​Hourly: $300 per hour
• Daily: $1600 per 8 hour day (including one hour lunch; does not include travel time to be billed separately) 

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*Travel time to be billed at the standard full hourly rate, additional costs relating to travel to be billed. 
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​​*Rush Service available on most services
​*Some items may require advanced testing.
​*Service cost does not include shipping, insurance, or storage fees, travel fees, etc​

*Note: Rush service fee is generally double the cost of the original service but could be more: please contact us for Rush Services
*Note: All pricing does not include shipping, insurance, or storage fees and will be billed separately based on service selected
*Note: If for legal purposes travel time to be billed at the standard full hourly rate, additional costs relating to travel to be billed. 

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Complimentary Initial Consultations

We have appraised and or purchased over $988,000,000 of items.  ​

Velvet Box Society offers comprehensive appraisal services by Gemologists who are Graduates of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). 

​Our appraisers are highly trained specialists in the areas of antique and estate jewelry, buying and evaluations, as well as insurance replacements. We follow a strict code of ethics and are committed to promoting responsible business practices in a clear and accountable manner throughout the jewelry industry. Our services include:

• Pre- and Post- purchase evaluations
• Insurance appraisals
• Tax, estate and probate appraisals
• Liquidation and inventory appraisals
• Grading reports for diamonds and gemstones
• Gemstone identification
• Expert witness testimony
• Forensic and damage reports
• Private consultations
• Diamond investment sales and purchases
• Museum Appraisals
• Pre Auction Appraisals

To arrange an appointment please contact us.

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Appraisal Documents

An appraisal can be done on any item of jewelry, timepiece, or coin regardless of the composition, style, or condition. The purpose of an appraisal is to assign a precise dollar value for an item, often for insurance purposes. An appraisal might also be necessary to settle an estate or other valuation procedures or also be used to verify an item's true market value before making a purchase. Since the market values change, we recommend having jewelry appraisals updated approximately every two years. 

We include:

• Weights, measures, and details of each piece
• Gemstones are identified, graded, measured, and described in detail.
• Certificates will be copied, provided or mentioned if possible.
• Metal content will be determined including purity, type, color, weight, finish, style etc.
• Photo-micrographs (photos through the microscope) are available if needed for an additional charge
• Grading systems and any special terminology as well as appraisal types will be named

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Laboratory Reports

A laboratory or grading report describes a gemstone or diamond. Reports may differ for diamonds and colored gems, but documentation usually includes specifics about carat weight and dimensions, color and clarity grades, and items relating to the gemstone's cut and shape.   We offer the capability of providing you with a report from the worlds foremost authority in gemology: GIA (The Gemological Institute Of America) as well as other notable Gemological Laboratories such as AGL (American Gemological Laboratory), Mason Kay and others.

BRIAN TY BERGER G.G. GIA
Brian Ty Berger G.G. GIA is a professional, independent appraiser of large diamonds, fine jewelry, gemstones, and antique jewelry. He has earned a Graduate Gemologist degree from the Gemological Institute of America.  He lectures on gemstones, diamonds, investment diamonds, and jewelry. 
He specializes in diamond and jewelry appraisals and works with attorneys on estates, trusts, insurance matters, as well as appraisal theories and concepts. He is also an outside expert and consults with numerous galleries and dealers on gemstone identification and evaluation.

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