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Allied Gem Appraisers Ltd

4.7(
2
)

Appraisals - Antiques/Jewelry/Items

About us

The Internet is a major source of consumer self-education and more and more people are feeling comfortable buying diamonds, sight unseen, because the diamond comes with a certificate. A certificate contains some but not all of the information necessary to make an informed decision, and how do you know if it is even accurate? When you bring your diamond to me for a pre-purchase evaluation, or to verify the certificate, I'll ask you not to show the certificate to me until after the consultation. It's important for you to know my opinion of your diamond without any outside information playing a role in the process. I recently looked at two diamonds for a client, I graded one a VS2, and the other a VS1. Both had certificates from a major gem lab and both were graded internally flawless. I drew a diagram of the inclusions that were inside both stones, and with that my client was able to get his deposits back from both jewelry stores. He then bought a diamond from a different jeweler, saved thousands of dollars, and ended up with a prettier diamond. But just as importantly, the diamond my client bought was exactly as it was represented to be, and it didn't even have a certificate. It just proves having a diamond without a certificate can be better than having a diamond with an inaccurate certificate. The cut of the diamond is a very important factor in determining the sparkle that comes from the diamond, and is the most difficult factor to quantify. Because the cut of the diamond is so critical to the diamond's beauty, you shouldn't buy a diamond based solely on the information in a certificate. You should have someone, without a vested interest in the sale of the diamond, tell you if the cutter tried to make the biggest diamond he could, or the most brilliant. An informed buyer can then decide which one he would rather have, provided he knows exactly what he is looking at. If the cutter made the biggest diamond possible the cutter will own that diamond for a lower per carat cost. Conversely, if the cutter made the most brilliant diamond possible the cutter will own that diamond for a higher per carat cost. It's easy to understand why most cutters would opt for the biggest diamond possible because it can give the jeweler or internet source a cost advantage. If you are about to spend thousands of dollars on a diamond, from someone you've never dealt with before, my opinion of the diamond should be very important to you. Just remember the motto, "buyer beware," and realize a certificate is only a piece of paper. Also, don't share too much information with your appraiser; let me share my information with you. I am an independent jewelry appraiser, which means I do not buy or sell jewelry, so I am not competing with anyone to sell you a diamond. In other words, if your diamond was purchased locally, from the Internet or while traveling, the seller of your diamond will accept my appraisal as being an unbiased opinion. If you didn’t get what you thought you were buying you will have recourse for a possible exchange or refund depending on their return policy. Over the years I have helped more than a few people get out of a bad purchase and just as importantly I have also confirmed many good purchases. A typical single item appraisal, or a consultation, lasts about an hour and you are not asked to leave your jewelry since appraisals are done in your presence “while you wait”. I work by appointment and quite often you can make an appointment for the same day that you contact me. My normal business hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. By request I can sometimes come in earlier and on Friday's I can stay later.

Business highlights

29 years of trusted experience

Services we offer

• Internet purchase consultations • Pre-purchase evaluations • Post-purchase confirmations • Certificate verification • Insurance appraisals • Diamond Grading and Gem Identification Better quality diamonds weighing a half-carat or more will generally have a certificate, and there are only a few gem labs to grade all these stones. Who is assigning the color and clarity grades to these hundreds of thousands of diamonds? Many of those graders are newly graduated gemologists. Working as a grader in

Amenities

Senior Discount

no

Accepted payment methods

Check

Reviews

4.72 Reviews
Write a review
Number of StarsImage of DistributionNumber of Ratings
5
50%
4
0%
3
50%
2
0%
1
0%
Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
4.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
4.0
Write a review
Showing 1-2 of 2 reviews
Savokia W.
06/2016
3.0
jewelry appraisal
  + -1 more
unknown
Rating CategoryRating out of 5
Michael F.
01/2014
5.0
jewelry appraisal
  + -1 more
Kurt at Allied Gem Appraisers appraised a pair of diamond earrings and an engagement ring for me. In both cases, he was spot on with what the GIA certificate's had documented. I used his services because I had purchased the earrings from the internet and wanted to make sure I got what I paid for. Kurt gave me the piece of mind I was looking for. He explains the process to you as he is doing it and is very helpful.
Description of Work: .
Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
4.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
4.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$115

    Contact information

    29 E Madison St Ste 1102, Chicago, IL 60602

    www.alliedgemappraisers.com

    Service hours

    Monday:
    8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
    Tuesday:
    8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
    Wednesday:
    8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
    Thursday:
    8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
    Friday:
    8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

    Licensing

    Insured
    State Contractor License Requirements

    All statements concerning insurance, licenses, and bonds are informational only, and are self-reported. Since insurance, licenses and bonds can expire and can be cancelled, homeowners should always check such information for themselves. To find more licensing information for your state, visit our State Contractor License Requirements page.

    *Contact business to see additional licenses.

    Service Categories

    Appraisals - Antiques/Jewelry/Items

    FAQ

    Allied Gem Appraisers Ltd is currently rated 4.7 overall out of 5.

    Monday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

    Tuesday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

    Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

    Thursday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

    Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

    Allied Gem Appraisers Ltd accepts the following forms of payment: Check
    No, Allied Gem Appraisers Ltd does not offer free project estimates.
    No, Allied Gem Appraisers Ltd does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.
    No, Allied Gem Appraisers Ltd does not offer a senior discount.
    No, Allied Gem Appraisers Ltd does not offer emergency services.
    No, Allied Gem Appraisers Ltd does not offer warranties.
    Allied Gem Appraisers Ltd offers the following services: • Internet purchase consultations • Pre-purchase evaluations • Post-purchase confirmations • Certificate verification • Insurance appraisals • Diamond Grading and Gem Identification Better quality diamonds weighing a half-carat or more will generally have a certificate, and there are only a few gem labs to grade all these stones. Who is assigning the color and clarity grades to these hundreds of thousands of diamonds? Many of those graders are newly graduated gemologists. Working as a grader in

    Contact information

    29 E Madison St Ste 1102, Chicago, IL 60602

    www.alliedgemappraisers.com

    Service hours

    Monday:
    8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
    Tuesday:
    8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
    Wednesday:
    8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
    Thursday:
    8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
    Friday:
    8:30 AM - 4:30 PM