Welcome to
gLOBUS aPPRAISAL
EXPERT APPRAISALS. TRUSTED RESULTS.
OUR STORY
GLOBUS APPRAISAL is an independent gem lab to serve the Los Angeles area. GLOBUS APPRAISAL provides professional Gemological Appraisal & Laboratory Services to the jewelry trade, and private owners of jewelry and watches (by appointment only). Our laboratory services are also available for Customs, Bankruptcy, Estate, and Insurance purposes. GLOBUS APPRAISAL handles your valued collections with the utmost care. Our gemologist can also provide independent consultancy if you require our expertise before an important acquisition. We rely on industry-recognized standards, and equipment when inspecting jewelry and watches.
THE PROCESS
our story
Independent & Arms Length Process:
Today’s consumer demands trust and professionalism when dealing with high-value assets. Our process is completely independent from that of a buyer or seller. We consult with our client and determine the purpose of the inspection. We inspect the items as an independent gemologist and start with a general visual inspection, noting any defects, scratches, chips, and/or breakage. We then identify the metal content and look for any hallmarks, or branding on the metal. We then identify the gemstones involved and determine color, clarity, cut, weight, and any treatment applicable to the gemstone. We also refer to any accompanied lab paper trail, and or original proof of purchase to confirm the piece being observed. Once we have enough qualitative and quantitative gemological data, we then proceed to the valuation phase, if required. Valuation is determined based on all our findings as noted above, and depending on the purpose of the inspection, a value is reached based on a formula that applies above wholesale cost and production of the item.
APPRAISAL
Importance of Appraisal Documentation:
Detailed documentation of your treasured Jewelry is a critical piece when the item is acquired, gifted, or received. Without a detailed professional Appraisal, there would be little or no recourse in case of a loss or damage. It is highly recommended you obtain a professional Appraisal for your valued jewelry collection. Some details related to this topic are discussed below.
Purpose: The purpose of an Appraisal document can vary depending on who is requesting the work and for what reason. Some types are Appraisals are Wholesale, Estate, Insurance, Fair market, Retail Insurance Replacement, and Customs. The calculation and by extension, the total valuation of the item would vary depending on the stated purpose of the Appraisal.
Updating your appraisal documentation: GLOBUS APPRAISAL prepares all its Appraisals with a validity period of 5 years. This gives our clients peace of mind that the document is good for several years, and they can insure accordingly. We highly recommend you update your old appraisals upon expiration by sending us an email with a copy of your old appraisal and keep up your records. The new appraisal would reflect current market conditions, and the final value may vary up or down accordingly.
Lab Certificates are different from Appraisals in that they represent a detailed gemological analysis using advanced lab equipment to identify, measure, grade, test, and document the results. Appraisers, who often may not have advanced testing equipment can then rely on Lab Certificates and proceed with their valuation work with confidence.
Guidelines: it is important that any advanced lab document the limitations of their equipment on the certificates they issue. The process ought to be strictly arm's length, void of any influence. Terms and conditions, and Limitations that govern the Lab services provided must be disclosed to the client in writing.
Purpose: The primary purpose of a Lab Certificate is to identify the material before the gemologist prepares the certificate, using the appropriate advanced testing equipment, and his/her knowledge, to reach a logical conclusion based on what the data supports.
THE SCIENCE OF GEMOLOGY
Gemology is the study of gemstones and is considered as a branch of Mineralogy. The Fundamental Education in gemology for jewelers began in the nineteenth century. It was the National Association of Goldsmiths of Great Britain (NAG), that set up a gemological group for serving the jewelry trade and then founded the Gemmological Association of Great
Britain (Gem-A), is an educational charity and accredited awarding body with its courses taught worldwide.
The first gemological laboratory serving the jewelry trade was established in London in 1925, prompted by the influx of the newly developed "cultured pearl" and advances in the synthesis of rubies and sapphires.
There are now many professional gem laboratories around the world requiring ever more advanced equipment and experience to identify new challenges - such as treatments for gems, new synthetics, and other new materials. Gemstones are categorized based on their crystal structure, specific gravity, refractive index, and other optical properties, such as pleochroism. The physical property of "hardness" is defined by the Mohs scale of mineral hardness.
Gemologists study these factors while valuing or appraising cut and polished gemstones. Gemological microscopic study of the internal structure is used to determine whether a gem is synthetic or natural by revealing natural fluid inclusions or partially melted exogenous crystals that are evidence of heat treatment to enhance color.
The spectroscopic analysis of cut gemstones also allows a gemologist to understand the atomic structure and identify its origin, which is a major factor in valuing a gemstone. For example, a ruby from Burma will have definite internal and optical activity variance from a Mozambique ruby.
Gemologists use a variety of tools and equipment that allow for accurate tests to be performed in order to identify a gemstone by its specific characteristics and properties.
• These include: Corrected 10X Loupe, Microscope, Refractometer, Polarizing Filter, Magnifying Eyepiece, Contact Liquid for RI (Refractive Index) up to 1.81
• Polariscope, Optic Figure sphere, Dichroscope, Spectroscope (Handheld or Desktop)
• Penlight
• Tweezers
• Stone Cloth
Additional Tools such as a color filter, immersion cell, UV Light can also be helpful
STONES
· Diamonds are known as the hardest natural substance, and are rated 10 out of 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, which ranges from 1 for very soft materials, to 10 for the hardest. Their hardness, coupled with their rarity, beauty, and resilience makes Diamonds the most alluring of all gems. While all classic gems can be valuable, Diamonds are the ones that are considered the top choice as a store of wealths.
• Rubies are 8 out of 10 on Moh’s hardness scale and have always been the perfect romantic gift but their rich color not only signifies passion, but also wealth and success. If Sapphires are the Gem of Kings, then Rubies are the King of Gems. Rubies are the rarest form of Red Corundum, with traces of Chromium yielding the Red color. Rubies prices are based on their origin, color tone, as well as their size. Unheated Rubies command a strong premium. Important Ruby origins are Burma, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and more recently, East Africa, and Mozambique producing top quality.
• Sapphires are also 8 out of 10 on Moh’s hardness scale and have long been connected with royalty and the elite throughout history. In recent years, we have seen a new demand for quality unheated Blue Sapphries, coupled with further requests for Fancy colored Sapphires, including Pink, Yellow, and the rare Padpadradsha Sapphire. Sapphires are prized for their beautiful colors in larger sizes. The origin of a Sapphire can influence the price greatly. For example, Kashmir Sapphires are highly sought after due to their velvety blue appearance, and scarcity. Burmese and Sri Lankan gems are also prized for their color, and recently, Madagascar has become an important source of producing fine examples. The color tone and saturation in Blue, Pink, Yellow, Purple, and Padpadradsha Sapphires are all judged based on fine color, size, and clarity, with unheated examples from important origins leading the price charts.
• Emeralds belong to the Beryl family of minerals, which also include Morganite and Aquamarine. Emeralds are quite resilient, with a Mohs hardness of 7.5-8. These beautiful gems owe their vibrant green color to traces of Chromium and sometimes Vanadium. Generally, the 4C’s apply to Emeralds as they do to other gems, however, Color and Carat weight take priority when it comes to pricing. Clarity is also important, however, very few Emeralds ever reach perfection, partly due to high levels of naturally occurring inclusions, and partly because of the use of dynamite blasting in the mining process, which causes fractures and lines in the gem material. Most Emeralds are oiled, which is an acceptable treatment in the gem trade, and helps to improve the clarity of the gemstone. Fine Emeralds with minor or no oil treatment command a strong premium, as does the origin. Colombia remains one of the most sought-after origins for an Emerald, however, in recent years, Afghanistan has been producing fine quality that can rival the top Colombian examples. Zambia is another important source, with fine specimen being produced.
THE FOUR C’S
Carat
Carat is the weight unit used for gemstones, which is equal to 1/5th of a gram. The higher the Carat weight of a Diamond, the higher the price per carat.
Color
Diamonds are graded on a scale of rare categories from completely colorless to those showing more body color. The color grading scale was introduced by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) as follows:
Diamonds graded at the top of the color scale are void of any color tone, are rare, and highly valued. The higher the color grade, the higher the price it commands.
Clarity
GIA has also introduced a clarity grading system, which ranges from rare perfect grades (Flawless) to those with increasing amounts of impurities trapped inside the Diamond. These impurities are called Inclusions. The higher the clarity, the higher the price.
Cut Grade
GIA has introduced several grades for cutting and finishing a Diamond (show GIA Cut Scale). Well-cut gems that have a maximum light return, and are close to Ideal proportions are graded as Excellent. The Cut from there goes to Very Good where the cutter reaches a result that is slightly below the Ideal proportions, and from there, we go down to Good, Fair, and Poor. Again, the value starts to drop as we move down the Cut Scale. Many factors influence how a Diamond is to be cut, such as the shape of the rough crystal, the cutting plan, weight retention decisions, natural graining, and position of inclusions in the rough. The skill of the cutter is not to be underestimated in the make and the final beauty of a Diamond.
Shape
After mining, Diamonds can be cut and polished into many different shapes, including Round, Heart, Pear, Marquise, and Princess Cuts to name a few. Cutting is a painstakingly challenging process, where the approach has to be planned carefully to maximize weight yield, and beauty in the finished product.
To get your report, please include your report number and the date of the report.
You will receive a copy of your report in 3 business days.