What is a Diamond Appraiser?

A diamond appraiser is a trained professional who determines the value of diamonds. She normally appraises loose stones as well as those mounted in rings, brooches, bracelets and necklaces. Diamond studded tie tacks, tie bars, cuff links and money clips are also regularly appraised by a person in this profession. A diamond appraiser may work for a pawnbroker, jewelry retailer, appraisal company, insurance firm or auction house or contract her services independently to commercial entities or individuals.

The three main jobs of a diamond appraiser generally include that of identifier, valuer and witness to the property. She is commonly required to verify the type of precious metal or other materials encasing the diamond and assess the quality of the piece’s overall artisanship. The item is then given a ranking that indicates how it measures up to comparable pieces.

After the identification process, the diamond appraiser is typically expected to assign the piece a monetary value. This value is typically based on the quality of the materials as well as the current market value of diamonds, gold, platinum or silver. As witness to the property, she is authorized to testify under oath about the worth and condition of the item at the time of the appraisal.

To accurately assess a diamond’s worth, the appraiser must judge four main aspects of the stone. These customarily include clarity, color, cut and carat weight. Each of these features must be precisely judged to accurately evaluate the overall value of the diamond. The appraiser generally uses several jewelers’ tools to make her evaluation.

The clarity refers to the clearness of the diamond when it is examined by the appraiser with intense light that reveals the internal and external imperfections on the stone. A diamond’s color may affect its worth, and typically ranges from colorless to yellow, gray or brown. Very unique diamonds may have colors such as red, pink green or blue in them, hues so rare that they normally increase the value of the stone.

The cut of a diamond normally can indicate to the appraiser how the stone was finished and polished. Typically, the more precise and numerous the cuts, the more brilliant the diamond shines, which can significantly affect its market value. The carat weight is the unit of measure used for diamonds and other precious and semiprecious stones. The larger the carat, the more valuable the stone generally is.

A diamond appraiser is typically required to have formal training at a vocational or technical school in gemology or a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in fine arts. Certification from professional gemologist organizations is often required of an aspiring diamond appraiser. Companies frequently offer internships to those wishing to pursue a career as a diamond appraiser.