Antique diamond jewelry is valuable because of its rarity and beauty. If you have antique diamond jewelry, you should have it appraised every 3 to 5 years by a certified jewelry appraiser. A certified jewelry appraiser is a skilled professional who has expertise in precious and semi-precious gemstones and metals and is certified by national and international jewelry appraisal associations and societies. A jewelry appraiser with a certification from one of the following associations and societies means that he or she is properly educated and has current knowledge of the very latest gemological information and grading systems:

Once you have found a certified appraiser that you wish to use, he or she can evaluate and appraise your antique jewelry according to the four Cs of diamond standards. Ask your appraiser for a written appraisal that documents where your antique diamond jewelry fits within the following diamond standards:

  • Diamond Color - Colorless diamonds are the rarest of natural diamonds and the most valuable. Natural colored diamonds are color-graded on a precise tonal scale that ranges from colorless to saturated with color. Natural colored diamonds come in colors ranging from red, pink, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, brown, gray, and black.
  • Diamond Cut - The cuts that form the facets of the table, crown, pavilion, and culet of your antique diamonds have precise and perfect angles. This means that all of the square, rectangular, and triangular facets of a diamond should be identical to each other. The cuts of these facets should be smooth, uniform, perfectly proportioned, and meet precisely at critical angles that reflect light. 
  • Diamond Clarity - Diamonds are formed under tremendous pressure and heat from the center of the earth and have microscopic inclusions. The fewer inclusions that an antique diamond has, the more valuable it is. 
  • Diamond Carat Weight - This diamond standard measures the total weight of your antique diamond gemstones. Carat weight does not determine the value of a diamond. It is solely a way of judging a diamond's size and weight.  

It is a good idea to have your antique diamond jewelry photographed every time you have it appraised. This will document the condition of your jewelry at the time of appraisal and is a valuable record for insurance purposes. 

Throughout history, diamond jewelry has been a valuable possession of kings, queens, and the wealthy that signifies strength, endurance, and beauty. By taking proper care of your antique diamond jewelry and having it professionally appraised and insured, you are affirming these qualities and creating a historical record. 

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