JEWELLERY & WATCH VALUATION FOR INSURANCE + MORE

Background & Our Process

This page contains some general information, dates, pricing, a sample valuation and then lastly, the process we work to. 

FAQs

It may be worth taking a read of our valuations for insurance frequently asked questions here before you kick off this page. It's got a lot of information in an easy to read Q&A format.

Insuring your jewellery or watches

If you would like to know about an option for insuring your jewellery or watches, you may wish to look at TH March; and for an online quote from them click here. This is one provider we know of specialising in jewellery + watches with a good reputation within our industry although we suggest you check your household policy as there may be an option there. There may be other stand alone policies available, and please seek professional insurance advice if you need it.

Selling valuations

Wondering if we'd be interested in buying your jewellery or what it's worth? Click here.

Valuations for divorce or separation

Please note these have a strict set of guidelines before we can perform an appraisal for this purpose. Read more here.

Settings checks for insurers

If you need the settings checked on your jewellery as requested by an insurance company, we can provide a formal letter. Prices below. 

Valuation dates

 

Items in by, Saturday

Appraisal day, Wednesday,

collection items 5 to 7 working days after

2024

   

September

7th

11th and 12th

October

Sept 28th 2nd

November

2nd 6th

December 

Nov 30th  4th

 Formal Valuations

Quite often people may want to have their watches or jewellery valued for insurance, probate or other specific purposes such as private sale, formal division of assets and divorce settlement.  There are also Post Loss Assessments for those people who have lost their jewellery and don’t have a valuation (helping them quantify their jewellery’s value to support an insurance claim).

You can always talk to us about your circumstances and what you want your valuation for. We’re happy to advise and guide in our comfortable central Reading shop. Have a look at the list below for a handy checklist of things to bring in to help the conversation. 

For the more technical valuations (insurance, probate, etc.) we are one of the few jewellery shops in the Reading area who appraise on-site working with registered members (MIRVs) or fellows (FIRVs) of the Institute of Registered Valuers (IRV). 

 

Valuations for insurance/ probate process

Typically our on site valuations work on a monthly cycle, on or around the first few days of each month: our schedule and valuation dates are below, book an appointment to drop off online here. We do offer valuations off site if you need it sooner than a 4 week cycle, or an express 5 working day service (subject to a £35 surcharge per item + capacity with valuers). Our valuations are usually carried out by qualified valuers with extensive experience, commonly via the Guild of Valuers

How it works

1. Booking in, at least a few days before our scheduled appraisal day. Ahead of this, we ask you to fill in our 'drop off' form, by clicking here

You will need to bring in to the shop:

  • Your articles
  • Any receipts
  • Any previous valuations
  • Any boxes, ideally original ones
  • Any warranties (even old ones), service or repair history paperwork, certificates or third party papers relating to the articles (watches or jewellery)
  • Your insurance policy’s single item limit, if needed for insurance
  • The deceased’s name and date of passing, if needed for probate
  • Please note that withholding any pertinent information will potentially void our work, require recalculations and require additional fees

We will make an initial observation of the articles based on this information and your requirements and take you through the IRV’s standard valuation checklist. We advise of any repair work required or suggested. 

2. Appraisal Day

Our valuer looks over the items, photographs them and documents all information. Your items will be ready to collect a week after (see section 3 below) after, unless we need to perform more checks - we will keep you informed of this eventuality. 

3. Research and documenting

Your actual valuation is prepared, values researched and the document created. The final version is usually ready 1 week after appraisal days, and you can collect your items at this time.

Our fees are detailed below. If applicable, we’ll advise if we need to take external advice or resource and the reasons why. 

On occasions, we may use a Non-IRV valuer, but this will always be made clear to you in advance.

A sample valuation is shown below which demonstrates the level of professional standard required by the Institute of Registered Valuers of its members.

Contact us for more information or to make an appointment.

 

Pricing

Express 5 day service attracts a £35 surcharge per item.

Please note high value valuations (£75,000 or more) will attract a fee to cover additional insurance while on site of £50 per £50,000 of value, per week with us. Please contact us for more information if you need guidance. 

If items are not collected within 4 weeks of a report being completed, they will be subject to a safe keeping charge, then disposed of after 6 months. More details are provided when dropping off your items. 

BOOKING DEPOSIT AND POSTPONEMENTS/ CANCELLATIONS

We ask for 50% deposit of the likely end bill value at the point you reserve your space with us - this is between £50 and up to a maximum of £250 for large quantities. This can be paid in store or via a secure payment link sent to you. Your space is not guaranteed until your deposit is in place.

Should you need to reschedule or cancel your reservation please contact us asap. We will try to fill your reservation but changes to your booking within 7 days off appraisal date may result in fees as a result of our now unfilled capacity.

 

MAIN FEES

PREMIUM WATCHES: All Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Cartier, Jaeger leCoultre, Patek Phillipe, Panerai, Hublot, Omega, Breitling and Tag Heuer watches attract a £30 surcharge owing to the time taken to verify authenticity. 

First time documenting Insurance, probate, family division + most common valuations to IRV standard valuation

 

Valuations are provided as an electronic PDF file, paper copies are an additional £10

 

£100 for first item, £75 for subsequent items - please see above for watch info

 

£200 per hour multiple with 3 to 4 items per hour a guide - please see above for watch info

 

We reserve the right to quote for unusual item/s or batches  (3/4 + items depending on types) and can advise at the time - contact us for a better idea.

 

Jacobs purchases are entitled to a complimentary Proof of Purchase for Valuation1 with replacement price at time of sale.

To upgrade to an IRV standard valuation, a 25% discount is applied to published IRV prices.

 

Revaluing a Jacobs previous IRV valuation

Valuations are provided as an electronic PDF file, paper copies are an additional £10

£75 per item 

or

£200 per hour multiple with 3 to 4 items per hour a guide

Please see above for watch info

 

1 Updating a Jacobs Certificate of Proof of Purchase

NB from 12 months after purchase and not a formal valuation

£35

 

Setting appraisal /  Claw Check /  Claw inspection

A formal letter confirming your item of jewellery’s setting is in good condition

£50

 

Post Loss Assessment

 

please see above for watch info

From Jacobs

£75 per item deductible from subsequent purchases.

 

Or:

£200 per hour multiple with 2 to 6 items per hour a guide. Pro rata deduction from subsequent purchases.

 

All prices include VAT. Effective June 2024.

 

Sample Valuation

Click here to see a sample valuation document.  

 

 

Book your appointment (recommended)