Jewellery Valuation for Probate

Probate Jewellery Valuation Or Confirmation Of Will

When valuing the chattels of an estate for probate an executor must include any jewellery that the deceased owned or had an interest in. It is one of the assets that HMRC will want valued and included for Inheritance Tax calculations.

The key is not to be led by an insurance valuation, because this is likely to be based on a replacement value – new for old.

Market Value Counts

Our probate jewellery valuation and assessment is based on:

“the sum likely to be achieved at auction or by selling the jewellery to the trade”

This includes:

• quality,
• age,
• precious metal value,
• prevailing tastes, the
• condition and
• state of wear

This is the valuation required by HMRC.

In this way, our expert jewellery valuers and gemologists provide credible and accurate valuations.  Their professional standing also means the valuations are readily accepted by Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs.

Our valuers have a wealth of knowledge, and between them they have over 90 years of experience.  This is your assurance that Avery Associates apply only the highest standards when valuing your jewellery for probate.

Because of this, we are regularly engaged by national and international law firms, administrators and executors.

Valuation Of Watches, Precious Stones, Vintage & Modern Jewellery

The Types Of Jewellery And Watches We Value

Avery Associates are able to value items such as:

• Gold, Silver, Platinum and all types of jewellery.
• Modern, of this century, Victorian or Regency pieces.
• Single and multi stone diamond rings, brooches and necklaces.
• Rubies and all other large precious stones of high carat and grade.

We carry out probate valuations of rare costume jewellery and expensive modern items.  This includes watches such as:

• Rolex, Pateke Philippe, IWC, Breguet, Blancpain, Louis Moinet, Audemars Piguet, Piaget, Roger Dubuis, Panerai, Jaeger LeCoultre, Vacheron Constantin, A. Lange & Sohne, Tiffany

We also provide valuations for other rare antique or valuable jewellery by makers such as:

• Harry Winston, Van Cleef & Arpels, Piaget, Bulgari, Cartier, Chopard, Graff, Efva Attling Stockholm, Autore, Costis and more.

Unlike other valuers, we include our valuation as part of our fixed probate valuation fee.  This service incurs no extra charge.

To arrange a probate jewellery valuation,or for a free consultation, contact us on any of the numbers above.

Commonly Asked Questions:

We need to have jewellery valued for probate.  How does it work ?

Once you instruct us, one of our experienced valuers will visit you.  They will be able to value your jewellery accurately and produce the required reports.

Can you value bequests that specify jewellery listed in a will ?

Yes.  We will value each item bequested separately and confirm the Will and its directions.

My late mother had a diamond engagement ring.  Can you confirm it’s genuine and value it accurately ?

Yes, our jewellery experts can value a ring of any size or configuration.

Why is an insurance valuation of jewellery different to that of a probate valuation ?

An insurance value is a full retail or replacement value.  A probate valuation is the value if the item were sold to the trade or to a willing buyer from a willing seller.

There is a considerable amount of costume jewellery.  Does it have value and should it be included on a valuation report ?

Yes.  We can value it, and sometimes costume jewellery can be valuable so we will recognise it immediately.

My father had a large collection of watches.  Can you identify any valuable or rare models ?

Yes, we can easily identify any valuable watches and provide their true value.  We will also value regular timepieces.

I want to purchase an item of jewellery from the estate.  What should I do ?

Simply let our valuer know which item that you wish to purchase.  We will provide it’s own price so that you can legitimately acquire it from the estate.

Do wedding and engagement rings need to be valued for probate or are they exempt ?

Sadly, yes, they need to be included.  Inheritance Tax rules require a valuation for even the most personal belongings.

How do you value a diamond ring ?

The value of a diamond ring is based on several factors, including.

• Is the ring old or modern?
• Is the setting made of platinum , gold or silver?
• Whether the stone is actually a diamond or just a simulated stone?
• How big is the stone and is it a good quality diamond?
• What is the weight, cut, colour and clarity of the diamond?

The valuers at Avery Associates consider all of these questions.  Extensive research is undertaken to grade each individual stone.  The valuation is only released once this is completed.

We also check the hallmarks of the setting.  This helps determine who made the piece and decide:

• Is it a mass produced item or an important commission by one of the main jewellery houses?
• Is the piece currently fashionable to wear or would it appeal more to a jewellery collector?

When all these factors are assessed it is possible to make a considered valuation.   This applies equally to a diamond ring, brooch or other piece of fine jewellery.