Jewellery Appraisals Information

Our Process

Our Jewellery Appraisal Process

A complete and accurate appraisal should be the result of a thorough evaluation. At Stellar Gem Services, we don’t write typical one-page documents that are often missing important details, because we take the time to examine every gemstone, assay mark, and other important components of your jewellery—including its overall condition. If your jewellery requires repair, we will suggest what should be done, and you can decide what the next step will be. It is always best to address deficiencies (such as worn prongs)that will affect the appraised value.

Our Jewellery Appraisal Process

Our Process

A complete and accurate appraisal should be the result of a thorough evaluation. At Stellar Gem Services, we don’t write typical one-page documents that are often missing important details, because we take the time to examine every gemstone, assay mark, and other important components of your jewellery—including its overall condition. If your jewellery requires repair, we will suggest what should be done, and you can decide what the next step will be. It is always best to address deficiencies (such as worn prongs)that will affect the appraised value.

It's All in the Details

In addition to standard gemmological tools, we are fortunate to have a complete suite of industry-specific scientific equipment that can help in differentiating between natural gemstones and treated stones, simulants, and synthetics. After all, it is only after a thorough analysis that the appraisal process can begin.

Stellar Gem Services is proud to use MAGILab ™ of Finland advanced gemmological instruments and Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Niton X-ray Fluorescence Precious Metal Analyzer (XRF)

Our Process

X-ray Fluorescence

  • Precious metals alloy percentages (karat weight for gold, absolute percentages for platinum, silver, etc). For example, stamped ‘14K’ jewellery should contain 58.3% gold, and If there is a difference between that karat stamp and the actual karatage, you will know right away. There are benefits to observing the evaluation process.
  • The origin of pearls: are they saltwater or freshwater?
    Determining the source greatly affects the value.
Our Process

MAGILab ™ Gemmosphere ™ UV-Vis NIR Spectrometer

In using this spectrometer, we can examine a sample’s absorption spectrum. Since every diamond and gemstone absorbs light at different wavelengths, knowing a spectral signature can be very useful in the analysis process. Why is this important? Here is an example: at first glance, two emeralds appear identical, but in using UV-Vis NIR technology, it can be determined that one stone is Colombian and the other is Zambian (Africa). Considering the discrepancy between their respective per-carat costs, the distinction matters in valuing the emeralds.

MAGILab ™ GemmoRaman-532 ™ Raman Spectrometer

  • Can determine the identity of an opaque, translucent, or transparent gem, by finding the best matches in an onboard, worldwide database.
  • Is able to separate natural from synthetic gemstones.
  • Can detect treatments and colour enhancements.

MAGILabs’ EXA ™ - The Natural Diamond Detector

  • Uses strong longwave ultraviolet light to examine a diamond’s photoluminescence, which can help determine if the stone is natural or lab grown (synthetic).
  • A handheld probe means that there is no limit to testing due to the diamond’s size, or whether it is mounted or not.
  • In advanced mode, the fluorescence spectrum of some coloured gems can be compared to a reference database to assist in identifying possible treatments.
Our Process
Our Process

We stand behind the quality of our work and carefully examine your fine jewellery—right in front of you, while you wait—in our comfortable, advanced state-of-the-art gem lab. No need to send your precious fine jewellery away, or out of your sight for days or even weeks, at additional risk and expense. Please contact us for more details.

Have Your Jewellery Appraised
In Person By Our
Master Valuer Gemmologist

CALL 250-864-7619

Our Recommendations

We can recommend reliable and trustworthy companies for:

  • Buying and selling precious metals
  • Repairs and custom gold/silversmithing
  • Pearl re-stringing
  • Custom jewellery design
  • Consignment of jewellery
  • Auction services for estate jewellery or general cleanup of an estate