How often should jewellery be revalued?
A valuation is an opinion at a stated effective date, not a permanent property of the item. Markets move, replacement routes change and jewellery can be altered, repaired or damaged. A sensible revaluation policy therefore combines a routine review interval with earlier triggers for material change.
There is no universal interval
Many jewellers use a periodic reminder as a practical service standard, but the appropriate interval depends on the item, the volatility of its components, the market used and the insurer’s current requirements. Customers should check their policy rather than rely on a general rule alone.
A certificate should record its effective date and, where appropriate, a recommendation to review the figure. It should not imply that cover continues automatically until that date.
Events that justify an earlier review
A customer should consider an earlier revaluation when the item or the evidence supporting it has materially changed. The point is to keep the description and value aligned with what would actually need to be replaced.
- A significant repair, remount, resize or alteration
- A new laboratory report, attribution or maker identification
- Material damage, missing stones or a notable condition change
- Sharp movements in the relevant metal, gemstone, watch or signed-jewellery market
- A change in insurer, policy terms, country or intended valuation purpose
Revaluation is more than changing the number
Simply applying a percentage uplift to an old certificate can miss repairs, wear, treatment disclosures, changes in comparable supply and errors in the original description. A proper review should confirm the item, condition, evidence and market basis before updating the conclusion.
For stable, well-documented items, prior records can make the review faster. They should remain evidence, not a substitute for the current inspection required by the engagement.
Build a responsible reminder workflow
Store the valuation date, certificate reference and the customer’s communication preferences. Reminders should be optional, relevant and easy to stop. Avoid language that creates urgency without evidence or implies that an expired recommendation automatically invalidates insurance.
- Ask for explicit permission before sending non-transactional reminders
- Explain why a review may be useful rather than claiming it is mandatory
- Link to booking or contact information, not to an automatic value increase
- Keep an audit trail of the new inspection and superseded certificate
What the customer should bring back
Ask the customer to bring the item, the earlier certificate, relevant purchase or repair records, laboratory reports and any changes in insurance requirements. That gives the valuer a clearer starting point and reduces avoidable follow-up.
Questions jewellers ask
Is jewellery revaluation mandatory every two or three years?
Not universally. It is a common service interval in some markets, but the item, policy and insurer requirements should determine the actual timing.
Can software automatically update an old jewellery value?
Software can provide references and reminders, but a new professional conclusion may require inspection, current evidence and a review of the valuation basis.
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Walk through a fictional customer, item, value and certificate. The public demo needs no account, saves nothing and requests no Shopify access.
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This guide is general operational information for jewellery businesses. Professional, legal, tax and insurer requirements differ by jurisdiction and engagement; confirm the rules that apply to your work.