Checklist
What should be on a jewellery valuation certificate?
A valuation certificate is only useful if an insurer will accept it — and if, at claim time, a loss adjuster can use it to replace the item precisely. This is the field-by-field checklist of what a proper jewellery valuation certificate should contain. If you’re unsure which value to put on it, start with how to value jewellery for insurance — insurance uses replacement value, not resale.
The header — who and when
- Business name, address, contact — yours, as the valuer
- Valuer’s name and credentials — who actually assessed it
- Certificate / reference number
- Date of valuation — a valuation is a snapshot; prices move
- Customer name
The item description — enough to replace it exactly
- Item type — e.g. solitaire engagement ring, tennis bracelet
- Metal and fineness — e.g. 18ct white gold, 950 platinum
- Total weight in grams
- Hallmarks and maker’s marks, recorded as present
- Overall condition — new, excellent, worn
- Measurements — ring size, chain length, dimensions
The stones — the part that moves the value most
For every significant stone:
- Stone type — diamond, sapphire, emerald
- Cut / shape — round brilliant, oval, emerald cut
- Estimated carat weight (state “estimated” if not removed and weighed)
- Colour and clarity grade — and whether these are visual estimates or from a report
- Setting — claw, bezel, pavé
- Lab report reference — GIA / IGI / HRD number if one exists
The valuation — clearly labelled
- Replacement value in local currency, explicitly stated as “for insurance / retail replacement”
- The basis of valuation in a sentence
- Any assumptions or limitations (e.g. “stones assessed in setting”)
The essentials that make it defensible
- Photograph(s) of the item alongside the description
- Valuer’s signature
- A note on recommended re-valuation (typically every 2–3 years)