Jewellery Appraisals for Vancouver
Written replacement-value appraisals for insurance, estates, and probate, prepared on-site by our own jeweller, a short trip from Vancouver to our Coquitlam workshop.
Need a written appraisal your Vancouver insurer will actually accept? Mehran Rahbaran, Vanhess Jewellery's Master Goldsmith, examines, tests, and grades your piece in person at our Coquitlam workshop, a one-seat Millennium Line ride or 35 to 45 minute drive from downtown. You get a replacement-value report built for insurance, estate work, or resale, signed by the same person who examined the piece.
Why an in-person appraisal matters
A mail-in or desk appraisal can only work from photos and your description. At Vanhess, Mehran tests your metal and grades your stones himself, then signs the report, so the valuation reflects a piece he has physically examined. Jewelers Mutual recommends updating a written appraisal every two years as metal and stone prices move, which matters most for anything scheduled on a Vancouver home or renters policy.
What the report covers
- Insurance scheduling: a current replacement-value figure most insurers require before adding a ring or fine-jewellery item to your policy.
- Estate and probate: fair-market valuations when jewellery is being divided among family or settled through an estate.
- Diamond grading: principal stones assessed against the GIA 4Cs standard, with any existing GIA report verified through GIA Report Check.
- Full documentation: metal, purity, carat weight, measurements, condition, photographs, and a dated replacement value your insurer or executor can rely on.
Making the trip from Vancouver worth it
Appraisal fees are charged per item, never as a percentage of value (a percentage fee is a conflict of interest, since it rewards a higher number). The fee is confirmed before we start, and most single-item appraisals finish during your visit or within a few business days, so one trip from Vancouver usually covers it. We're a two-minute walk from Coquitlam Central SkyTrain, with free parking if you drive.
Appraisal questions
Is it worth coming from Vancouver instead of using a downtown appraiser?
For most Vancouver clients, yes: Mehran tests and grades your piece himself and signs the report, and the trip is a two-minute walk from Coquitlam Central SkyTrain. A mail-in service can't offer that direct, in-person assessment.
Will my Vancouver insurer accept an appraisal from a Coquitlam jeweller?
Yes. Insurers accept a written appraisal based on its content and the appraiser's credentials, not the store's postal code. Our reports include the metal, purity, carat weight, and a dated replacement value that insurance policies ask for.
How often should I update my appraisal?
Jewelers Mutual suggests every two years, since gold, platinum, and diamond prices change. Check your specific policy, since some insurers set a different requirement.
Do I need an appraisal to insure my engagement ring?
Usually yes. Most insurers require a current written appraisal before they'll schedule a specific ring or fine-jewellery item on your policy, which is exactly the replacement-value report we prepare.
Can you appraise a piece I didn't buy from Vanhess?
Yes, from any source, including inherited and estate pieces. Bring any existing GIA reports or receipts you have and we'll factor them into the valuation.
What does a GIA report actually verify?
A GIA report grades a diamond against the 4Cs (cut, colour, clarity, carat) using GIA's own lab standards. If your stone carries one, you can confirm it's genuine yourself through GIA Report Check before you even come in.
How much does an appraisal cost?
We charge per item, never as a percentage of value, and confirm the exact fee before starting. A percentage-of-value fee creates an incentive to inflate the number, which is why we don't use one.
Can you appraise an estate or inherited collection?
Yes, we prepare fair-market valuations for settling an estate or dividing jewellery among family, examining each piece in person rather than working from a list.
Bring it to our Coquitlam bench
Walk in for a free assessment during mall hours, or call ahead. Everything is done on-site, your piece never leaves the shop overnight.
Vanhess Jewellery, Coquitlam Centre
Store hours
- Sunday10:00 to 6:00
- Monday10:00 to 7:00
- Tuesday10:00 to 7:00
- Wednesday10:00 to 7:00
- Thursday10:00 to 9:00
- Friday10:00 to 9:00
- Saturday10:00 to 7:00
Get a free assessment
Walk into our Coquitlam Centre store, or call us first: we’ll quote firm pricing before any work starts.
Contact us Call (604) 653-6449