When you Need an Expert, Hire an Expert
Appraisals are a combination of art and science. A worthwhile appraiser has a longstanding expertise in a particular field (the science), and a well-trained appraiser uses professional methodology (the art) to provide reliable results. Appraisals are the opinion of value based on both expertise and methodology, time spent in considering the item and comparing it…
Not All Appraisals Are Really Appraisals
Most people receive a piece of paper when they make a large jewelry purchase that has a pre-printed form that says “Appraisal.” On that form, the seller often writes an inflated price for the item you just bought. That makes us feel good, as though we just snagged a “deal.” There is no malice on…
Got Buried Treasure?
What’s hiding in those old velvet bags from Mom’s old jeweler? Were you lucky enough to inherit a beloved Aunt’s jewelry? You might have a hidden gem in there that’s jumbled up with a bunch of odd stuff. Think Antiques Road Show. You’ve been meaning to sort through it but somehow, it’s still there. …
Only a Phone Call Away
Dear Wonderful, Supportive Client-Friends: I’m still working hard despite this pandemic. I’ve missed seeing you at my annual summer shows, but I’ve been getting calls from some of you who see me every year. So, here’s a gentle reminder that you can reach me any time at 312-346-2363 or diana@dianawidman.com to ask about what’s new,…
Burmese Sapphires and Rubies
One of the benefits of online business is developing relationships with good people from all over the globe. This allows me to bring you the rare and formerly unobtainable except by developing discreet, potentially unfortunate connections in far-flung places. I’ve always studied gemology in order to serve my clients from a place of knowledge and…
Inner World: Crystal with Skid Marks
This photograph (by a fellow gemologist, Laurianne Lognay) made me laugh. Snugged into a sapphire, this crystal made marks like an ice skater doing practice turns. It’s another example of how heat, pressure, and time create random, spontaneous patterns, colors, and moods that we have above ground. This crystal probably does not impact the brilliance…
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