Free advice: what do you have in your hands?
Send photos and a short description; a specialist assesses what it is — period, material, type — and gives you free, non-binding advice within two working days on a sensible next step: keeping and caring for it, having it officially appraised, or selling it — and if so, via what kind of channel (buying shop, auction or consignment). The advice may equally be that a certified appraisal or an auction is the best route. No sales offer, no obligation.
In three unhurried steps
Step one. You upload up to three photos of the piece and describe in a few sentences what you know — provenance, any hallmarks, dimensions, notable details. The more context, the sharper we can look.
Step two. A specialist from our editorial team reviews the request. We compare shape, construction and hallmarks with similar pieces from auction and trade documentation, and look at recent market prices for the category.
Step three. Within two working days you receive advice by email on what you have and your options — where possible with a rough value range, and with a clear recommendation on the next step: keep it, have it appraised, or sell it via a suitable channel. What you do with the advice is up to you.
Photograph in daylight against a neutral, unpatterned background (a sheet of white paper will do). Take a separate photo of the front, the back and — where possible — a macro shot of any hallmarks on the inside or the back. Place a coin or a ruler next to the piece for scale. These three or four images tell us more than ten standard top-down photos.
Extended photo guide for appraisal: photographing jewellery for appraisal.
What readers often ask
Is this an official appraisal?
No. Remote advice is an assessment based on photos and description, not a certified appraisal. For insurance, division of an estate or a formal sale you need an appraisal report from a certified appraiser. When that is the sensible route, we say so explicitly in our advice.
Will I get a sales offer?
Only if you ask for one. The advice is independent of any sale: we tell you what we see in the photos and what a sensible next step is — keeping, appraising, or selling via a suitable channel. For selling we refer to the directory with several parties, so you can compare yourself.
What happens to my photos and data?
Your photos and description are only used to assess your request. We do not share them with third parties, do not sell them and do not use them for marketing. After handling, they are removed from our working files within a reasonable term.
Am I obliged to anything?
No. The advice is entirely non-binding. You are not obliged to sell anything, to have an appraisal done or to take any next step. What you do with the advice is entirely up to you.
What if you cannot assess it from photos?
Then we say so honestly. Some pieces cannot be assessed with reasonable confidence without a loupe and physical inspection — for example when there is doubt about stones or fineness. In that case we advise a physical assessment at a vintage-specialised jeweller or a certified appraiser, and we refer to suitable addresses in our directory.