From Coast-to-Coast: My First On-Site Jewelry Appraisal for an Insurance Claim & What I Learned as a Consulting Gemologist
When I was hired by a consulting company to locate missing items on an insurance policy in a client’s home, I knew this would be a new chapter in my jewelry appraisal career. The assignment was unique: a gentleman had recently lost his wife and believed several valuable items were stolen. My task was to conduct an on-site jewelry appraisal for an insurance claim, sort through his possessions, and determine whether the missing pieces could be located.
It was my first on-site jewelry valuation of this type, and it was both exciting and challenging — the kind of job you want to put on your résumé as a consulting gemologist for insurance claims. But it was also a learning experience that gave me insights I wish I had before I boarded the plane. This blog post is both my personal story and a guide for other jewelry appraisers, insurance adjusters, or claim specialists who may find themselves in my shoes.
1. The Reality of the Assignment
When I accepted the project, I was told to expect around 5,000 items to sort through for the jewelry insurance claim investigation. That was already a daunting task, but when I arrived, I quickly learned it was closer to 50,000 items. The scale of the job was overwhelming — boxes and bags of jewelry, both costume and fine, all mixed together.
The goal was to identify high-value pieces, cross-check them against the insurance policy, and locate the specific missing items. What I didn’t realize until later in the process was that the most important items were tucked away in places my instincts told me to look on the first day. But I deferred to the client’s lead, and those areas weren’t searched until the final stretch.
Lesson learned: Follow your professional instincts early. You’re not just there to make the client happy — you’re there to do your job as a professional jewelry appraiser efficiently and effectively.
2. Negotiating Before You Accept
One of the biggest takeaways from this high-value jewelry appraisal job? Negotiate your compensation and travel arrangements before you accept the assignment.
For jewelry appraisers doing on-site insurance claim work, here’s what I now recommend:
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Daily Rate + Per Diem: Clearly define both before you agree to take the job.
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Hourly Pay for Travel: If you’re traveling cross-country, your time in transit should still be compensated.
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Business-Class Flights for Long Trips: Especially if the job requires you to be sharp and physically able to sort through thousands of items, don’t start your day crammed in coach for six hours. Ask for better accommodations — you’re a specialist, and your comfort impacts your performance.
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Know Your Worth: There are few appraisers who can do this level of specialized, high-value work. You bring rare expertise. Don’t undervalue it.
If I could do this over again, I’d set my travel and work conditions in writing before committing. It’s not about being “demanding” — it’s about setting professional boundaries so you can deliver your best work in jewelry insurance replacement valuations.
3. The Travel Reality
Even with direct flights, cross-country travel was exhausting. Picture this: six hours in a cramped seat, getting bumped by restless kids behind you, and trying to stay mentally sharp for a job that requires hours of focused sorting and evaluation for an on-site jewelry appraisal.
My advice for traveling jewelry appraisers:
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Consider Your Range: For me, after this trip, I decided I’ll only travel coach within the West Coast unless business class is offered.
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Factor in Recovery Time: Arriving late at night and jumping straight into a physically demanding assignment is a recipe for burnout.
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Protect Your Body: Travel fatigue can snowball into slower work and higher risk of errors.
4. Setting Your Hours & Scope
I made another mistake: letting the client set my hours and workflow without clearly stating my preferences for the jewelry appraisal assignment.
Here’s what I’d do differently:
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Define Work Hours in Advance: Decide what hours you work best (for me, it’s mid-morning to early evening) and communicate that upfront.
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Get the Full Scope on Day One: Ask the client to show you everything at the start — every box, every room, every safe. This helps you prioritize.
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Lead the Search Process: Your experience tells you where fine jewelry is likely to be stored. Trust your gut.
Because I didn’t insist on a complete walk-through the first day, I ended up wasting valuable time on endless boxes of costume jewelry before getting to the missing high-value jewelry.
5. Protecting Your Body on the Job
This jewelry insurance claim required long hours hunched over tables, crouching on the floor, and sorting through bags and boxes. By the last day, my back pain was nearly unbearable.
Recommendations for other on-site jewelry appraisers:
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Wear Comfortable Shoes: Even if you want to dress to impress, heels are a bad idea for physical, dirty, and labor-intensive work.
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Bring Ergonomic Aids: Portable cushions, a small folding stool, or wrist supports can make a huge difference.
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Ask for Better Conditions: If lighting is poor or the workspace is uncomfortable, request to move to another room. This is about accuracy and efficiency — not just comfort.
6. Maintaining Professional Boundaries
In my case, the client was a recent widower and understandably lonely. He wanted to talk, share stories, and bond. While empathy is important, these conversations took up significant work time and added stress toward the end.
For other appraisers and insurance adjusters:
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Politely Redirect: Let the client know you need to focus during certain hours and can chat during breaks.
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Separate Work and Lodging: Even if the client offers you accommodations at their home, decline. Stay at a hotel or rental so you can mentally reset.
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Explain Your Environment Needs: A distraction-free environment helps you work more efficiently and produce better results.
7. Follow Your Gut
One of the most important lessons for any jewelry loss investigation? Your investigative instincts are usually right. I had a hunch on day one about where the missing items were — but I let the client’s process override my own. Those very places ended up holding the missing jewelry, but we didn’t get to them until the third day.
Tip: Be respectfully assertive. You’re the expert, and the client hired you for your skill. If you believe certain areas should be searched first, make that known.
8. Put It in Writing
After this experience, I now recommend that all specialty jewelry appraisers doing on-site insurance work have a written contract that outlines:
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Daily rate, hourly rate, and per diem
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Travel class and accommodation standards
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Work hours and environmental preferences
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Geographic limitations for travel
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Scope of work and expected deliverables
This ensures clarity for both you and the client before the job begins.
9. Key Takeaways for Jewelry Appraisers
If you’re offered an on-site jewelry appraisal for an insurance claim, here’s my condensed checklist:
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Negotiate terms before accepting.
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Charge for travel time.
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Set boundaries on travel comfort.
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Establish your hours.
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Insist on a full walk-through on day one.
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Follow your instincts on where to search.
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Keep work and personal interactions separate.
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Protect your body with the right gear.
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Wear comfortable shoes.
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Put everything in a contract.
Final Thoughts
This assignment was a milestone in my career — challenging, exhausting, but deeply rewarding. It reminded me that as jewelry appraisers, we’re not just valuing objects. We’re often navigating sensitive situations, emotional clients, and physically demanding work environments.
By setting boundaries, valuing our time, and trusting our professional instincts, we can provide exceptional service in insurance jewelry appraisals while protecting our well-being.
About Me
I’m Shelly Devine, owner of Devine & Co., a private jewelry office in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. I am a GIA Graduate Gemologist, Certified Master Appraiser (NAJA), Registered Master Valuer (RMV), and ASA Master Gemologist Appraiser candidate.
With over 20 years in the fine jewelry and watch industry, I specialize in:
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Estate jewelry appraisals
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On-site jewelry appraisal services for insurance claims
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Insurance replacement valuations
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Custom jewelry design
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Consulting gemologist services for insurance adjusters
If you’re an insurance adjuster, estate attorney, or fellow appraiser looking for a trusted expert in high-value jewelry evaluations, I bring the technical skill, professional discretion, and investigative mindset needed for complex assignments — whether in my office or on-site.