Category Archives: Better Business Bureau

Houston Better Business Bureau Awards, Accreditation, Membership

Appraisal Types, Better Business Bureau, Education/Learning, Estate Appraisals

A Chance to Brag Just a Little… and to Add our Thanks

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Houston Jewelry Appraiser 67 Years 2019As a small business the Jewelry Judge Ben Gordon is always wondering how to reach new clients to keep our business growing.  In our 67 years’ experience, we find that there is nothing better than ‘word of mouth’ but possibly equally powerful are online reviews.

 

A Busy Week for Us.

Our appointments ran a little longer than usual with several walk-ins and individuals who brought in trays and boxes to be separated and categorized. We did our best to accommodate all without rushing anyone. We’d like to share the Five Star comments below. We cannot think of a better way to describe who we are and what we do.  We especially thank those who took the time to give us valuable feedback.

Houston Jewelry Appraiser Jewelry Judge Ben Gordon - Online Appraisal

March 10, 2020 – Gail B

Experienced and Professional Jewelry Appraisal

“I made my appointment with Mr Gordon online. I was completely impressed with the professional service I experienced with my jewelry appraisal. I had 3 items to appraise for insurance purposes. I don’t recommend bringing more than 3 items if you are in a hurry. Mr Gordon will expertly examine each and every piece and explain the process in detail if you require details. He does not rush! While my appointment took 2 hrs I respected the care and courtesy he devoted to my treasures. Special thanks to Linda”

 

2020 BBB Winner_Interim2March 11, 2020 – Paulete GW

Excellent service

“Mr and Mrs Gordon are nothing short of real jewels! They are professional experts and valuable assets to more than just the jewelry world but to the community!”

 

laserinscription- GIAMarch 13, 2020 – D.N.

Professional, Class Act

He went over each specification and let us look at the GIA inscription on the the diamond.

Very confident in his skills. He’s been doing this for 67 years!”

 

To read more comments about how we work and what our clients think of our services, click the Review Tab at our appointment booking link on our website.

Appraisal Types, Better Business Bureau, Certificates, Consumer Alert, Education/Learning

An Honest Mistake…

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Trust

Learn how the Jewelry Judge provides consumer protection as part of the jewelry appraisal process. Here is a recent appraisal where a major discrepancy was resolved!

We at The Jewelry Judge gem lab take pride in uncovering fraud and misrepresentation when we advocate for our clients in disputes. Devious intent is not always the case when there is a significant discrepancy between what was paid for and what was received.

1AHere’s a case in point – the mismatched sapphire.

Our client brought us a beautiful loose sapphire with a GIA certificate and a receipt describing the gemstone as weighing 1.93 carat oval blue unheated sapphire.

When we weighed and measured it, our results showed 1.43 carat weight. The discrepancy in carat weight could mean a difference of $1,000.

2No one panicked!

We simply called the retailer where the gemstone had been purchased two days earlier. He remembered the customer well – she had compared four sapphires of different sizes and colors. Each was brought out of inventory and carefully unwrapped from its small packet. Each was examined with a loupe and tweezers. A decision was made to purchase the 1.93 ctw gemstone and the three remaining sapphires were wrapped up and returned to stock.

It is easy for a sales professional to inadvertently wrap a gemstone in the wrong packet, especially when to the naked eye, gemstones can appear to be quite similar. The retailer quickly examined the remaining three packets in his inventory and confirmed that the 1.93 ctw gemstone was in the 1.4 wrapper and our client had her preferred stone within a half hour.

Errors can and do occur. But this happy ending was brought about by:
• Our client’s quick action – it was only two days after the purchase that she brought the loose stone to us for confirmation and insurance valuation.
• Our immediate call to the principal who was personally known to The Jewelry Judge (while the client sat with us).
• This retailer was happy that we brought the discrepancy to his attention, and his inventory confirmed our findings.

Both the retailer and our client thanked us for weighing and testing the beautiful oval sapphire. Yes, a mistake had been made – unintended human error is possible. Our call to the retailer gave him an opportunity to quickly correct the error and protect his reputation.
Houston Jewelry Appraiser 67 Years 2019
Conclusion: When in doubt, check it out!

Get a second opinion from:                                 The Jewelry Judge, Ben Gordon!
             Trust but Verify!

Appraisal Types, Better Business Bureau, Certificates, Consumer Alert, Education/Learning, Estate Appraisals

No Such Thing as a ‘Certified Diamond’

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BenThat may sound harsh, especially with jewelry stores everywhere offering certified diamonds.  So, what’s up with that?

“We are not the compliance police,” asserts Mr. Gordon, “ but the term ‘Certified, or Certificated’ is old school marketing.” The term, ‘Certificate’ carried too many different meanings and the jewelry industry itself issued guidelines to help standardize the terminology for describing diamonds and gemstones.  “Technically, any retailer can create a Certificate, but only gem labs create Grading Reports,” The Jewelry Judge explains.

GIA CertA big part of the Jewelry Judge mission is education, so clarity (no pun here) is important to Mr. Gordon.  Diamonds with Grading Reports have undergone scientific analysis by qualified professionals who analyse, report and grade the qualities of each gemstone.  There will be a description for each of the four C’s, i.e., Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat weight.  There will also be additional language to describe fluorescence, color enhancement, fracture filling or heat treatments.

Store receipts and typical Certificates have little to no meaning because they do not go far enough to completely describe a diamond.  “Don’t mix up the terms,” the Judge warns.

Diamonds with a laboratory Grading Report may be priced slightly higher than non-graded diamonds because of the extra step of having the gemological laboratory test them.  A jeweler may pass this cost along to the buyer.

How do I Get a Laboratory Grading Report?

“Each appraisal we create comes with a grading report,” Mr. Gordon explains. A laboratory grading report is for analysis and identification only.  “Our testing is similar to the testing that is done at the gem labs, but our purpose is to arrive at a valuation.  We take the report one step further by adding current market value.” A diamond Grading Report’s details should never change, (unless the stone is damaged or altered), but appraisal values will certainly change with market conditions.

“If your diamond did not come with a Grading Report, don’t worry,” assures Ben.  For a service fee, important stones can be sent to a reputable lab to obtain a Grading Report.  The GIA, Gemological Institute of America and AGS (American Gem Society) are two reputable gem labs based in the US.  There are other laboratories around the world, but they have not earned the level of trust of  the US based gem labs.

Diamond Plot
Diamond Plotting Diagram
(courtesy of GIA)

Double-Check for Peace of Mind

Jewelry Judge Ben Gordon Double Check“Many of the consultations we do are to confirm laboratory Grading Reports,” Mr. Gordon explains.  “And sometimes we find that the grading report that comes with a diamond, does not match.”  It’s always best to ‘trust but verify’ especially with new purchases.  In some cases, an honest mistake has been made, in others, there may be a suspicion of fraud. 

The Jewelry Judge can identify discrepancies and offer suggestions for resolution.  “We have saved or recovered thousands of dollars for our clients, by helping them to document a claim,” Mr. Gordon added.

Click here to schedule a visit with The Jewelry Judge. Verify a laboratory grading report, retrieve a lost one, or learn current values of your precious jewelry or loose diamonds.   The peace of mind you’ll gain, as well as “Information You Can Trust” is worth an hour of your time.  Consult the most experienced Houston Jewelry Appraiser!

Houston Jewelry Appraiser - If you love

Better Business Bureau, Consumer Alert, Fab Lab

Have the Jewelry Judge Evaluate Your Estate Jewelry

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Jewelry Judge Ben Gordon provides appraisal and consultation services of Diamonds, Colored Gemstones, and Fine Jewelry for insurance, estate and division of property.

We evaluate estate jewelry, whether in a jewelry box;

 

Or, in a suitcase! Our Gem Lab or a location of your choice.

Ben+Suitcase

Ben advocates fair pricing and helps his clients understand and protect their valuable assets. His informative public awareness programs for interested groups and professional organizations provide numerous practical consumer tips.

His informative public awareness programs for interested groups and professional organizations provide numerous practical consumer tips.  For more information about appraisals, consultation services and speaking engagements, go to our website.