Wonderful Mother
~ Anonymous
The heart of a home is a mother
Whose love is warm and true,
And home has always been a “sweet home”
With a wonderful mother like you!
We wish all past, present and future Mother’s a special Thank You! We know our mothers, wives and daughters have brought more joy and happiness to us than we can list. They have made us the people we are today.
So Thank You ALL and have a great day!
Passion is the fire in your soul that lifts your spirit! Jewelry is the outward expression of passion, one person’s LOVE for another!
We often ask clients if they love the jewelry they have, then we inquire more deeply by asking for the story behind the jewelry, to learn they are very passionate about the piece and the family history attached to it!
Regardless of your line of work, those that are passionate about what they do are happier, more grounded and positive. They generate positive energy that benefits everyone. So live with passion in everything you do, with everyone you meet, and everything you touch.
Passion will become infectious and that’s a great virus to spread!
“Jewelry is not merely adornment. It is family history, emotional attachments, family history and loving memories. And of course, for us, it’s a passion!”
Read How Jewelry Talks to us!
Visit Gem Gossip – Danielle Miele’s passion is talking about all things sparkly!
Beware Carat Total Weight (CTW). Question any jeweler’s tag that ONLY lists the “CTW” of diamonds in a ring and does not list the center diamond separately and precisely.
You can not compare prices with another ring or store if you do not know the weight and quality of the main diamond.
A large diamond may be worth more than 6 smaller ones with equal total weight.
Solution: Ask for the weight and quality of the center diamond by itself, and ask if it has a GIA or AGS Diamond Grading Report.
Synthetic Diamonds – PDF Document: What Type of Diamond Do You Have?
Buying an Engagement – PDF Document: How to Buy an Engagement Ring!
You may know the 4-Cs, but the 5th-C is Confidence.
Confidence comes with a Jewelry Judge Appraisal Report!
Norovirus is an epidemic of gastroenteritis, happening all too often on cruise ships. Limit your exposure by:
Pirate Virus is an epidemic of Tourists easily separated from their money.
Limit your exposure to overpaying for jewelry by avoiding:
Pirate Ploys
If you want to enjoy the Bounty and avoid over priced Pirate Booty, come in for a Jewelry Judge Consultation before your cruise! We will educate you on trends and scams we are aware of, as well as arm you with the knowledge to make you an informed consumer.
Beware of buying diamonds, gemstones or jewelry while on a cruise. Enjoy your vacation, enjoy the food, company and souvenir T-Shirts, but avoid the pirate jewelry. Put the money you will have saved from not buying the pirate jewelry toward another holiday! Bring us along as your guests!
Is a diamond with a ‘certificate’ more valuable than a diamond without one?
The term ‘certificate’ is no longer valid in the diamond industry, but it is used as a marketing buzz word by jewelers. The preferred term is ‘grading report.’ There is a cost associated in obtaining a grading report, and diamonds without them may be sent to a laboratory at any time to be graded.
There is a major difference in the source of grading reports because different gem grading laboratories may use different grading standards. The industry standard diamond grading reports are provided by GIA (Gemological Institute of America). We do not rely on grading reports from laboratories outside of the US. There are ‘credibility value’ concerns to grading reports, since they may vary depending upon the laboratory that has issued the report.
President Ronald Reagan once said “Trust but Verify”.
Anyone buying a diamond, whether loose or set in jewelry, regardless of the origin of the lab report, needs an ‘Independent Appraiser’ capable of examining the diamond to confirm identity, quality, and value of the diamond. As well as, ensure that the diamond grading report matches the diamond, so that if there are any questions they can be addressed and verified immediately.
For Integrity and Honesty, Trust the Jewelry Judge Ben Gordon.
Jewelry Judge Ben Gordon is available in his Houston gem lab to consult and appraise jewelry for insurance replacement, estate probate, division of property, and for consultation whenever you are buying or selling.
Is a diamond with a ‘certificate’ more valuable than a diamond without one? The difference in value between two identical diamonds would be the cost of the grading report.
For most diamonds already set in jewelry a Jewelry Judge Appraisal Report may be more economical and more useful to you. We use the same unbiased and scientifically-based assessment of your diamond’s qualities and go a step farther in assigning a value based on current market conditions and the quality of the diamond. In the end, what you really want to know is: What’s my jewelry worth?
Visit our website: The Jewelry Judge Ben Gordon
Value goes beyond price or replacement value… .
Every piece of jewelry we examine has a genealogy, a story to tell. Jewelry talks to us and we listen. No, we don’t hear voices! We provide Genealogy with Gemology!
Our experience and training has taught us to recognize manufacturing techniques, fashion trends and styles. We can also identify patterns of wear that may reveal the personality and lifestyle of the original owner.
Our clients tell us we are psychic! No, we are just passionate about what we do. Appraising is our business, Jewelry is our Passion!
We are a link between the past, present and future of each piece of jewelry we have the pleasure to examine. Material value is, of course, important when appraising for insurance purposes, but we have an understanding of each item that goes beyond its material value to include the emotional story that it reveals.
Each ring, pendant, bracelet or earring holds memories for a future generation like a time capsule waiting to be opened. Even brand new contemporary items hold a story. Jewelry tells the story of Real People, sometimes the story is a mystery to be solved, sometimes, it’s a story of a life time to be remembered, appreciated, and handed down to heirs. Jewelry is not merely adornment, it is family history, emotional attachments and memories. And of course, for us, it’s a passion.
It’s not about the things we have, it’s about the memories we make! Few gifts in life can surpass the feeling of receiving beautiful jewelry. Ensure your gifts last and protect the memories by having them documented and insured. A Jewelry Judge Appraisal Report accurately documents and determines the current market value of jewelry, watches, diamonds, and gemstones. Too often the TRUE value is not realized until after the gift has been lost.
Jewelry Judge Ben Gordon, 5433 Westheimer Road, Suite 606 Houston, TX. 77056
Call for an appointment 713 961 1432 we try to accommodate your busy schedule!
Book an appointment online: Book Appointment
House Calls are not something from the past. You have seen Mobile libraries, mobile dentists, mobile x-rays, even mobile pet & people groomers. Trust the Jewelry Judge Ben Gordon for a mobile independent jewelry appraisal.
Typically with diamonds, colored stones, and fine jewelry, appraising requires a consultation in the appraiser’s office or a gem lab. But today’s gem and jewelry technology is mobile.
Master Graduate Gemologist/Appraiser, Ben Gordon and his team of GIA (Gemological Institute of America) graduate gemologists make house calls, office visits, and consultations in the Greater Houston area wherever feasible.
“These days, especially for parents or family members with limited mobility, we are frequently asked if we can go to the client’s location. Some clients are unable to travel across town with a suitcase full of jewelry that has been accumulated over a lifetime, so we travel to them,” Jewelry Judge Ben Gordon remarks. “We go where we are needed.”
“It’s not as easy as it sounds,” he adds. “We need to bring specialized equipment along, but we are willing to help our clients who require this additional service.”
Before determining the value of a jewelry piece, a condition check is done to be sure there are no loose stones or bent or broken prongs. Precious stones and diamonds are examined for chips or cracks. Then the jewelry is steam cleaned. All of this before the weighing and measuring begins. Metals are also tested to determine the karat weight of the gold, i.e. 14k, 18k or 22k. An onsite visit may take from two to four hours or more depending upon the number of jewelry items to be appraised.
Ms. Mary Carlson, Graduate Gemologist and member of the professional team at The Jewelry Judge, travels with the mobile laboratory that includes a jeweler’s microscope equipped with special lighting and a refractometer used to test light bending in gemstones. “The mobile lab is heavy, but quite compact. I am comfortable lifting weights. In fact, weight lifting is part of my fitness routine!” she adds.
Who uses mobile appraisal services from Jewelry Judge Ben Gordon? Baby Boomer seeking estate planning evaluations, residents of assisted living facilities, time pressed executives unable to get away from the office, trust and loan officers who must periodically value collateral, and families and individuals who do not wish to transport valuables from a bank vault.
Jewelry Judge Ben Gordon is not affiliated with any retail jewelry store. “Being an independent appraiser is important to me and our clients,” Mr. Gordon explains. “It means we do not buy or sell for our own account and therefore can be completely impartial in our valuations.”
Home visits for doctors may be pretty rare these days. But mobile jewelry appraising is seeing an increase in demand. Just one more specialized concierge service from the Jewelry Judge Ben Gordon.
1. Learn about the four Cs — the color of the diamond, the clarity of the diamond, the quality of the cut of the diamond, and the carat weight of the diamond. These will have the greatest impact on value and price of the diamond. Know the 5th C – Confidence comes with a Jewelry Judge Appraisal Report!
2. Check store reputations — always purchase from a jeweler who has been in business for a number of years. If you are not familiar with the jeweler or online site, check their reputation and rating with the Better Business Bureau and the American Gem Society before you buy.
3. Buy a certified diamond — it comes with a diamond grading report that has been issued by an independent, unbiased gemological institute (GIA or AGS preferred). This way, you have the opportunity to compare one diamond’s details to that of another, at the same store or different one.
4. Grading report — always purchase diamond jewelry accompanied by a grading report. The grading report provides an unbiased assessment of a jewel’s four Cs. It informs you if a stone is synthetic – in other words, man-made or laboratory grown – or has undergone any treatments, which may dramatically affect the value. Be sure an accredited gemological institute, such as GIA or AGS, has graded the diamond jewelry.
5. READ the store’s return policy — most reputable retailers have at least a 30-day, money-back guarantee, although there may be some cases where the jewelry is not returnable, such as if it has been custom-made for a particular client or engraved with unique initials.
6. Use a credit card — pay with a credit card and keep the receipt for your records, as it’s a legal document that protects the consumer should anything happen to the diamond. It may be required when making a return, always READ the store’s return policy for better protection. If there are any problems, make sure you deal with it as soon as possible to qualify for consumer protection against fraudulent transactions.
7. Bring it to the Jewelry Judge Ben Gordon — for verification many jewelry stores and on-line merchants will send the jewelry to our gem lab in advance of your purchase so we can authenticate the diamond grading report prior to your purchase. If not, bring it in for verification as soon as possible!
Download this PDF Document and share it with your friends and family.
Jewelry Judge Ben Gordon
5433 Westheimer Road, Suite 606
Houston, TX. 77056
Call for an appointment 713 961 1432 we try to accommodate your busy schedule!
Book an appointment online: Book Appointment
Do you want a Natural diamond, a Synthetic diamond, or a Simulant?
Whether you are looking for BLING, an investment, expressing your love, saving money or saving the environment, your choice of gemstone is a personal thing. As long as you know what you are getting, you can enjoy your purchase. There is nothing worse than being misinformed during your engagement ring hunt!
Here are a few things you need to know:
You won’t be able to tell the difference between a natural mined diamonds a simulant or a synthetic lab-grown diamond. With Gem Lab Equipment, Our Experienced Graduate Gemologists Know the Difference.
3. Natural Diamonds – refers to diamonds made through geologic processes, taking hundreds of millions of years to form. Only 30 percent of diamonds that are gem quality, bright and beautiful, end up in jewelry, the rest are only good for industrial uses.
The four Cs made up of the color, the clarity, the quality of the cut, and the carat weight of the diamond have the greatest impact on the value and price. Know the 5th C – Confidence comes with a Jewelry Judge Appraisal Report!
Jewelry Judge Ben Gordon, 5433 Westheimer Road, Suite 606, Houston, TX. 77056
Call for an appointment 713 961 1432 we accommodate your busy schedule!
Book an appointment online: Book Appointment
Ever wondered who came up with the brilliant (no pun, of course) slogan, “A Diamond is Forever?” Would you believe, it’s only been around since 1948? De Beers was experiencing a post Depression era slump in sales. Since then, the slogan is identified with emotion and longevity, love and immortality – representing a major change in advertising concepts that promote the feelings about a product, not the product itself. If you enjoy the psychology of sales and, of course, the glitter of diamonds, read the full article appearing in The Washington Post …. .
Clients come to us after a cruise vacation to obtain insurance appraisals on the jewelry they purchased. This story almost NEVER has a happy ending! We will continue to document cases like the following…
Our client traded her diamond earrings with .80 ctw stones (SI) for 1.75 ctw diamond earrings (I-2). That’s right I-2/3. Remember I stands for Inclusion. A clarity grade of I-2/3 means the diamond is of industrial quality – not worthy of fine jewelry. But this is not the most painful issue.
In addition to surrendering her pretty earrings, she paid an additional price of $20,000 for the privilege of purchasing the larger, but inferior quality earrings. Yes, size does count, but quality should trump size in most diamond purchases.
Is it a crime if you GIVE your jewelry and money to a Pirate? Maybe it’s not illegal, but is sure is a shame!
How could we appraise low quality stones for their replacement value when the client overpaid by thousands of dollars – maybe even tens of thousands? This is a real dilemma for appraisers and insurance companies as well.
Have fun with the costume jewelry and souvenir purchases and enjoy the vacation. Put the money you save from the diamond purchase toward another holiday! But please beware when buying diamonds while on a cruise!
Verification is what we do in our gem lab on a daily basis. Often the paperwork or certificate from a gem lab does not match the stone that accompanies it.
We ‘call them as we see them.’ This past week we examined a diamond ring with a certificate grade for the stone of SI-1. While we agreed with the color grading, we determined the clarity to be SI2 – 3. This meant that the owner had received a lesser quality stone than he thought he was buying.
With the information we provided, he was able to return the stone to the jewelry retailer in exchange for a better quality stone with a GIA certificate – the more trusted grading laboratory.
This type of discrepancy happens more and more frequently so Buyer Beware – Trust but Verify. Here is a helpful link to a news network broadcast:
Sapphires at Mining Site near Chanthanbury, Thailand
As appraisers, we see cut and polished stones but the gems in the rough are fascinating as well. Hear comments from the field before sapphires reach the cutters.
Click on the hypertext above the photo or copy and paste or follow the link: http://www.gia.edu/gia-news-research-Chanthaburi-gem-market
Texas Independent Jewelry Appraisers welcomes you to our new specialized site. Appraising jewelry in Houston’s Galleria Area now since 1975, TIJA serves the client who typically seeks expert diamond, gemstone and fine jewelry appraisals for specialized needs.
Principal Ben Gordon is a Master Graduate Gemologist and Appraiser with over sixty years in the jewelry industry.
Mr. Gordon and his qualified staff provide written appraisals and consultations for:
– Fair market purposes
– Replacement value
– Division of property
– Business purposes, i.e. wholesalers and retailers buying or selling
– Legal cases involving identification for the return of property
– Disputed claims
We value your valuables.
Texas Independent Jewelry Appraisers 