Insurance
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bad company

Original Poster:

21,920 posts

297 months

Wednesday 5th February 2014
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My insurance company have just asked for written valuations for my Rolex gold day/date president and Mrs BC's Cartier tank american.

The Rolex is 13 years old and the Cartier about 7.

Anybody here know where we can get valuations quickly and cheaply?

michael gould

5,698 posts

272 months

Thursday 6th February 2014
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Any local jewler will oblige for a small fee

GC8

19,910 posts

221 months

Thursday 6th February 2014
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Usually an outrageous percentage based fee in my experience, and relatively worthless as virtually all policies are new for old.

My suggestion would be that you look for a better insurer, although that might not be appropriate in your case, it is in many.

bad company

Original Poster:

21,920 posts

297 months

Thursday 6th February 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for the help guys. As you say jewellers want to charge a lot of money for a very simple task especially as both watches are still being sold new. I think I have persuaded them to accept serial numbers instead. Happy with that.

GC8

19,910 posts

221 months

Thursday 6th February 2014
quotequote all
A cheaper route, if need be, would be an appraisal from a respected watchmaker who can open the back, take pictures along with pictures of the serial and model numbers between the lugs.

This carries 10x the authority of a jewellers, who may well know less about the watches mentioned than I do. An 'insurance valuation' is very much a trite cliché that is frequently repaeated but seldom really thought about.

Id expect it to cost a few tens of pounds in total - possibly hundreds less than a jeweller who expects to receive 10% of the used value that they pluck out of the air for their (usually) far less than knowledgeable appraisal will try to charge.

bad company

Original Poster:

21,920 posts

297 months

Thursday 6th February 2014
quotequote all
GC8 said:
A cheaper route, if need be, would be an appraisal from a respected watchmaker who can open the back, take pictures along with pictures of the serial and model numbers between the lugs.

This carries 10x the authority of a jewellers, who may well know less about the watches mentioned than I do. An 'insurance valuation' is very much a trite cliché that is frequently repaeated but seldom really thought about.

Id expect it to cost a few tens of pounds in total - possibly hundreds less than a jeweller who expects to receive 10% of the used value that they pluck out of the air for their (usually) far less than knowledgeable appraisal will try to charge.
Sounds like a bit of a p take by the jewellers. As I said the watches are still current models so all it takes is a trip to Harrods to check the new prices and 'job done'.

michael gould

5,698 posts

272 months

Thursday 6th February 2014
quotequote all
Like anything else in life the cost is negotiable .......I paid £75 for a valuation on a very valuable ring which I thought was reasonable .......he started out wanting £200

GC8

19,910 posts

221 months

Thursday 6th February 2014
quotequote all
Accepting that Michael, for watches its still little more than proof that something exists, which isn't obviously not genuine.

michael gould

5,698 posts

272 months

Thursday 6th February 2014
quotequote all
I think it's the same for diamonds ...........the OP just needs a valuation for the insurance company not for himself

GC8

19,910 posts

221 months

Thursday 6th February 2014
quotequote all
I think that for gold and diamonds, that a valuation really is required and my only issue is what the valuer tries to charge. With a Rolex watch which has new for old cover and a current list price then the valuation is inappropriate at best.

michael gould

5,698 posts

272 months

Friday 7th February 2014
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Who mentioned old for new cover?.....he just wants a valuation based on present value and any jewellers can do that for him. The price they charge is 100% profit and therefore is very negotiable