FREQUENTLY ASKED
Answers for people thinking about borrowing against diamonds, signed pieces and estate jewelry — what qualifies, how a piece is valued, and what to bring to appraisal. For specifics about your asset, email hi@luxuryassetloans.com.
Three groups: loose certified diamonds (GIA, AGS or IGI graded), signed pieces from houses such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany, Harry Winston, Bulgari and Graff, and vintage or estate jewelry from the Edwardian, Art Deco, Retro and Mid-Century eras. Costume and fashion jewelry do not qualify.
A GIA, AGS or IGI report is preferred but not required. Certified loose stones tend to get the best terms; a stone without a report can still be assessed in person, but expect a more conservative figure.
Insurance appraisals usually state a retail replacement cost. A loan is a percentage of wholesale fair market value — what the piece could realistically sell for in the trade — so the two numbers are not comparable.
Generally yes. A signed piece from a recognised house with verifiable authenticity commands a higher loan-to-value than comparable unsigned work, and loose certified diamonds sit at the top of the range.
Yes. A ring is assessed as a whole — centre stone, setting and any maker’s mark — and is held as collateral until the loan is repaid, at which point it comes back to you.
The piece itself, any grading report, the original box, receipts or prior appraisals, and for vintage and estate items whatever provenance you have. Documentation does not replace the in-person inspection, but it helps.
From weight, cut, colour, clarity and the certificate, benchmarked against wholesale price lists, and then checked against where comparable stones actually trade. Round, cushion, oval and emerald shapes are all considered.
Ask us for the details that apply to your situation before you sign anything.
Ask us for the details that apply to your situation before you sign anything.
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