Webinar! The Complexities of Appraising Antique & Period Jewelry
March 21, 2026 @ 4:00 pm
Recording for all attendees will be available until April 4, 2026 midnight
Antique Diamond Cuts in Contemporary Appraisal Practice: Mistakes and Misclassification
Celine Rose David, FGA
When antique diamond cuts are assessed using modern cut standards, the issue extends beyond terminology. Such misapplication can materially distort valuation conclusions, affect attribution, and compromise the integrity of appraisal reporting. Accurate identification is therefore not a matter of stylistic preference, but an essential element of defensible professional practice. The proportions, symmetry, structural characteristics, and light performance of antique cuts are direct expressions of the technological capabilities and aesthetic priorities of their era and must be evaluated within that historical context.
Jewelry – Back to Front
Duncan Parker, FGA
Exploring antique jewels based on the effect on value brought about by knowledge of makers, countries of origin, condition of the jewels, presence of documentation and boxes, provenance, and whether items have been altered?
When the Little Things Mean a Lot: The Effects of Minor Deails on Value – Jessie English, GIA GG
Sometimes, minor details can significantly affect value—if you know what to look for. In this talk, Jessie will discuss the subtle features in jewelry that may greatly impact the appraisal of vintage and antique pieces. Rather than focusing on major factors such as big designers and fancy stones, she will highlight smaller aspects like functional parts, construction and material choices, embellishments, and other small, but possibly significant elements.
Coins Transformed: Art, Identify and Sentiments – Gail Brett Levine, GIA GG
For centuries, coins have been carried as symbols of good fortune. Over time, individuals began altering coins—by bending, carving, or engraving them—to imbue additional personal or symbolic meaning and to distinguish them from ordinary currency.
In the United States, engraved coins emerged during the Civil War as a means of soldier identification and later gained popularity as a form of jewelry from the 1870s through the early twentieth century. These engraved coins are now commonly referred to as love tokens.
NAJA Members: $25
Nonmembers: $50
Registration now open at: https://tinyurl.com/NAJAMarch26
