San Diego Gem Lab - Jewelry Appraisal

San Diego Gem Lab - Jewelry Appraisal Gems & Jewelry Appraisals for insurance, estate, division of property, and legal purposes. Unbiased. Certified. By appointment only.

Just up the road in Carlsbad, the GIA Museum is home to “Eyes of Brazil” — a massive agate geode turned into a six-foot ...
05/05/2026

Just up the road in Carlsbad, the GIA Museum is home to “Eyes of Brazil” — a massive agate geode turned into a six-foot work of art that literally shows millions of years of crystal growth.

Science, art, and a little geological show-off moment all in one. Worth the visit if you’re local.

A GIA Certificate Is Not an AppraisalA common and costly misconception:A GIA certificate and a jewelry appraisal serve t...
12/27/2025

A GIA Certificate Is Not an Appraisal

A common and costly misconception:
A GIA certificate and a jewelry appraisal serve two very different purposes.

A GIA report:
• Identifies and grades a diamond or gemstone
• Describes quality characteristics (color, clarity, cut, etc.)
• Does NOT assign a dollar value

A professional appraisal:
• Establishes a documented monetary value
• Is required for insurance, estates, trusts, and legal matters
• Reflects current market conditions and use (insurance replacement, fair market value, etc.)

Think of it this way:
A GIA report tells you what the stone is.
An appraisal tells you what it’s worth.

At San Diego Gemological Laboratory, we regularly see clients who assume their GIA paperwork is enough—until an insurance claim or estate settlement proves otherwise.

When value matters, make sure you have the right document.

New Blog Published: What Makes a Jewelry Appraisal “Credible”?When jewelry, gemstones, or fine watches are involved in a...
12/20/2025

New Blog Published: What Makes a Jewelry Appraisal “Credible”?

When jewelry, gemstones, or fine watches are involved in an estate, inheritance, or legal matter, not all appraisals are created equal.

Our newest blog explains:
• What separates a professional, defensible appraisal from a verbal opinion
• Why credentials and standards matter
• How written appraisals support estate distribution, insurance, and legal needs
• Common misconceptions about online and informal valuations

This article is especially helpful for heirs, executors, trustees, and families navigating inherited valuables.

Read the blog here: https://www.sdgemlab.com/blog/

The Pink Star is a 59.60 carat fancy vivid pink diamond that's known as the most expensive gemstone in the world, auctio...
03/31/2024

The Pink Star is a 59.60 carat fancy vivid pink diamond that's known as the most expensive gemstone in the world, auctioning in 2017 for $71.2 million. Mined in 1999 by De Beers in South Africa, the rough stone was a whopping 132.5 carats before it was cut!

Whether you need an appraisal for estate valuation or insurance purposes our independent appraiser, Elliot Grunwald has ...
03/28/2024

Whether you need an appraisal for estate valuation or insurance purposes our independent appraiser, Elliot Grunwald has over 7 years of experience in the industry and is available by appointment. View more info on our appraisal rates and contact us here! https://www.sdgemlab.com/

While there are a small handful of color-changing gemstones, alexandrite is the most notable. This gemstone goes from bl...
03/26/2024

While there are a small handful of color-changing gemstones, alexandrite is the most notable. This gemstone goes from bluish-green during the day to reddish-purple at night.

Diamonds are cut into many different shapes and some of the most popular include round brilliant, princess, emerald, pea...
03/22/2024

Diamonds are cut into many different shapes and some of the most popular include round brilliant, princess, emerald, pear, and oval. Each shape will show off a different amount of brilliance and fire.

Happy Birthday to all you March babies! Named for the ocean's purest shades of blue, the literal translation of “aquamar...
03/18/2024

Happy Birthday to all you March babies! Named for the ocean's purest shades of blue, the literal translation of “aquamarine” is “water of the sea.” Do you have aquamarine jewelry that needs appraising? Contact us today for an appointment!

Diamonds often form with some slight body color, most usually yellow or brown. The GIA diamond color grading scale uses ...
03/15/2024

Diamonds often form with some slight body color, most usually yellow or brown. The GIA diamond color grading scale uses alphabetical letters to signify to the degree of colorlessness in the diamond, starting with D (colorless) and going to Z (light color). Many diamonds with light body color will appear white especially if mounted in yellow gold jewelry.

Lab-grown diamonds are identical to mined diamonds in nearly every single way. They share the same chemical composition,...
02/28/2024

Lab-grown diamonds are identical to mined diamonds in nearly every single way. They share the same chemical composition, hardness, and density as mined diamonds and display the same brilliance and fire. This means that neither a trained nor untrained eye can see a difference with the naked eye! Many lab-grown diamonds have a visible inscription on the gridle (edge) identifying them as lab-grown, but some may not. Testing with sophisticated and expensive equipment is necessary to distinguish lab-grown diamonds from mined diamonds. If you need expert assistance in determining if your diamond is mined or lab-grown, make an appointment with us today!

Address

1851 San Diego Avenue
San Diego, CA
92110

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 4pm
Wednesday 11am - 4pm
Thursday 11am - 4pm
Friday 11am - 4pm
Saturday 11am - 4pm

Telephone

+16192866614

Website

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