QuestionI have a 16.5 ct emerald that is uncut, I am wondering where I can send it to
get appraised. I have shown it to jewlers, but they are no help. The stone is
such a dark green that matches cut stones that go for 2,500/ct online. I'm
told uncut also can go for 50%-100% more in value. Any info would be
helpful.
AnswerI can't recommend a specific place to get it appraised, but you should be thinking of locating a graduate gemologist (GG). They are trained in colored stones, but in their profession, less emphasis is placed on appraising. Some do however become certified appraisers as well. If they themselves can't appraise it, they may be able to recommend someone who can.
Colored stones and emeralds in particular are difficult to appraise uncut unless you see them everyday and are intimately familiar with emeralds and street prices. If you're in New York, you might look towards the diamond district in New York City where there are a lot of gem experts and certainly someone that knows something about emeralds.
When a gem cutter cuts an uncut emerald crystal they will usually lose a significant portion of the stone in the process. Any serious buyer knows this and therefore uncut stones will not go for higher values as you have been told unless they are still attached to a museum quality or collector's quality piece of matrix. That would be extremely rare. Even then, they would not see valuations 50-100% higher.
Good luck.
