Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost?
Please refer to our “Services” page for a fully updated list of prices. We think you will find something there that will fit your needs. If not, feel free to contact us!
Do you offer bulk discounts?
Yes! If you have 5 or more items, just contact us and we will be happy to offer a bulk price. The level of discount depends on the complexity of the work, so we will have to offer a quote.
How long does it take?
That depends on what we are doing. Typically, we can complete a basic appraisal for a single item and have a document ready within 30-60 minutes, and simple gem identifications can be as short as a few seconds to a few minutes. More complicated work will take extra time, and we will always let you know when that is the case.
Can you come to me?
Yes we can! You have the option to have one of our experts come out with a mobile lab to your home or office to perform the examinations, or you can have us book an appointment at one of the many fine jewelry stores, attorneys, and field offices in our network. In some cases, the distance from the main office will be so far that we have to charge a small mileage fee. Any travel outside the state of Maryland will incur portal to portal fees, and follow the pricing laid out in the “Services” section of our website.
Can I ship to the ZGL?
Absolutely! Simply contact us to arrange it, and we will give you instructions on how to send in your item. Once it arrives, all packages are inspected and opened on camera to ensure the transparency and security of our operations while your personal property is in our care. Upon return, we will insure the package with an appropriate level of protection based on your item’s details.
Is it safe?
Yes. We do everything we can to protect our clients and their belongings at every step of the process. Up to $3,000,000.00 of insurance coverage protects your items from loss or damage during transport and while it is in our care for examination. If we directly transport your items, they have the added benefit of a locking, GPS tracked case in a customized vehicle, usually under armed guard. Our facility and offices are monitored 24/7 by two redundant alarm and camera systems, and a network of public cameras in the roads leading to the buildings. The main site is also protected around the clock by armed security in a well patrolled area, and your belongings will be stored in a safe with a minimum rating of TS-30 while it is in our care. The primary lab is in an undisclosed location to prevent long term scouting, and most touch points are at satellite offices and micro labs. Special concerns will be handled on a case-by-case basis if enhanced security is warranted. We can also visit your secure location with a mobile lab, if you prefer to host.
Where is the ZGL located?
ZGL Keeps a primary field office with a well stocked lab at 231 Najoles Rd #214 in Millersville, MD 21108. See our contact page to set up an appointment, as we don’t accept walk-ins. For the security of our clients and associates, as well as their valuable possessions, the exact physical location of the primary laboratory is kept confidential, and all incoming and outgoing property is handled through a secure courier system via touchpoints like our field offices and partnering jewelry stores, law offices, etc.
Do you purchase jewelry or other items?
Unfortunately, no. That is not our business model. It is considered a conflict of interest to both appraise and purchase, and there is no safety net for the client because of this. It is always best to use an independent appraiser like us with absolutely no bias, and use that knowledge to inform your next decisions. We can guide you, but won’t make an offer. We also avoid attending auctions or shopping at jewelry/art/antique stores we have performed appraisals for, as we have an influence on their market niches.
Policy Statements
Privacy Policies:
Zenith Gemological Laboratory is committed to safeguarding the confidential information of our clients. We hold all personal information in strict confidence and in accordance with USPAP and NAJA ethical standards. Our files include information collected from clients in connection with the personal property appraisal services provided by ZGL. At no time in the past have we ever disclosed information to third parties, except as specifically authorized by our clients, or as required by law, and we do not anticipate doing so in the future. We are prohibited by federal law, USPAP, and the NAJA code of ethics from changing our policy without first advising the client and obtaining consent. We use the personal property information provided by our clients to help meet their appraisal requests, while guarding against any real or perceived infringements of their rights of privacy.
Phone Number Privacy Policy:
We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information.
Use of Information: We use your phone number to send SMS messages regarding your inquiry and customer care related topics
Mobile phone information or opt-in data collected will not be shared, sold, or disclosed to third parties or affiliates for marketing purposes.
Opt-Out: Reply "STOP" to unsubscribe or "HELP" for assistance.
Message Disclosures: Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply.
Data Security: Your data is protected and retained only as needed.
Refunds and Indemnification:
In such case that a client is dissatisfied with the service or documentation provided by our lab or its agents, the client is entitled to the following if reported within 30 days of document production:
A: One free re-examination of the property at the main laboratory to eliminate the possibility of errors in data collection or test results, and a corrected document will be produced if our findings were discovered to have been inaccurate. If no errors were found and there is no reasonable evidence available to contradict the findings in the original document, no refunds or corrected documents will be produced. This free examination service does not include covering the potential costs of travel or shipping & handling incurred in the process of getting the object to the laboratory, or visiting it with a mobile lab. Please see our limiting conditions statement for more detail on the possible issues that can be encountered with mobile lab examination.
B: If the client decides to opt out of option A, or a re-examination is impossible for whatever reason, and they meet the conditions outlined in the following section, the client is entitled to a full refund for the price of the appraisal, and the document will be voided in our system.
Conditions of refund or indemnification:
A difference of opinion between laboratories, especially in very nuanced regions of research, does not qualify as an error on the part of either lab in the production of their reports, and will not result in a refund unless it is proven that our test results were entirely inaccurate, or the valuation reached is wholly unsubstantiated by facts.
Refunds are limited to the price of the appraisal examination and document in question, and will not cover the expenses of travel, shipping and handling, or loss or damages, physical or financial, resulting from the execution of this or any other ZGL examination, report document, or the decisions made based thereon.
Limiting Conditions:
Sometimes the conditions of the environment in which an article is appraised will not be an ideal laboratory environment despite best efforts of the appraiser, due to the mobile nature of many types of appraisal service. These limitations can include lighting, power/battery availability, dust proofing, space availability, etc. Appropriate grading routines and nomenclature are used consistently, but the environment may differ from another appraisal, so in some cases this can lead to slight fluctuations in grade assignment. To avoid this, it is recommended to allow your appraiser to take your property to a secure laboratory for full evaluation in an ideal and consistent environment, using more powerful and advanced equipment. ZGL and its appraisers will not be held liable for valuation differences caused by such fluctuations in grading, although we may re-examine the item in question if there is a conflict to determine the appropriate course of action.
Please see our list of equipment on your appraisal document or in the “Our Facility” page for information on our full capabilities in the main and mobile labs. We strive towards complete transparency and consistency, and understanding our lab and education is important for other professionals that may be cross referencing our work.