Baldwin Jewellery offers reliable and accredited jewellery valuation services from our office in Tavistock, Devon, serving clients across West Devon, Plymouth, Launceston and the surrounding areas. Whether you require a valuation for insurance, probate, resale or family division, our professional service provides accurate documentation and peace of mind for jewellery owners.
All valuations are carried out by Michael Inkpen, an independent jewellery valuer and gemmologist with over forty years of experience within the jewellery trade. Known for his remarkable depth of knowledge, Michael is something of a metallurgical and gemstone wizard, possessing an exceptional understanding of precious metals, diamonds and coloured gemstones.
With decades of hands-on industry experience combined with advanced gemmological expertise, Michael carefully examines each piece to determine its composition, gemstone characteristics and current market value. The result is a professionally prepared valuation report that is trusted by insurers, solicitors and private clients alike
Michael has over forty years trade experience and began as a sixteen-year-old trainee jewellery designer/diamond mounter at the Central School of Art, Holborn, London. After leaving art school he worked in West End jewellery workshops as a jewellery designer and diamond mounter for eighteen years before moving to Devon.
He is a Fellow of the Gemmological Association, the learned body that is responsible for founding the very science of gemmology. Gem-A, as it is now known, runs the world-famous gemmology study course. This two-year course must be taken in two parts – foundation followed by diploma. Successfully passing both examinations results in the qualification of Fellow of the Gemmological Association which Michael holds.
During the 1990’s he owned and ran his own jewellery shop but now works as an independent jewellery valuer and gemmologist. Formally a Fellow of the Institute of Registered Valuers, he satisfied the valuation committee of the Institute that he had an appropriate degree of trade experience and qualification to carry out valuations to the exacting standards they laid down. From the beginning of 2020 he became a founder member of a new organisation which will maintain and monitor standards among the leading valuers in the UK. He has been awarded the “David Wilkins Award 2011-2012” by the National Association of Goldsmiths Institute of Registered Valuers and was the first valuer to be awarded this accolade for the second time in 2018.
He regularly attends the Jewellery Valuers Association conference at Loughborough University. Michael has also attended workshops provided by the Academy of Jewellery Valuers. Michael is a member of the Society of Jewellery Historians and a founder member of the Association of Independent Jewellery Valuers. Michael formally served on the management committee of the NAJ′s Institute of Registered Valuers and more recently that of the Jewellery Valuers Association.
The most common type of jewellery valuation is for insurance. This provides a documented replacement value for your jewellery in the event of loss, theft or damage. Insurance valuations include detailed descriptions and photographs so insurers can accurately replace the item.
Probate valuations are required when jewellery forms part of an estate. These valuations establish the fair market value of items at the time of inheritance for legal and taxation purposes.
If you are considering selling jewellery, a valuation can provide an indication of the current market value and help guide pricing expectations.
When jewellery collections are divided between family members, a valuation ensures each item is fairly assessed and distributed.
