News & Articles

USPAP 2008-2009 Certification Statement Changes

Here are the significant statement changes beginning in 2008. Detailed 2008-2009 USPAP information is available at The Appraisal Foundation website.

I hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief:

The statements of fact contained in this report are true and correct.
The reported analyses, opinions, and conclusions are limited only by the reported assumptions and limiting conditions, and they are my personal, impartial, professional analysis, opinions, and conclusions.
have no present or prospective interest in the property that is the subject of this report and no personal interest with respect the parties involved.
I have no bias with respect to the property that is the subject of this report or to the parties involved in this assignment.
My engagement in this assignment was not contingent upon developing or reporting predetermined results.
My compensation for completing this assignment is not contingent upon the development or reporting of a predetermined value or direction in value that favors the cause of the client, the amount of the value opinion, the attainment of a stipulated result, or the occurrence of a subsequent event directly related to the intended use of this appraisal.
My analyses, opinions, and conclusions were developed, and this report has been prepared, in conformity with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPSP) 2008 – 2009 Edition, published by the Appraisal Foundation.
I have made a personal inspection of the property that is the subject of this report, unless otherwise clearly stated.
No one provided significant personal property appraisal assistance to the person signing this report.

GIA Facetware™ - Cut Estimator

Have you seen this new GIA tool? Here's the link http://facetware.gia.edu/.
(02/17/2006)

Opal Smart Chart

Opal can be a nightmare to accurately grade and value. The Opal Smart Chart software is a pictorial step by step process to arrive at accurate monetary values for all types of opal.

Available through Appraiser Tech

Controversial GIA Diamond Cut Grading System

Read GIA's approach (Follow the links in the left column for related pages.)

Adrian Smith, FGA, Joins QLSS as PAS Representative in United Kingdom

Appraiser Tech, owned by Adrian Smith, FGA, is the new PAS representative in the United Kingdom. Smith, an appraiser, has been working with PAS for three years and designed specialized forms and processes for PAS users. His company, Appraiser Tech, will now focus solely on software designed for valuers.

Smith said, " We are delighted to be associated with Quantum Leap and have total faith in PAS. This British version of the software is probably the most advanced valuation package available, offering unparalleled flexibility, features and stability."

Read the News Release (.pdf format)

ASA Article on PAS Development

Excerpt: In practical application, Quantum Leap is modeled after the valuation process, (Thom) Underwood explained. When using it, an appraiser can retrieve client data and set up worksheets. The software breaks down each part of an appraisal into components.

Read full article... (.pdf format)

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LED LIGHTING

Exerpt: When I moved my lab to a new location two years ago, I had the opportunity to explore the use of LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting, as well as improve the use of fluorescent lighting as an ambient lighting option. Setting up my new lab was a lighting challenge that was fun to explore. I share the process to inform and suggest options that others might want to consider.

Full Article for Jewelry Appraisers...

An Interview with Manfred Eickhorst in Perth

Audio

(Requires Flash 6 or later.)

Manfred Eickhorst, M. Sc. Physics, is well known is well known for his innovative lighting and gemological equipment. He calls his lighting a necessity, not a luxury! We had the pleasure of talking with Manfred in Perth, Scotland about his new microscope and 5500K fluorescent lights.

Thom's presentation at the Perth User's Group

Audio

(Please pardon the quality. We're still learning to use the equipment.)

Thanks to all Perth User Group attendees!

The Scots were fun (as always), the Conference was chocked full of interesting information, and the event survey says it all!

Was the location fun & interesting? 100% said YES

Was the room comfortable? 100% said YES

Did the mix of work, education and fun work well for the day? 100% said YES

Were you able to take home useful information? 100% said YES

Did you learn a great deal about PAS? 75% said YES (most knew the software inside & out)

Now, what will we do with all this information?

The next meeting will be some place fun and interesting. We will make sure that the PAS section is chock full of useful stuff you can take home –so bring your laptops whether to Tucson or Las Vegas.

We hope some of you will consider coming next year to the Scottish Gemmological Association’s Conference. (We just hope the exchange rate improves next year.)

Photos

GIA & PAS Beta-Test GemEwizard

GemEwizard, the first digital gemstone color grading system is now integrated with PAS and being beta tested by PAS users. GemEsquare, the heart of GemEwizard, was refined in cooperation with GIA as a teaching tool and is now poised to become a useful tool for grading color in gemstones.

This custom color communication software module is designed to standardize the way the gemstone sector talks about color. It will be beta tested in Gemological Institute of America (GIA) classrooms later this year, according to an announcement by developer Gemewizard Inc. Here is a link to the full article. Beta-Test of GemEwizard

Here's one more article from the JCK site: From ColorMaster to GemSet to Gem e-Wizard: Computer might be the answer for GIA

New Test for Beryllium

The Swiss Gemmological Institute (SSEF) had developed a method for testing beryllium. Here is a full description of this exciting new technology.

GIA Reports on New Corundum Treatment

A new corundum treatment has recently emerged that, in a very short time, has created a storm of controversy. Here is a link to the GIA article: A New Corundum Treatment from Thailand

Postal Irradiation & Gemstones

Here's a link to some very interesting material on the new postal scanning and its effect on gems. U.S. Postal Service Irradiation Process May Affect Some Gemstones (November 27, 2001)

GIA's Latest Articles on Diamond Cut

"GIA's study of diamond cut proportions has a long history—longer, in some ways, than the history of GIA itself, since one could say that poor cutting proportions helped motivate Robert M. Shipley to found GIA."

In the article GIA and Its History with Cut, Barak Green, Al Gilbertson, Mary Johnson, and James Shigley give us the historic trail in one of a series articles.

This link is to many individual articles available to date.GIA's New Series on Diamond Cut

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