Independent Appraisals by Mail
No Minimums, No Setup Required.
Access to a qualified independent appraiser isn’t equally distributed. In some markets there are several. In others there are none. For stores in areas without a credentialed independent appraiser nearby, that gap can create a real operational problem.
Mayflower’s mail-in appraisal program fills that gap. No software to install, no account to open, no minimum number of items. When a piece needs an independent appraisal, there’s a straightforward path to get it done.
Simple by Design
There is no account to open, no software to install, and no minimum number of items. A single piece receives the same care as a full collection.
It starts with a conversation. A brief exchange before anything ships confirms the appraisal type needed, any documentation requirements, and how to prepare the piece for transit. That conversation takes minutes and ensures the report comes back right the first time.
From there, we walk through the shipping process together.
The Appraiser
Every appraisal is completed by Randall Lightfoot, GIA GG | CG (AGS) | CM (NAJA) | RGA (USGI) | 2026 USPAP Compliant. Randy appraises most items with gems or metal — fine jewelry, estate and antique pieces, watches, unmounted gemstones, and more.
What Can Be Appraised
Any item with gems or metal. Fine jewelry, estate and antique pieces, watches, unmounted gemstones, and objects outside traditional jewelry categories — including pieces prepared for charitable donation to museums and institutions.
If there is a question about a specific piece, ask before shipping. The answer is almost always yes.
One thing this program is not designed for: documentation on new items purchased from manufacturers. If that is the need, the Certificate of Sale program handles it.
The Appraisal Standard
Every report is written to USPAP standards — the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, the benchmark required for legal, estate, and donation documentation.
Mayflower does not offer virtual appraisals. The reason is straightforward: we cannot professionally defend work on a piece we have not physically examined. Metal has to be tested. Stones have to be examined under magnification and proper gemological equipment. Condition, construction, and period have to be assessed in person. That examination is what makes the report defensible.
Appraisal Types
The appraisal type determines the methodology, and getting it right at the start is part of what the initial conversation accomplishes. Randy appraises for insurance (Retail Replacement Value), Fair Market Value, estate and probate, divorce and dissolution, charitable donation, and liquidation purposes.
Turnaround Time
Turnaround depends on the number of items. Every piece is examined and documented individually — there are no boilerplate templates, no batch processing, no standardized reports filled in from manufacturer data. Each report reflects the actual piece in hand.
A collection takes longer than a single item. The initial conversation establishes a realistic timeline before anything ships.
What Comes Back
A completed, USPAP-compliant appraisal report with full item description, gemological findings, methodology, appraised value, and appraiser credentials. Suitable for submission to attorneys, courts, estate and probate proceedings, insurance carriers, and qualifying charitable institutions.
The First Step is a Conversation
Simply share your details below or email hello@mayflowerestatebuyers.com and we will be in touch. You can also give us a call at (410) 236-7088.
Randall Lightfoot, GIA GG | CG (AGS) | CM (NAJA) | RGA (USGI) | 2026 USPAP Compliant. Every report is completed by the same appraiser. There is no team of unnamed gemologists handling volume.
No. One piece or a full collection, the process and the standard are the same.
Any item with gems or metal. Fine jewelry, estate and antique pieces, watches, unmounted gemstones, and items prepared for charitable donation. If there is a question about a specific piece, ask before shipping.
Insurance (Retail Replacement Value), Fair Market Value, estate and probate, divorce and dissolution, charitable donation, and liquidation. The type is confirmed during the initial conversation.
We cannot professionally defend an appraisal on a piece we have not physically examined. Metal must be tested. Stones must be graded under magnification. That examination is what makes the report defensible.
Turnaround depends on the number of items. Every piece is examined and documented individually — no batch processing, no boilerplate templates. The initial conversation establishes a realistic timeline before anything ships.
The program is designed for jewelry store partners, however individual requests are welcome. You can review are full list of appraisal services by clicking here.