The Jewel Lab

20/06/2026

20/06/2026

19/06/2026

How do I price jewellery when there’s no receipt, no brand name, and no clue what it originally sold for?

I start with something most people never think about:

👉 What would it cost to make this ring today?

For this pinky ring, I calculated:

• 9ct yellow gold
• 4.81 grams
• Current gold value
• Manufacturing cost
• Skilled jeweller labour

That gives us a reproduction cost of approximately $1,479.

From there, we have a benchmark.

A reseller wanting a quick return might price below that figure.

A retailer selling a desirable, on-trend design might price significantly above it.

The mistake I see most often? People guess based on what they paid, what they were told, or what a similar-looking ring sold for online.

Jewellery pricing isn’t guesswork. It’s maths, market knowledge, and understanding what someone would need to spend to replace it today.

And yes… sometimes being Asian and doing maths is an occupational requirement. 😂

💍 If someone handed you this ring today, what would you price it at?

Comment your estimate below before reading everyone else’s answer.

📩 If you’re a jewellery reseller, vintage dealer, or inherited a jewellery collection and have no idea what it’s worth, click FOLLOW and DM me I’ll show you how I approach it.

13/06/2026

💎 First 5 things I reach for when uncovering hidden wealth…

Most people think a jewellery valuer just “looks at jewellery.”

The reality? Every piece tells a story, and these are the tools that help me read it:

🔍 Loupe – my first line of investigation.
🟣 UV Light – reveals clues invisible to the naked eye.
🧪 Acid Test – because stamps don’t always tell the truth.
🌈 Spectroscope – helps identify gemstones through their light signatures.
👁️ Dichroscope – separates colours to reveal a gem’s optical secrets.
🔬 Microscope – where the real detective work begins.

Every valuation starts with questions.
These tools help me find the answers.

👇 POLL TIME 👇

Which tool do you think uncovers the biggest surprises?

A. Loupe 🔍
B. UV Light 🟣
C. Acid Test 🧪
D. Spectroscope 🌈
E. Dichroscope 👁️
F. Microscope 🔬

Cast your vote in the comment below and I’ll reveal which one catches people out the most.

💎 Follow Chi | The Jewel Lab | Independent Jewellery Valuer for behind-the-scenes access to the world of jewellery valuation, authentication, and hidden wealth.

11/06/2026

Dear Juliet, this reel is for you. ❤️

I don’t often talk about myself because I’ve never been very comfortable being the story. But here’s a little sneak peek.

I was born into the jewellery trade as a third-generation gem dealer and jewellery manufacturer in Vietnam. Twenty years ago, I moved to Melbourne to study gemmology, not knowing exactly where the journey would take me.
After my bachelor of commerce and gemmology, I spent 3 years handling insurance claims for a jeweller, then another 8 years as a jewellery store manager. During those years, I studied valuation while working full-time, learning from everyone willing to share their knowledge.

After becoming a mum, I finally found the courage to step away and build my own path as an independent jewellery valuer.

Today, I’m a Registered Valuer with the NCJV, six years into my valuation career, and I still learn something new every single day.

The truth is, this profession isn’t about knowing everything. It’s about staying curious enough to keep learning.

And Juliet, don’t ever feel discouraged if you weren’t born into the trade.

One of my friends entered gemmology only 8 years ago. Today, he’s the president of a major gem laboratory in Bangkok, travels the world helping establish gem labs, and has published gemmological books.

Passion has a funny way of opening doors.

If a girl from Vietnam can move countries, start over, become a mum, and eventually build a career she loves…

You can too.

✨ Every expert started as a beginner.

If you’re considering a career in jewellery, gemmology, valuation, or watches, tell me below: what would you like to know about the industry?

👇 Comment your questions and I’ll answer them in future videos.

Follow .melbourne for more behind-the-scenes insights into the world of jewellery valuation, gemstones, and private wealth.

10/06/2026

“Would you spend thousands of dollars on a Tiffany ring… with NO box, NO paperwork, at auction?

“Most people would walk away.”

“But what if I told you that’s exactly how some of the best jewellery deals are found?”

This Tiffany & Co enamel and diamond ring came to me for authentication.

And immediately, there were red flags.

🚩 No box.

🚩 No certificate.

🚩 No purchase receipt.

For many buyers, that’s enough to say it’s fake.

But here’s the problem…

Authenticating luxury jewellery isn’t about the packaging.

It’s about the jewellery itself.

So I started looking at the details.

The weight matched genuine Tiffany specifications.

The engraving was crisp, correctly positioned, and consistent with Tiffany’s manufacturing standards.

The workmanship was exactly what I’d expect from Tiffany & Co.

The enamel quality was excellent.

And most importantly…

The diamond count matched the genuine model perfectly.

Because you’d be surprised how many counterfeit pieces get that detail wrong.

After examining every aspect, the verdict was clear.

This ring is genuine Tiffany & Co.

But here’s the interesting part.

Even though it’s authentic, the low auction estimate was only slightly above its intrinsic value.

Meaning the gold, diamonds, and enamel account for most of what the market is willing to pay.

Which is a great reminder that authenticity and market value are two completely different things.

A piece can be 100% genuine and still not command the premium people expect.

⸻

If you want to learn how experts separate genuine luxury jewellery from convincing fakes, follow The Jewel Lab.melbourne

And comment “AUTHENTIC” if you’ve ever been told a piece was fake simply because it didn’t have the original box and papers.

Save this reel for the next time someone tells you packaging proves authenticity.