We maintain a Mobile Gemological Laboratory so the choice is yours. Our office in Beverly Hills, or your home / office / bank vault.
Professional Profile
Gina D’Onofrio’s experience encompasses jewelry design and production, appraisals, buying and selling of contemporary, antique and period jewelry, sales and management, with work in the retail, auction, design and manufacturing sectors of the jewelry industry since 1985.
She received her Master Gemologist Appraiser® designation, upon completion of appraisal studies, written and practical examinations and peer appraisal report review with the American Society of Appraisers. In addition, she was awarded the Certified Master Appraiser designation with the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers.
Ms D’Onofrio adheres to the Uniform Standards of Appraisal Practice. These standards are developed and updated by the Appraisal Standards Board of The Appraisal Foundation, who are authorized by congress as the source of appraisal standards and appraiser qualifications. Ms D’Onofrio has been appointed as an appraiser and expert witness by attorneys and the Superior Court for the County of Los Angeles, North Valley district.
From 2000 to 2016, Gina operated an independent gemological laboratory, appraisal service and consulting firm and has been catering to private individuals, banks, trusts, nonprofit organizations, insurance companies, legal firms and the jewelry trade in the greater Los Angeles area. After a 5 year tenure working as Director of Fine Jewelry at Heritage Auctions, Ms. D’Onofrio has re-established her Jewelry Appraisal Services in Beverly Hills.
In 2013 Gina received Los Angeles Magazine^s coveted "Best in LA" award for her Jewelry Appraisal Services. She conducts presentations and speeches about appraisal and jewelry related topics to private and corporate groups in the Los Angeles area. Gina is past Gems and Jewelry Education Chair for the American Society of Appraisers and co-instructor for their Principals of Valuation Course - GJ202: Appraising Gems & Jewelry for Insurance Coverage.
Credentials and Relevant Training
- Gemology Diploma, 1992 - Gemological Association of Australia.
- Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), 1996, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022.
- Diamond Grading, 1996 - Gemological Institute of America.
- Diamond Cut Grading, 2006 - Gemological Institute of America.
- Appraisal Core Courses 101, 102 & 103, 2000 - ISA.
- Gems and Jewelry Appraisal Techniques and Standards GJ206, 2009, ASA.
- Fundamentals of Watches for Valuation, 2012, National Association of Watch & Clock Collectors, NAWCC.
- Luxury or Lie: Counterfeit and genuine wristwatches. Adam Harris, NAWCC.
- Gems & Jewelry Narrative Appraisal Report Writing, GJ207, 2012, ASA.
- Advanced Gemological Update & Connoisseurship, GJ209, 2012, ASA.
- Personal Property Valuation Report Writing, PP/GJ 203, 2012, ASA
- Personal Property Valuation – Legal Environment, PP/GJ 204, 2012, ASA
- Advanced Diamond Grading, 2013, ASA/GIA
- Jewelry Forensics, 2018, ASA/GIA.
- Minimum of 16 hrs continuing education each year relevant to gems & jewelry.
Professional Affiliations
- Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain (FGA)
- Fellow of The Gemmological Association of Australia (FGAA)
- Certified Master Appraiser of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers
- Master Gemologist Appraiser of the American Society of Appraisers
- Accredited Senior Gemologist, Accredited Gemologists Association
- Member of the American Society of Jewelry Historians
Published Articles
- Jewelry Business Magazine / Kenilworth Publication
Past articles may be viewed at www.kenilworth.com/jewellery-business/
- “Making the Grade” Tips to ensure your lab is up to snuff. Feb. 2015
- “What’s in a Name?” The challenges of appraising branded jewelry and watches. May 2015.
- “At Whose Cost?” How globalization impacts appraisals. August 2015.
- “Pearls of Wisdom” Unravelling the complex world of appraising pearls. December 2015
Course Instruction / Presentations
- Appraisal Report Writing For Insurance Coverage, ASA GJ 202, April 2014, July 2014 & August 2015, March 2017, April 2018.
- Career Paths in Auctions and Appraisals
- How Real is it? Mined vs Man Made Diamonds
- From Bombshells to Bling: Jewels of the 1940s & 1950s
- Jewels from the Swinging 60s to Socially Conscious 70s
- Jewels of the Excessive 1980s and Austere 1990s
- The New Vintage - 20th Century Jewelry from 1950 - 2000
Recent conferences attended: For a current listing of recent lectures and conferences attended, please visit www.LAJewelryAppraiser.com.