I had a great experience working with Sam. This was my first experience buying jewelry and needing to have it appraised. I was quite nervous as I'd never been through this process before, but Sam was so friendly, explanatory, and thorough. He is a truly an expert. I fully trust Sam's appraisal and would absolutely return. Thank you Sam! read more

AAA Jewelry Appraisal - Sam doing some math for my appraisal. - Appraisal Services Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Reasonable fair price & honesty! I can't be mad at that; thank you Sam I will be returning in the near future. read more

I reached out to try to find out if they appraise pearls and they never got back to me. I completely understand if they don't offer that service, but it only takes a few seconds to send off a text message saying that you don't. read more

I called to ask if Sam does appraisals on moissanite jewelry and he said he could no problem, probably in & out within 20-30 minutes. Went in the very same day and he absolutely gushed about how gorgeous my custom design is. Spent about an hour talking about the nontraditional design and materials, describing how it was made and such. I felt really confident in the process because his questions were astute and I could tell he really wanted to make sure he was providing me with an accurate evaluation. I was worried that the appraisal would turn out a little less than I paid for it (in my experience, customizing something usually only adds value for the individual who customized it), but he explained to me that his appraisals are for the "retail replacement value" of the piece, or how much it would cost to completely remake it in the event that it were somehow lost. Sure enough, the appraisal came back for about $500 more than we paid for it. He texted me images of the appraisal and I got the physical copy in the mail a couple days later. Sam is perfectly charming, the whole process took less than a day, and the cost was frankly far less than the value he provided. I had called around to other spots that wanted to hang onto my ring for a few days and would cost upwards of $100+ per piece appraised. Now that I know about Sam, I won't waste my time anywhere else. read more

Great appraiser. Honest, straightforward and good humored. All around worth it..La La La

I was trying to get my engagement ring appraised by another nearby appraiser, but we had miscommunication and he never showed up (I thought it was one day, and he thought it was the next day). So I called AAA jewelry appraisal and asked if I could do a walk-in appointment, and Sam said he had availability. Sam was one of the nicest people I have ever met. I didn't know much about jewelry appraisal, but he explained everything clearly to me. Unfortunately he said he didn't do official appraisals for lab-created diamonds, mostly because of their novelty and fluctuating prices, but he assured me that the diamond I bought was one of the best ones he had ever seen (in fact, when he first inspected my diamond, he immediately knew that it was lab-created because he noticed how perfect it was). Since the company I bought the diamond from already gave me their own price appraisal, he said I really didn't need a second one. Sam and I chatted for over an hour. We talked about everything, from diamonds to how I planned to propose to life in general. Again, he was a really nice guy and I had a pleasant time with him. After we finished chatting, I asked him how much I should pay, and he said only $15. I handed him a twenty and told him to keep the change, but he insisted that he pay me back $5. What a nice guy. $15 for an hour of time with a diamond expert is an unbelievable deal. I highly recommend that you meet with Sam if you need jewelry appraisal. read more

I made a post on Google already but I had to leave another review here too! Sam is absolutely amazing, I cannot sing his praises more! He was so friendly on the phone, and when I came in, the entire process took less than 15 min, but I stayed for over 2 hrs just to talk gems. He knows his stuff, and couldn't be friendlier. Anyone who is looking to get appraisals, knowledge on gems and jewelery, or just looking for a good conversation, go see Sam. read more

The Jewelry game is quite tricky and as rookie in this game i normally go off vibes. This appraiser got the vibes, i felt like the transaction was honest there was no rush he explained EVERYTHING PLUS MORE LOL and it ended up being less than mentioned for the appraisal. Overall Great Experience! read more

I needed to get my fiancé's engagement ring appraised and found Sam on Yelp. He was very friendly and knowledgeable. I would definitely go back for the next time we would need something appraised. read more

Sam is great! A fun guy, easy-going and knowledgeable. He appraised three rings for my fiancé and I, one being our engagement ring and we both felt good about the purchase after the appraisal. read more

Sam is simply the BEST! We came to him to appraise my engagement ring a few years ago for insurance, and came back this past week to appraise our wedding rings and some other items. We made the hour drive because it is so worth it! He is a true professional, and knows so much - we always learn a lot of interesting information every time and he actually makes the appraisal process fun! His appraisals are accurate, and you can tell he loves what he does. He sends very professional appraisal reports within a day or two (so fast!). We are so glad we found him! read more

Sam is the best! He goes out of his way for his customers. He is honest and trustworthy. I will go to him for all my appraisal needs.

Sam, was an overall delightful experience. He was extremely knowledgeable and pleasant. Thank you Sam for all your help ! I will definitely be sending people your way. read more

Can't say enough about how Sam took care of us yesterday. He really cares about giving great customer service and value to his customers. I called around with other appraisers and they all wanted to keep my wife's jewelry to give an appraisal. Not with Sam, he checked the jewelry in front of us and we then took the jewelry back with us. We were so happy with Sam, that we made a second appointment with him next week for appraisal of some other jewelry. It was a pleasure to work with Sam. Give him a call if you want your jewelry appraised...you won't be disappointed. The above review was based on my experience working with Sam at AAA Jewelry Appraisal in Los Angeles, CA on June 4th, 2014. read more

Sam had a lot of knowledge and tons of experience. He was honest and was never pushy. What I liked was he doesn't buy or sell jewelry just gives his unbiased appraisal. He was also pretty funny. read more

If I could give San more than 5 stars, I would. I texted Sam on a Saturday morning asking for availability and was able to see him later that same afternoon. He was extremely professional and thoughtful and provided detailed directions to his office. Once I was there, Sam took his time explaining the process to me and answered any questions I had in great detail. You can tell he is extremely knowledgeable, has a real passion for what he does, and is a genuinely good person. I trust Sam wholeheartedly and can honestly say I will not go anywhere else for my appraisals. read more

Sam is great! He makes you feel right at home, when you sit down you get a little snack and something to drink, he's got a great sense of humor and also knows his stuff! He's also a great price for his expertise, he gave me a very good deal and was very thoughtful, I couldn't recommend anyone higher. Thanks Sam! read more

5 Stars!!!! Sam is amazing. Not only do you get educated on the quality of jewelry you have. You also get a one on one with him about the jewelry and what it's worth. He does not let you leave with out your jewelry. Unlike other appraisals I have been to in the past made me drop off the Pieces and had me return later. Sam on the other hand is is Trustworthy,Affordable, and likes to have you in his presence as he appraise your jewelry. I really recommend going to Sam Last but not least he accepts many different payment methods. INCLUDING Checks,Card, and cash. 5 Stars for SAM read more

Sam is fantastic! Very knowledgeable, and answered all of my questions thoroughly. I appreciated his honesty and humor as well! What a pleasurable experience getting my rings appraised! Thank you - I would give you 10 stars! read more

Sam was delightful to work with. Great service and humor. Did his homework and came out with a quick appraisal. Thanks Sam!

I contacted Sam, and he made time to see me the same day. He obviously takes pride in his work and is very knowledgeable. He performed a detailed appraisal of my jewelry without it ever leaving my sight. Sam provided a wealth of information about the stones and numerous tips for caring for my jewelry. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and am planning to return to Sam soon with another piece of jewelry. Highly recommended. read more

Sam is a great guy. He explained every facet (pun intended) of his process and as he said to me, there are no dumb questions! He looked at a diamond ring and 2 others I brought along. His pricing is very fair and he brings so many years of experience, you're getting a ton of expertise and value. There's no need to call another. Pick up the phone and call Sam. read more

Sam is the man. Always has a story to tell, and is great at what he does. He found a flaw in one of our stones- nothing major but he wanted to make sure we knew. We had the jeweler remake it from scratch, and Sam reappraised it at ALMOST no cost (we insisted on giving him something!) read more

I got my engagement ring appraisal done here and it was a breeze! Sam is hilarious and it made the process fun. I got the certificate in a timely manner. He also took beautiful photos of my ring. Highly recommend! read more

Sam was incredibly helpful, took his time explaining everything to us even let us look through his microscope at the ring to see what he was talking about. Very funny as well, definitely worth the visit and I enjoyed myself too! read more

I work as a gemologist for an estate jewelry company, and we send our pieces of jewelry to Sam for appraisal before we sell the pieces to the public. We deal with high-value antique items and we trust them to Sam-- Sam is very thorough in his appraisals, has been a Graduate Gemologist for many years, is very accessible and easy to work with, and his appraisals are detailed and accurate. He knows a great deal about diamonds, colored gems and jewelry throughout the ages, and he's always willing to take the time to talk about a piece of jewelry with us. Each piece of jewelry is like a puzzle, and an excellent appraiser figures out all the pieces of the puzzle and translates it all into understandable, clear statement of what it is and its value. A trustworthy appraiser is a necessary part of every jewelry business. I really enjoy working with Sam; his warm personality, his humor and his good nature make him a pleasure to deal with, and we consider him a very valuable member of our business team. He truly deserves a 5-star review! read more

Sam is a top-notch appraiser and a pleasure to work with! I took in an engagement ring and he really took the time to explain every step of the process to me, which I found fascinating. I loved hearing about the interesting qualities of the ring and generally just chatting with Sam. As others mentioned, he gave us so many helpful tips about caring for my ring and purchasing jewelry in the future. The price was very good. A few days later, I received a gorgeous certificate in email and in the post. Parking is the typical downtown mess, but you can find a $5 lot about 2 blocks away. Do not ask the security guards for help finding Sam's shop - they are useless. Instead, head into the little elevator lobby right before the 606 S Hill St jewelry mart and take the elevator to the 6th floor. Sam's office is located down the hall and to the right. Sam only accepts check or cash, so make sure to bring that with you. read more

Sam is incredibly friendly and very professional. I bought a ring online and wanted to make sure I got what was advertised. He was incredibly informative and congenial. Everything was done right in front of me and he patiently educated me about many different aspects of the ring and the diamond. Highly recommended for both expertise and customer service! read more

First, thank you for all the other great reviews of AAA Jewelry Appraisal and Sam that helped me choose this establishment over other. As many other reviewers mentioned, Sam is very friendly and honest. He told me initially that he was very busy and not sure if he can help me with my appraisal, but in the end he just told me he'll make time for me on Saturday to help me. He was on time, very personable, and knows his craft. He took the time to evaluate my items on the spot and even sent me finished the appraisal reports by end of day. Sam, it was so nice meeting you. Appreciate all your help. Highly recommended! read more

Sam is a hidden gem! Located on the 8th floor within the heart of Los Angeles' jewelry district (in 606 S Hill St) is one amazing gemologist. Sam is professional, personable, and has great sense of humor - did I mention he is extremely compassionate and willing to accommodate your budget? Well, he is all that and more. We called ahead of time to secure an appointment and later, got an appointment the next day. While parking is traumatic, it was worth it. Sam is your guy in jewelry appraisal. In fact, he is now my designated jewelry guy in town should I acquire anything in the future that needs appraising. Back to parking - Prepare ahead of time and either park on Olive or further - avoid trying to find parking on Hill, there's a movie filming crew there these days and all the parking spaces are taken. You can park at 602 Olive, I recall, it says members only, but I parked any way and paid about $13 for about an hour's worth of parking. Sam gave me an amazing deal, made me feel like a VIP, and I am so happy to have found him.. through my hubby. I had some jewelry from my parents and recently bought some items from an estate sale and wanted to make sure that some of them were real. It turned out the ones I received from parents and hubby are real, the ones purchased by myself were unfortunate - so half and half. He gave me a great mini-brief/lecture on how to tell real pearl - and how it is knotted to keep it from harming each other. He also told me about certain markings of gold, such as pure gold is 24k and when you have a 14k or 10k gold whatever, it is either paired with 10k or 14k, respectively, alloy to make gold, or copper to make rose gold. He also went over some aspects of gold plating, and heavy gold plating info- but that kinda flew over my head, really hard to remember when you're not in the biz. This experience was fun and informative, can't wait to go back when I have something amazing that needs to be appraised. read more

I had my diamond originally appraised when I purchased it but the insurance company needed additional information for proper coverage so I brought it over to Sam. I am not an expert in diamonds or jewelry but Sam did a wonderful job explaining to the layman how diamonds are graded. He took his time to explain the two major organizations, GIA and EGL, for diamond grading and how they both may have different grades even though the same diamond is being graded. The entire process of the appraisal takes about 30 minutes to an hour depending on how many questions you ask but it is all done in front of you while you watch in his office. He did a thorough job of inspecting the diamond and also educated me on how to care for the diamond to keep its shine last for years. This place is great especially in an area where there are tons of jewelry shops and hard to figure out which one to trust. read more

I had a very good experience with Sam. I was changing insurance companies and needed an appraisal for my engagement ring. By the time I contacted Sam, I needed the appraisal in a hurry. Sam fit in me in that day. He took his time examining the ring, and gave me a good crash course on diamonds to boot. On top of that, his price was extremely reasonable, and I received the certificate in a timely manner. Overall, Sam is a warm and honest guy, and the person I would go back to if I ever needed another appraisal. read more

I'd recommend this guy to anyone looking to do an appraisal. Found Sam through Yelp, and definitely glad I found him. I needed to have something appraised before going out of town, and he was nice enough to be flexible. Sam's knowledge and attention to detail is quite impressive. He explains the whole process as he goes through it and tells you what he's looking for. He's honest if you have a bad stone and extremely impressed if you have a great find on your hands. The guy makes the experience very pleasant by being very personable and funny. read more

Went to get my fiance's engagement ring set appraised with Sam today...1st time ever having anything appraised and I must say I'm glad that I got a chance to meet and do business with Sam. First off, I called around to see how much the appraisal costs were for an engagement ring set. Most gemologists wanted to charge me $95 per item which would've totaled $190 for the set!!! Since I spent most of my $$$ on my fiance's engagement ring, I was looking to save a few bucks. When I spoke with Sam on the phone, he said he would charge me $65 or even less depending on the rings. At the end of the day, he only charged $45!!! He had many useful tips for my fiance in caring for the ring set...she really appreciated his friendly demeanor and sense of humor, but most importantly, his knowledge and insight about jewelry. For me personally, I really appreciated the fact that he complimented my fiance's ring set so that she knew that I did not try to cut corners in purchasing them, so to speak. The appraisal took about 30 minutes and it was done right in front of us. Sam said the appraisal certificate would me mailed to us within 4-5 business days and would be accurate with respect the rings' appraisal value. As I mentioned earlier, I do not purchase jewelry very often, but if I get a chance to do it again, I will definitely go to Sam to have it appraised again and I strongly recommend that you do the same if you are in the market for a jewelry appraisal. Thx again Sam! read more

RAVE reviews for Sam and AAA Jewelry Appraisal! As I searched for someone dependable and reliable to appraise a beloved heirloom of mine, I had the pleasure of meeting Sam who not only offered a very detailed and professional appraisal, but offered a wealth of knowledge and expertise pertaining to fine jewelry in general. Since my first appraisal with Sam, I've referred a family member to Sam who has also been extremely satisfied with his work, professionalism and knowledge. During the appraisal appointment, Sam examined my ring while I watched, which immediately placed my mind at ease and created a level of trust I needed to feel comfortable. The next day, Sam followed up with me via phone, to let me know that he had placed the formal appraisal in the mail. The formal appraisal came in the mail within 3 business days and was laminated, in a protective sleeve, was highly descriptive, produced in full color and included pictures of my ring. The hustle and bustle on the street level of the jewelry district in downtown Los Angeles can be quite intimidating, so I especially appreciate the fact that Sam's appraisal office is on the 8th floor, is quiet, organized and comfortable. I'll finish by adding that the appraisal rates that Sam offers are extremely affordable and Sam makes himself accessible by accommodating to the schedules of his clients. When I purchase any piece of jewelry from now on, I fully plan on consulting with Sam first given his expertise. If you're looking for someone you can trust to give you insight into your valuables and to which will do so in an honest, sincere and professional manner, trust Sam! read more

My day started out HORRIBLY. I went downtown to pick up mine, and my fiances wedding bands, and decided to get my diamond band appraised while I was down there. I stopped at the first place that offered to do jewelry appraisals, who also happened to be another dealer I had purchased another ring at. I thought I trusted them, but that turned out to be a huge mistake. The first bizarre thing, was that they took my ring to a different building, and returned 15 minutes later with a sheet of paper that they were still filling out when they came back to me. They also asked me to pay for it, but didn't have a price, and also didn't ask for me to pay for it prior to DOING the appraisal. So I gave them $25 because when I looked at the appraisal I knew it was wrong. First, it said my ring was 14k gold, when it is actually 18k. Then they didn't estimate the diamonds correctly, and they claimed the whole ring was only worth $350! Well thats a problem, because I spent quite a bit more than that...then she asks "would you like to sell it to us for that amount" and at this point i realized something shady was going on. They obviously appraised it LOW, hoping I'd sell it to them for that amount. I decided to get a second opinion and went straight to Sam. Sam was able to fit me in right then and there, and without giving him any prior details about the other appraisal, I let him do his thing. THANK GOD. Sam does an excellent job, and is really just a NICE guy. And funny! It took about 30 minutes, and he just called to tell me I'd be receiving my certificate today. PLEASE don't make the same mistake I did...go DIRECTLY TO SAM. I walked back down to the original place and demanded my money back, since they obviously couldn't even tell the difference between 14k and 18k gold... GO TO SAM. Don't waste time with these other shady places. Sam is honest, nice, and funny. And his prices are VERY reasonable! read more

Best customer service EVER. I went here solely based on the Yelp reviews and was not disappointed. Sam is truly the nicest human being you will meet. I sat and talked with him throughout the appraisal and I learned so much. Just a genuinely nice person. I wish he offered some other type of service so that I could continuously give him my business, like if he had a store or something that I could go to everyday. Fair pricing, great conversation, just a nice human being. Very knowledgeable and explained everything to me. Look no further, he is your guy! read more

I was lucky to find Sam after browsing several jewelry appraisers in the area. I needed an affordable appraisal for my girlfriend's engagement ring to ensure that I made a good choice on the ring. From the moment I made the appointment with Sam until I left the office, Sam was extremely professional, humorous, friendly, and considerate in facilitating the process. I felt comfortable asking questions and he did a thorough job inspecting my diamond ring for about an hour. His stories made me feel at ease and I left with a much richer knowledge of jewelry. It is apparent that Sam enjoys sharing his knowledge of diamonds/jewelry in the most honest and straightforward manner that definitely would make me recommend him to friends/family. I left Sam's office feeling confident in my purchase and had the emailed appraisal document by the next day! Side note: Sam's office is in middle of the jewelry district so it isn't the most convenient or safest of areas which is probably why later appointments are harder to accommodate. However, I will certainly go back to Sam if I need an appraisal in the future. read more

I had an excellent experience with Sam Babazadeh. He was very attentive and even met me on the street when I had trouble finding his office. Sam carefully appraised my inherited jewelry, and went the extra mile to answer all my questions and provide me with documentation. And the price was right. It was a pleasure doing business with Sam. read more

This review comes a couple months late, but I just wanted to say how great Sam is to work with. I need to get an appraisal on a couple pieces of jewelry and searched Yelp for a jewelry appraiser who would be authentic, good experience and reasonably priced. I went with Sam. He's located in the heart of Downtown LA and was worth a drive from West LA for his expertise. He spent about an hour with us to educate, tell us what to look for when purchasing jewelry and provided an excellent appraisal where I could understand the rating system. He was quick to mail his appraisal paperwork. Very friendly, funny and someone who I can rely on for a good appraisal. read more