Very personable gentleman. Great at his job too. We learned a lot and got very fair evaluations for insurance.

I have never gotten any jewelry appraised before and this place was close to my work. I asked about jewelry cleaning and appraisal and got lectured and cut off multiple times during our phone conversation. He was extremely rude and condescending. Unprofessional and lacks customer service skills. I will take my business elsewhere. read more

I want to share the story of my wonderful experience with Watson & Son, and particularly with Erica Scott who is a GEM! My fiancé had proposed to me some months back with a family heirloom, a garnet solitaire ring on a gold band. I liked it, but it wasn't what I had originally envisioned for myself. Luckily, I had my fiancé and future mother-in-law's blessing to change the setting. With this in mind and some questions about the stone, I visited Watson and Sons. I didn't have an appointment, but Erica made some time for me and made me feel at home. She studied my ring with her spectrometer and discovered that my ring was a lab made stone! I was pretty disappointed. Erica was very kind, empathetic, and offered her help in replacing the stone or creating a new custom ring. I discussed the options with my fiancé (did I want to replace the stone on the setting? did I want a custom ring design or something stock). I decided to design a custom ring with the help of Erica that would have the spirit of the original engagement ring, but a style that suited my personality. My fiancé and I embarked on an approximately 5 week collaborative experience that culminated in a gorgeous ruby and diamond gold engagement ring. First, I shared with Erica our budget, my preference for gems, color, metal band, and style. I was concerned that for my budget of $3000 I wouldn't be able to get the look I wanted. My preference was for a yellow gold ring with a deep red ruby, in an oval cut. I just didn't think I could afford one the size of my original faux garnet. I also wanted, but wasn't sure we could afford, trillion cut diamonds on either side of the ruby. Erica assured me that she believed we could source good quality, eye-clean, natural gems to create my dream ring and within a week she had sourced a variety of oval rubies, garnets, and sapphires for me to peruse. I chose a healthy-sized deep red ruby with lots of fire. It was smaller than the original faux stone, however, it was the REAL DEAL. It was also an excellent value. So far we were within the budget. Then came the diamonds. She sourced and priced out 3 pairs of trillion cut diamonds - a small, medium, and large option. If I had gone with small or medium, I would have (with stones, metal work etc) come in on or under budget. I chose the large sized pair of diamonds to compliment the ruby and that's where we went above the budget. But it's what I wanted and my fiancé was cool with it. I appreciate that Erica was genuinely enthusiastic and patient throughout this whole process. I brought printed pictures of rings I liked and didn't like, and asked her professional opinion. I wanted something that felt modern, but elegant enough to stand the test of time. She gave me her honest opinion and addressed all my concerns. It helps that she's also witty and very pleasant to be around in general. It took a week to get a full-sized wax cast mock-up of the ring for my approval. They placed the stones in the wax ring for me to imagine and inspect. This was the time to make sure the size was right and that I liked the setting. Another week, and my ring made! The finished ring was everything I wanted, it felt like me, it reminded me of the original ring, and it was sooo sparkly. I was so happy, and my fiancé was so happy that I was happy. We also got an appraisal along with the ring for insurance purposes. In the end we paid close to $1000 more than we originally planned -- it was totally worth it! I have a gorgeous piece of jewelry that will hold up to everyday wear, that I will pass on to my heirs, and that makes me smile and think how much my fiancé cares. The only downside to this visit was that I wouldn't be seeing Erica on a regular basis anymore. My solution to that was to find more work for Watson & Son! I have also gotten an antique amethyst ring that belonged to my grandmother repaired, and it looks better than ever. I 100% recommend Watson & Son for custom jewelry design, appraisal, and repair. And Erica is the best! read more

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What a great experience! Mark is true professional. He appraised 3 family heirlooms for my husband and me. The process was fascinating and far more detailed than I had imagined. Mark gave us images, documents, details, and all we could need for insurance purposes. We intend to return with more pieces, including some old family watches. Mark is a pleasure to work with with, astute, and knowledgeable. We also loved his adorable dog, Shackleton. Looking forward to returning and will recommend Mark to family and friends. read more

Mark cleaned and mended my engagement ring so that it looks like the same as the day my husband put it on my hand. He also gave us great tips for general ring care. I would highly recommend! read more

Watson & Son - Engagement ring - Appraisal Services Near Me - San Francisco, California

I have purchased a few treasures from Mark, a shiny diamond ring, some diamond studs and my diamond Rolex....yes, I like diamonds. He also re-stoned my grandmother's ring from a diamond to a blingy pink gem, just cuz it's more fun. He's repaired, restored and appraised other pieces for me. I'm always greeted by a giant smile and an irreverent sense of humor. My whole family adores Mark Watson and we are grateful to have a jeweler like him on speed dial . read more

Thank you so much to this delightful gentleman! I lost the center diamond in my 1800's engagement ring. He was able to source the perfect replacement diamond immediately (more sparkly than the original!) and get the ring repaired, which was very tricky because it needed the prongs retipped and there is a lot of turquoise near the repair area. My ring looks better than ever and it was a pleasure to do business with someone who has such a passion for their art! read more

While sheltered in place in SF, I decided to go through my jewelry. After doing so, I found a few pieces that needed repair: Amethyst/Gold ring that was broken and the wrong size, pearls to be restrung, and my great grandmothers diamond ring needed an update as well. I received a recommendation to Watson & Sons. Mark reached out and through is drive thru concierge service came by our house (stayed in his car with mask and gloves) in the rain! He was professional, trustworthy, and very thorough with the whole process. My pieces came back better than ever! Since I had such a great experience. I asked him about a custom piece. I had a loose tanzanite that I got in Tanzania 10 years ago, and hadn't done anything with it. I also had a pair of 22K earrings that just weren't me. Mark and staff use the tanzanite and the gold to make a BEAUTIFUL pendant that I will cherish! Thank you to Mark and his team for updating my heirlooms and creating a new one for our family! I definitely recommend Watson & Son! read more

We take all our stuff to Mark for appraisals. If and when repairs are needed, Watson & Son will be top-of-mind. I see some folks have had iffy experiences - we haven't had a hint of that across several trips to the office. Mark's great at holding an engaging conversation while appraising the piece of jewelry. I get the sense that he actually enjoys engaging with folk, learning more about people and the world, and not just getting a job done. Would happily send any friends to Watson & Son! read more

Awesome to work with! Mark is understanding and patient, yet not afraid to give his well thought out honest opinion!! My fiancé proposed with his grandmothers beautiful ring... unfortunately it could not be resized to my finger. I had no idea who to trust or how to find a new mounting for the center stone. I spoke with several other jewelers who I wasn't excited about before I was eventually enthusiastically referred to Mark. From the moment I spoke with him I knew it was going to be a great fit. Mark is straight forward, yet also very understanding of the emotional attachment and sentimental value that jewelry can hold. He listened to me and didn't push me to make a custom ring or even to make a decision yet. He helped me realize I needed more time. He suggested one of the ring mounts that he had in his office. I thought it was a temporary fix until I found the diamonds forever setting, however he was 100% right about the setting... it turned out to be perfect!! read more

I had called and spoken to Mark Watson in late October about getting some antique, rather expensive pieces appraised. He seemed very nice on the phone and told me how much it would cost per hour. I realized I had quite a few pieces I wanted appraised and decided to wait until December to start the process. When I called back this week he was unbelievably short and rude with me. I think he was busy due to the Christmas season but still no reason to treat me this way. I could have become a great customer for him, not just getting appraisals but buying jewelry. He really did not want my business or care about me at all. Why would I spend my money there? For any reason? read more

Watch Appraiser Mark Watson of Watson and Son recently appraised my family watches.   He was thorough in his research and detailed descriptions taking incredible photographs of my heirloom watches. All this he did right in front of me. I had no idea that I had such valuable watches. Lloyd Johnson read more

Had a wonderful experience with Erica and Mark's concierge service. I was looking for a diamond tennis bracelet, and not only did Erica help me find something in my budget, Mark dropped it off to my house in the east bay. He was wearing gloves and a mask, and it was a seamless and safe new way to purchase Jewelry. This is the second time I've worked with Mark and Erica. They also helped me redesign family heirlooms for my wedding set. They treat everyone like family and I would highly recommend them! read more

Mark and Erica at Watson and Son are such a pleasure to work with. I found them when looking for someone to appraise my antique diamond engagement ring and they have done that and more. They are kind, honest, knowledgeable and very professional. The space the work in feels comfortable, private and as if you're a family friend. I highly recommend them if you are anxious about trusting someone with your antique or vintage jewels as I was. My ring is a one of a kind and I wanted to ensure that who I trusted with it would treat it as their own treasure. That is what you'll find at Watson & Son. Erica has gone above and beyond for me in more ways than one. From squeezing me in for appointments short notice (they do work by appointment only), to hand delivering my ring when I was unable to visit their shop for pickup. Customer experience is very important to me and I'm consistently impressed by how well they continue to treat me and I'm sure how they treat all of their customers. read more

Came to Watson & Son for an insurance appraisal on a couple of pieces - they are appointment only so be sure to call ahead of time. Appraisals are done while you watch, which is nice & cost is $100 per 30 min. My 2 pieces took about 1 hr. Very thorough assessment & evaluation......plus, as we were chatting, we discovered a mutual affinity for sailing & island life! During the eval, a stone was found to be missing on my brooch & part of the setting on my ring needed repair......so glad I had had these lovelys checked out & even happier that they could do the repairs! Took about 1-2 weeks ( can't remember exactly but since I wasn't in a rush, timing didn't matter for me ). They came back just as lovely & I dare say even had a bit more sparkle from their newly refurbished state of happiness Mr & I also viewed some exceptionally lovely pieces while we were there & I went back about 1 month later to try on a particular lovely & it was stunning. Unfortunately, there was a disconnect w/ the price I remember being quoted & the price they had noted we discussed, & now it was a completely different asking price. They did try to work w/ me to come up w/ something mutually beneficial but I ended up passing......pays to take advantage of these things in the moment & not delay! So if you are in immediate need of a thorough evaluation of your precious pieces, this is a good option & if you're in the market for some exceptionally fine heirloom pieces, look no further 2 quick points to note - communicating via phone will ensure the fastest response & they do not take credit cards Huge fans! read more

I called up this place to make a reservation to have my jewelry appraised, so I can sell it because I have a terminal illness (breast cancer), and my family will need the money after I pass on. The man who answered the phone, was extremely rude, very impatient and insisted he wouldn't even make an appt without me sending him some pictures. Ok, that is not an unreasonable thing to ask for, but why be so condescending and dismissive. I am not good with photography, and with a point and shoot wide angle camera, the glare off the diamonds would blur every shot. He was totally rude and indifferent towards me even though I told him I am terminally ill, to explain why I am selling my jewelry in the first place. I would never, ever do business there, because even if he was having a the worst day of his entire life, an intelligent businessman would never treat a customer, or another human being like that. He is obviously one of those 2 faced people who is only nice when he has to be, and a jerk the rest of the time, you know the type. I used to own a successful small business, and a good attitude and customer service are the most important aspects of running any business. Some of my old customers still call me occasionally, just to say "hello", even though I sold my business years ago. Even a couple of my ex employees still call and email me, because I am a nice person, and a good mentor to others. He didn't even give me the chance to explain what type of ring it was, because I could have just told him the ratings on the IGA certificate I have. One of my rings is valued over $8,000.00 retail, so I'm not trying to pawn off some cheap jewelry. He was hands down, the rudest person I have EVER spoken with my entire life. Would it really hurt you to give me over a 30 seconds of your precious time, and behave like a decent human being?! Obviously you think you are more important than everyone else, if you can't even help a person who is dealing with a terminal illness. If you were too busy, maybe you shouldn't have answered the phone and I would have called back at a better time. I am going to give my business to San Francisco Provident Loan Association. They have more reviewers, which equals more satisfied customers. read more

After coming into an inheritance of jewelry after my parent's deaths, I started to look at places that I could get an appraisal & if so desired, sell it. I called Watson and Son on a Saturday morning and realized they probably weren't open so would call back later. What a surprise when Mark called me back to see if there was something he could help with. He was professional, informative and sincere. I set an appointment for the following week and when I went in, he was all that in person as well. Having never done something like this I was a bit nervous and not knowing what to expect. Mark and his assistant Demetria have no airs, are professional and expedient. I was in and out of there in less than an hour with a check in hand for my goods. I'd not only recommend this for appraisal and selling, but also for purchasing something unique. I eyed a beautiful necklace hanging behind Mark's desk that I'm not sure I'll ever be able to afford, but can dream about... Thank you Watson and Son for a pleasurable experience...you honesty, knowledge and sincerity made me feel at ease and I will definitely recommend you! read more

I scheduled an appointment, Came in; Was asked to sit down and show what I Have to sell. He took it, Stood Up, Looked at it said "I don't want it." He refused to tell me what it's worth, I asked for him to do a paid Appraisal for me He said "Not Worth My Time. I'm not interested" Even when you wear a bow-tie, you should respect your customers at the very least. read more

I needed to get my finacee's engagement ring appraised so we could get it insured, so I made an appointment with Mark. I was welcomed into his office at the time of my appointment. During the appraisal process we engaged in some casual banter as well as some appraisal talk. The process was completed within 30 minutes and I was on my way. Mark is a gem to work with and highly recommend him. read more

Apparently, having a ring resized is not as simple a process as I had imagined. I thought I would write to Watson and Son to find out how much it would cost to have my ring size increased. Mark replied that he needed to see the ring, so I brought it in for an estimate. However, he still couldn't tell me exactly how much the enlargement would cost until he sent the ring out to one of his vendors. To make things more complicated, my finger measured a size larger one week than the next, so there were two sizes we were looking at. Ultimately we decided to go with the larger size which meant more platinum which meant more money. The turnaround was reasonably quick, but my ring was not ready on the day promised. I called Mark to find out the status and he said there was a delay, the ring would be back in my hands the following day. This was not a huge deal, but if work is promised and expected on a given day it would be nice to hear that in advance, not the day of, the delay. My e-mail address was also added to a mailing list without my permission. I unsubscribed and have not received any further mailings. The work was well done and Mark was quite agreeable to deal with. All in all, I certainly could recommend Watson and Son for their trustworthyness and workmanship. The ease of transaction could have been better, and communication could have been improved as to the expected time the ring would be returned. read more

I have searched for a jeweler to do the appraisals for my great-grandmother's jewelry over the past 3 years. I never felt comfortable leaving my family heirlooms to strangers until now. Dimitria did the appraisals right in front of me. I was in/out and gone within 30 minutes! That experience brought be back to get 2 rings resized. Again, service was great. Dimitria resized the rings within a few hours and I was able to get my rings on that very evening. Some quick tips if you plan to go: 1) you will need to make an appointment 2) cash or check only 3) they will send soft copy of your appraisals in email Go to Watson & Son. You will not be disappointed. read more

Watson and Son is the perfect place for the person who does not want to deal with "Stuck Up" jewelers; but appreciates a personable jeweler with knowledge. This is what I got with Mark Watson. Good guy to know in the jewelry business and very easy to communicate with. read more

I went to Mark for an appraisal for a number of family heirlooms. He was absolutely wonderful - thorough, patient, and genuinely nice. I have been to many jewelry boutiques and appraisers in the past, and found Mark to be by far the most welcoming. He was even willing to provide me a microscope and explain to me how he reached each individual valuation. Mark will be the first to admit that one does not go to him for price, but your expectations will be far exceeded with his attention to detail and genuine care. I would recommend him to anyone - whether you have a $1MM bvlgari piece or a simple engagement ring, he is fantastic. read more

I paid a visit to Watson & Son for purpose of securing an appraisal for a sapphire/diamond engagement ring and wedding guard ring for insurance coverage. I was greeted by Mark Watson's co-worker Ryan who did a great job of prepping for the appraisal work by thoroughly cleaning the jewelry. He also provided me with good tips and advice of the care and cleaning of the pieces. I came equipped with a solid GAI certification for the sapphire so it made the appraisal work somewhat easier and less time-consuming for Mark. He was extremely personable with a strong expertise in analyzing and valuing colored stones. The GAI certification indicated that the origin of the sapphire was Ceylon but after inspection and based on its color attributes, Mark surmised it was more likely from the Kanchanaburi sapphire mines in Thailand. I have no way of really knowing one way or the other, because I also think that Ceylon is plausible as I purchased the raw stone from Sri Lankan jeweler based in New York City. In short order, Mark produced everything I needed to provide my insurance company, including taking photos of the jewelry along with a scanned version of the GAI certification. All of this was quickly sent to me as a single file in electronic .pdf format via email. All I have to do now is forward the appraisal to my insurance carrier. All-in-all, this was a great experience: a knowledgeable, trustworthy, efficient and courteous professional. Watson & Son will get repeat business from this customer. read more

As a Southern Belle, I have a thing for bling and bow ties. That's why I adore Watson & Son. While wearing a handsome bow tie, Mark Watson sized and appraised my platinum ring for a reasonable price. The whole process took less than a week. I really appreciate how Mark took the time to meet with me (appointments only) and genuinely wanted to help. You can tell Mark loves his clients and their jewelry, He is totally trustworthy, recommended to me by two close friends. My dad has instilled a fear in me of crooked jewelers "switching stones" (it happened to one of my dad's architecture clients!). I walked in the door very nervous and skeptical and left feeling confident and in good hands. Mark hopes his 17 year old son will one day love jewelry as much as he does. That's why he named his business for him (no pressure!). If his son doesn't want the job, I'll gladly take it. Watson & Sinsky... hmmm... doesn't quite have a ring to it. Ha! Pun totally intended. read more

I had some jewelry left to me that I intended to sell. I didn't know what it was worth, nor where to start. I saw that Watson & Son had good YELP ratings, so I emailed him. He got right back to me, and we scheduled an appointment for the next time I was in SF. He was prompt, professional, and a wealth of knowledge on what he thought the jewelry was worth. He even offered me advice on what to do with the pieces he wasn't interested in. I don't hesitate to recommend Watson & Son. And yes, he had the bow tie on! read more

After meeting with a few other jewelers, my fiance and I decided on having Watson & Son both size and appraise my antique engagement ring. Ryan and Mark were very knowledgeable, professional, and did a fantastic job on both the sizing down of the ring. We were nervous about the sizing because of the old age of the ring and the detail work on the sides, but it came out beautifully! They also gave me helpful advice on the care and cleaning of my ring. Mark gave us a thorough appraisal, and has a great photography set-up to snap quick macro shots of your jewelry, that really brings out the detail. They clearly have a passion for their work, which I really value, especially since I know so little about gemstones and jewelry in general. Side note: cash or check only. read more

I brought Mark my grandfather's Omega gold watch. He was a clear professional and turned the appraisal over in a mere 30 minutes. Mark's rate is $200/hr so he only charged me $100. But getting a bequest appraised is more than just a transaction, and Mark showed genuine interest and personality throughout our appointment. It was a nice moment to chat and reflect while thinking of my grandfather. Thank you, Mark! Note: Cash only. read more

When shopping for an Engagement Ring, guys are usually all about one thing, how big is the diamond? The bigger the better, right? Wrong. An elegant, beautiful and original ring is the ticket to a happy fiancée, a huge stone with no personality is just that, a pretty stone. Mark at Watson & Son's knows this, and he can definitely help you get the right ring on your special lady's finger. I have blue eyes, so we substituted a big diamond for an even bigger blue Sapphire. I had walked around in Tiffany's with my bride-to-be and she was particularly fond of a particular diamond-encrusted setting. that setting would dwarf a two-carat diamond (which I likely couldn't afford at a high clarity, anyway). Mark made it all work out, a 3 carat sapphire he found looks A-MAZE-ING after it was cut, he quite easily created a setting as beautiful as the one she had preferred at Tiffanys. My fiancée is psyched, she is always saying she has the most beautiful engagement ring ever, and I look like a hero. Thanks Watson & Son. read more

My fiance and I searched around for a little while to appraise my engagement ring and wedding band. We were connected to Watson & Son and I am happy that we did. When I called to get information and to make an appointment, they were super nice and helpful. We were able to get in for an appointment for just a couple days later. They charge $100 per 1/2 hr but aren't stickers for the time. We were in there for about 45 min or so and only had to pay the hundred. You get the appraisal, photos and archival for the price and he emails it to you right then and there to make sure you get what you need. They cleaned up my ring and then began the appraisal. Mr. Watson was very thorough and explained what he was doing while the process happened. He also did it right in front of us (which was important to me as I did not want to part with my ring for any extended amount of time). We went in feeling nervous having never been through the process and not knowing what to expect and left feeling comfortable and confident with a smile on our face (he was a funny guy). I would definitely go back to him. He got extra bonus points with my fiance because he was wearing a bow tie and cuff links - we are fans of the dapper look read more

I highly recommend their services for appraisal, repair and sizing. An opportunity to peruse their office and all of its little treasures is worth it alone! They are highly professional, quick, knowledgeable, and well-organized - all great attributes when you want to feel secure in your appraisal for insurance purposes. It's also nice to know my fiance and I can turn to them should we have any questions or require little repairs in the future. Thanks so much! It has been a great experience! read more

Wonderful service and people. Very knowledgable, very trustworthy. They do beautiful, super well made, custom jewelry for me. I often reset my stones into new designs. I absolutely recommend Mark and Erica. read more

Mark helped my fiance and I find and create my dream engagement ring within our budget. When I realized I wanted a hard-to-find antique diamond cut, Mark knew just where to look for a stone, and presented us with various options within our price range. He described the grading system to us, gave us very good advice, and we ended up paying exactly what we anticipated while getting a larger and far more beautiful stone than we had thought we could afford. Mark explained that this was because there is no standard pricing for old mine cushion cut diamonds, but I'm sure it's also because he knows where to find high quality antique stones for good prices. My mom also has an incredibly beautiful late 1800's diamond that my dad bought from Mark, which is actually featured on Mark's website. When it came to setting our stone, we sat down and discussed it, and designed a custom platinum setting. It turned out phenomenally beautiful, and every time I see it on my hand I can't help but smile at it. Mark is friendly, relates to his clients on a personal level while remaining professional, and is extremely knowledgeable. We were happy with the ring-buying process and even happier with the result. read more

My fiance and I came here for an appraisal and ring resizing for my engagement ring based on their yelp reviews and am so glad we did! My engagement ring is probably the most, if not the first, valuable possession I have ever owned, so you can imagine how nervous I was to even let another person handle let alone modify it! But now in retrospect I feel so silly for ever having doubted them. Over the phone Ryan was very cordial. He even kept us updated by phone for minor delays right before our appraisal appointment, which we really appreciated. Once we got there, Mr. Watson was very professional and extremely informative about my ring. Their camera equipment takes very detailed photos and they even email you a copy so you can always have it on hand. I was so impressed by their service and knowledge that I decided to get my ring resized with them (I was so apprehensive to just because I had heard so many horror stories from family members and online testaments from people who had gone to terrible places resulting in switched stones or stones that would later fall out because of faulty resizing). Because of the nature of my stone and ring Watson gave me fair warning about the risks of getting it resized but I was assured that they would send it to their best guy. They also informed me it would take longer than the 5 hours they had estimated. All of this made me very very nervous, so nervous that I had to call Ryan back. I told him how nervous I was and he assured me that the man handling my ring was their best and that they trusted him with all of their trickiest resizings. I felt so much better after our conversation and then I was beyond elated when I was reunited with my ring! They truly did an amazing job! I felt like I had just received another engagment ring! I felt so relieved and as i was walking out of the building I just couldn't stop staring at my hand. Their work proved to me that they are very trustworthy and knowledgeable and I would recommend them and only them with your most prized jewelry. I told one of my friends the price I was charged for the resizing and he told me it was steep (and it was just a little more than the estimate i was given) but I honestly felt it was a small price given the peace of mind I received and amazing job they did! As for the negative comments below, it seems that they are only from people who were looking to sell them jewelry, and last I checked, it isn't very fair to get mad at a customer just because they won't buy your product. read more

Mark made a seemingly scary task a pleasure. He is extremely professional (& just a little bit charming) but most importantly, he put me instantly at ease. In less than an hour I had a clear understanding of my jewelry & had photo documentation of each item & their respective appraisal information. read more

I brought Mark a vintage Cartier watch I bought online to be appraised. The experience was exceptional - in addition to giving an accurate and detailed appraisal at a more than fair price he also shared many amazing anecdotes about his time in the city and as well as his time selling jewelry on cruise ships. His lovely dog sat at my feet the whole time (the business is dog friendly so bring your pup). Although I had payed slightly more than the price he arrived at I left feeling a hundred time better than when I knew next to nothing about the true value of the item and the documentation he provided is invaluable for insurance or resale purpose. Will definitely be returning. read more

This is the only person to go to for any type of jewelry repair or creation. He understands vintage jewelry and did a stunning restoration on family heirlooms. read more

Another great Yelp find! I have an heirloom ring that has been in my family for generations. It's been passed down to me with explicit instructions that because the stone is near perfect and the diamond business is shady, I had to sit there and watch while the appraiser did the appraisal. My mom was in town when she gave me the ring, and we first tried a jeweler in Burlingame who said that we'd have to drop the ring off and leave it there. This seemed kind of shady, so I kept looking. We talked about bringing it to Tiffany, but I'm really glad I brought it to Mark. I called and within an hour I had an appointment with him. I work in Union Square so it was really easy to find him. He examined the ring and commented on how it's an old stone and how you don't see this kind of color in new stones. I know it's a great ring, but it made me feel good that he was also tuned into it. The appraisal took about half an hour, and by the time I got home, I already had the PDF of the appraisal in my inbox. I forwarded it to my mom and it feels great having it done. It was the easiest process to ensure this valuable heirloom is properly accounted for. I have another ring that occasionally loses small stones because I wear it all the time, and I know Mark is who I'm going to bring it to the next time it needs a repair. It is such a relief knowing I have someone to bring jewelry to now in the City! read more

I can't say enough good things about Watson & Sons. I had Mark appraise my wife's engagement ring, her two wedding bands, my wedding band, and a Cartier men's watch. It was seriously the most pleasant 2 hours I've ever spent in this type of setting. And, I got to sit and watch the appraisal (but, to be clear, I'd leave my stuff overnight anyday). Added bonus, Shack the office dog is THE MAN :) read more

This review is for appraisals only. Mark Watson is in a class by himself. In 2009, my wife inherited several pieces of jewelry from her mother. Additionally, I discovered that all the existing appraisals we had were all 10-15 years old. Finally, I learned that jewelers who used to appraise jewelry no longer did so, and had no clue as to who actually did appraisals any more. We were referred to Mark by the Rolex service center, also located at 210 Post. Any other appraiser I've dealt with has you leave your item with them for about a week, after which you get your report and your jewelry back, usually for about $100+ per item. If you leave two items, chances are both appraisals will be on the same page. Mark charges by the hour, and does the appraisals while you wait in the chair across his desk from him. If he has questions, you are there to provide answers. You get your appraisal, together with a picture (depending on the piece, he uses either a digital camera or a scanner) e-mailed to you before you leave. In one hour's time, he can easily appraise six different pieces for you. And each appraisal is on its own separate sheet of paper. Over the course of the summer of 2010, he appraised approximately 50 different jewelry items for us. I wouldn't go anywhere else. The only "problems" you might have with him is (1) he doesn't take credit cards and (2) he works "normal business hours" (M-F 9-5), so that might mean taking off work for some people. He's easy to get to, being about 3 blocks from BART and 2 blocks from the Union Square Garage. read more