Benefits of ASA Accreditation: Interview with Jewelry Appraiser Duane W. Hutchison, ASA

By Sharon Reed

Business Referrals are Among the Many Values of ASA Accreditation

BOCA RATON, FL– Duane W. Hutchison, ASA, GG (GIA), MGA, CIA, an independent jewelry appraiser/owner of D&H Jewelry Appraisals in Boca Raton, Palm Beach County, FL, was recently hired for a major project by a high net worth client who found him through the Find an Appraiser tool on the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) website.

“I receive many high net worth referrals via the ASA website,” Hutchison said. “It seems when I get a call that involves complicated, extensive or high net worth assignment, the referral generally come through ASA. I get a lot of calls from Miami and the Palm Beach area to do high net value appraisals. The clients I get from ASA are generally a higher net worth client.”

This client, who lives in Ecuador, was in Miami in order to find out how to determine the value of and sell the jewelry that belonged to his late mother, who had lived in both Ecuador and Miami.

Hutchison’s client told him he found out about ASA by reading a Washington Post article: “How and where to sell unwanted jewelry, without getting scammed.” An ASA Appraiser, Martin Fuller, ASA of Martin Fuller Appraisals in McLean, Va. was quoted in the article. ASA was among the 3 appraisal organizations that were suggested in the article to reach out to for help in finding a qualified appraiser.

“My client researched all 3 organizations and said he found ASA to be the one he felt most comfortable with. He then looked at ASA website under ‘Gems and Jewelry’ discipline and found my name and then used the Find an Appraiser search tool to find my profile. We had an initial meeting to discuss the jewelry, his goals, and we came up with a game plan,” Hutchison said. “This is going to be a large assignment that will take a few months. My client told me he was happy he found me and very confident hiring an ASA appraiser.”

“One of the many benefits of ASA accreditation is the opportunity to members to post their profile with a description of their background, expertise and certifications, which often leads to obtaining new clients or possible media coverage,” according to Hutchison.

As an Independent Jewelry Appraiser and owner of D&H Jewelry Appraisals, Hutchison conducts jewelry and watch appraisals for insurance and estate settlements, from single pieces of jewelry to entire estates. He has also assisted with the selling of fur coats, coins and art work.

A 37-year veteran in the jewelry and watch business, Hutchison said he was hired for his first job in the jewelry business after graduating from Western Michigan University. Over the course of his career Hutchison has worked in management positions in a number of high end jewelry and watch stores. He also worked as an appraiser for a jewelry appraisal company in Miami and as a diamond buyer in Los Angeles before launching his own appraisal business in Boca Raton in 2012.

With that wealth of experience Hutchinson took the steps to become an ASA Accredited Senior Appraiser in 2015 by completing the four required courses at the Summer Appraisal Camp at Purchase College in Purchase, NY. He was subsequently designated as Master Gemologist Appraiser® (MGA) by ASA in 2016. Following that Hutchison completed the Personal Property Appraisal “Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice” (USPAP) course in Las Vegas, NV. In addition, he has taken additional ASA courses and attended ASA-hosted conferences to further his education.

“The education I received for my ASA accreditation was outstanding,” said Hutchison. “It took time but the results were an amazing education. Whether writing an insurance appraisal, estate appraisal, market value or marriage dissolution I feel confident that I have the best format and have the resources to ask for help and advice.”

“Second, the yearly ASA conferences and the presentations are the best. You leave with such an elevated education on a wide range of topics that you can use for years to come. In addition, ASA’s Gems and Jewelry Appraisers are top notch, well-educated and always willing to help,” he added.

“Becoming accredited with ASA takes time and requires an investment–but an investment that is well worth the time and money. Every year when I send in my membership dues I reflect on how much business I have gotten from ASA and send that check in with no hesitation,” Hutchison continued. “There’s a reason there are a limited number of ASA Gems & Jewelry Appraisers in the country–it takes time and discipline–but the pay-off is worth the investment.”

“If you want to elevate your appraisal business and take it to a next level then ASA is a must,” Hutchison emphasized.

To find out more about becoming an ASA Accredited Gems & Jewelry Appraiser, click here. To search for an ASA Accredited Appraiser, go to: appraisers.org/find-an-appraiser.

Duane Hutchison, ASA, currently serves as treasurer in the ASA Gems & Jewelry Discipline Committee. He is vice president of ASA’s South Florida Chapter.

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