Deborah Villepigue, GIA-GG, RMV, AGA, APPA, CGA, AGS-ICGA of The Jewelry Appraiser, Inc. was recently awarded the title of Independent Certified Jewelry Appraiser by the American Gem Society. She is the only appraiser with this title in the entire state of New York, which holds her to a high code of ethics.
Consumer protection and education is our mission. Our society has developed its own cut, color and clarity standards. The ICGA title is the highest title that can be obtained in the entire jewelry industry. These credentials required extensive education, testing and many years of proven experience and diligence.
One of the many requirements to hold this title is the creation of a certified lab, containing state of the art equipment priced in the hundreds of thousands. Many years of continuing education is spent learning to calibrate and interpret forensic equipment properly. We’re determined to be vigilant and faster than those who do wrong in this industry, which requires a great deal of forensic research.
As a higher echelon appraiser, I’m thankful for the opportunity to share research and communicate with my colleagues worldwide to serve the needs of professionals and clients in the jewelry industry.