There are three gems recognized as December birthstones, tanzanite, zircon, and turquoise and all three are renowned for their beautiful hues in varying shades of blue. The gems range from zircon which is the oldest on earth, to turquoise which is one of the first gems ever procured and used often in jewelry, to the…
November birthdays are represented by two gemstones; Citrine and Topaz. The warm color of Citrine is believed to be a healing gemstone and a gift from the sun. Ancients believed beautiful Topaz had the power to cool boiling water and quell anger. The word topaz is believed to come from a Sanskrit (sacred language of…
If you find yourself in the position of being named the executor of a deceased family member’s estate, one of the many overwhelming tasks will be finding the best way to sell the possessions accumulated during the course of your loved one’s life. How do you know the value of what’s in front of you?…
Brigitte Kruse is a graduate personal property appraiser and is compliant with USPAP. This stands for the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. Brigitte specializes in personal property, antiques (particularly Asian, Russian & French), Faberge, enamels, jewelry, coins, art, furniture, designer clothing and shoes, abandoned property appraisals and eviction valuations as well as commercial and…
Collecting baseball cards is not just a fun hobby, it can also be a lucrative business venture. One of the most important rules of collecting is to educate yourself and know what to look for to ensure you are getting the maximum output from your collection. Browsing auction sites to buy and sell cards is…
There are those Halloween treasures that most people under estimate their current value. You may stumble across them through a yard sale, eBay, or even craiglist. Independent sellers may not even know valuable collectibles that they may be selling at a modest price. Brigitte Kruse Appraisal Services will let you in on the secret of…
When you think of diamonds, especially rare diamonds you probably think of the rich and famous, wealthy socialites, movie stars of a bygone era and royalty. But diamonds have also been associated with superstitions and folklore which have shrouded these often unique and remarkable gems in mystery and intrigue for centuries. One of the most…
October has two birthstones; Tourmaline and Opal. Tourmaline is available in a rainbow of beautiful colors and opal gemstones are unique because each individual opal is adorned with a one-of-a-kind color combination. Opals are considered to be the traditional birthstone for the month of October and are also the customary gift given to couple’s celebrating…
If you are thinking about selling your antiques at auction; you will not only need to have a full understanding of what you are selling but also how, when and where is the best time to sell your items. Remember that knowledge is the key to understanding not only what the item you have may…
If you live in a home with an attic, garage or even a basement, chances are you have a lot of items stashed away in boxes. What you may not realize is what resembles clutter may be worth a ton of money at an auction. Take that old Apple Computer that your father brought in…
