FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Iskenderian do?

ISKENDERIAN assists clients with the appraisal and sale of antique, vintage and fine jewellery, diamonds and watches. Depending on each piece and the owner’s instructions, we may use private sales, our international network of collectors and professional buyers, or other suitable sales channels. We agree on the proposed terms before any item is entrusted to us. There is no obligation to sell following an initial consultation.

Contact ISKENDERIAN with photographs and any available information about your jewellery, diamonds or watches. We will review your request and, where appropriate, arrange a private consultation in Geneva or a secure shipment at no shipping cost to you. Before taking possession of an item, we agree on its handling, the proposed sale price or reserve, insurance arrangements and return conditions. We then present it through appropriate sales channels. If a sale is completed and the buyer’s cleared payment is received, we pay you the sale proceeds less our sole 5% commission. No additional seller fees apply.

ISKENDERIAN combines specialist expertise with an international network of collectors and professional buyers. We advise you on an appropriate sale strategy and agree on the minimum acceptable price before proceeding. Our remuneration is a single 5% commission, payable only upon a completed sale; there are no other seller fees. No sale is guaranteed, and you decide whether to proceed before entering into a binding agreement.

Trust Iskenderian to inspect, evaluate and sell your special ring, necklace, bracelet, brooch, earrings, cufflinks, diamonds and gemstones. If you are considering selling your signed or unsigned diamond, sapphire, ruby, emerald, pearl, gold or platinum jewelry, simply send photographs, relevant paperwork, gemological certificates and other background information to Iskenderian for a complimentary estimate.

Our specialists consider the condition, origin, maker, age, quality, certificates and market comparables of each item. Diamonds are assessed using relevant gemmological criteria, including carat weight, cut, colour and clarity. An estimate is an informed opinion at a particular date, not a guaranteed selling price. The final outcome depends on the item and market interest.

We can provide an initial indication after reviewing the photographs and information you submit. A more detailed valuation may require physical examination or an independent report. Any timing will depend on the complexity of the item and the checks needed; we will discuss the next steps with you.

A reserve price is the minimum amount below which the owner does not authorise a sale, where such a price is agreed. We discuss it with you before offering the item for sale. An offer below the agreed reserve is not accepted without your authorisation. The precise terms of any binding sale are set out in the written agreement.

After examining the item and relevant market information, our specialists may recommend a reserve or asking price. This is guidance, not a guarantee. The final decision on the minimum acceptable price is yours, subject to the written sale agreement.

ISKENDERIAN considers antique, vintage, signed and unsigned fine jewellery, natural diamonds, coloured gemstones and selected watches. We do not accept laboratory-grown diamonds. Acceptance depends on authenticity, condition, quality, estimated value, provenance and current market interest. We may decline any submission that does not meet our selection criteria.



The resale value of diamond jewellery depends on the characteristics of the stones, the quality and design of the setting, the maker, condition, provenance and market demand. It can differ substantially from the original retail or insurance valuation. An exceptional antique or signed piece may retain or increase in value, while other items may sell for less than their original purchase price. We assess each item individually.

We consider jewellery from important maisons, including Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, David Webb, Boucheron, Verdura, Buccellati, Bulgari, Suzanne Belperron, Schlumberger and Mauboussin, among others. Depending on the item, we may propose a private sale or another suitable sales arrangement; acceptance is not automatic.

The diamond market varies significantly by stone type, quality, origin, certification and current buyer demand. Prices and liquidity can change over time, and trends in exceptional coloured diamonds do not necessarily apply to other diamonds. We consider recent comparable transactions when assessing an individual stone; no price development or sale outcome can be guaranteed.

Exceptional rubies, sapphires and emeralds may attract strong interest from collectors. Their value depends on quality, origin, possible treatments, certificates and market conditions at the time of sale. Price trends vary and cannot be guaranteed. We review suitable stones individually.

We consider watches from leading makers, including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Panerai, Breguet, Breitling, Vacheron Constantin, Richard Mille and Cartier. Each watch is assessed individually. Depending on the piece, we may suggest a private sale or another appropriate sales channel.

We deal only with fine jewelry. Fine jewelry is not always signed, but values are usually greater when a maker can be identified, and we know enough how to find those hidden signatures that many might not spot. We estimate all fine gold, diamond, and gemstone jewelry.

You can still sell imperfect jewelry! Jewelry and precious metals are appraised based on their weight and quality. Because of this, we can still sell them even if they are broken or incomplete. Watches, however, must be in proper working condition in order to sell.

Depending on the item and the owner’s agreed instructions, ISKENDERIAN may arrange private sales, contact its international network of collectors and professional buyers, or use selected partner platforms. No particular sales channel or auction is guaranteed. Our former boutique at 12 Rue Robert-Céard is no longer open to the public and is not a retail sales location.

An initial consultation or appraisal does not oblige you to sell. Before accepting any binding offer or signing a sale mandate, we explain the proposed terms, including any reserve price, the sole 5% commission and the conditions for withdrawal or return. Once a sale becomes binding, the agreed contractual terms apply.

You may choose not to proceed before accepting a binding sale agreement. If an item has already been entrusted to ISKENDERIAN, the terms and timing of withdrawal or return are governed by the written mandate and any commitments already made to a buyer. We will explain these conditions before accepting the item. No additional seller fees apply.

There is no fixed or guaranteed sale period. The time required depends on the type of item, its condition, the agreed price, verification requirements and buyer demand. We will keep you informed of material developments and discuss any proposed change to the agreed sale conditions.

Payment is generally made by bank transfer to a verified account in the seller’s name. Any other lawful payment method, including cash where permitted, must be agreed in advance and comply with applicable legal and identification requirements. Payment is arranged only after the buyer’s cleared funds have been received.

Payment to the seller is arranged after the sale is completed and ISKENDERIAN has received the buyer’s cleared funds, subject to any required identity, compliance and banking checks. The transfer time depends on the payment method and banking arrangements; no fixed payment date is guaranteed in advance. The applicable steps will be explained in the written sale agreement.

Our sole seller’s fee is a fixed commission of 5% of the final sale price, payable only if a sale is successfully completed. There are no additional seller fees for the appraisal, appointment, preparation, agreed shipping, or an unsold item. The sale price and commission are confirmed in the written agreement before proceeding.

ISKENDERIAN has passed through four generations of experts, over 100 years, in vintage high-end jewellery and exceptional precious stones, passing on craft and knowledge from father to son. The Maison remains established in Geneva and welcomes clients exclusively by private appointment, at a location confirmed in advance. With an international clientele built-up over the decades, and a super serious reputation, ISKENDERIAN is the place to find jewellery pieces of exceptional quality and size.

Yes, ISKENDERIAN receives clients in Geneva exclusively by confirmed private appointment. Our former boutique at 12 Rue Robert-Céard is no longer open to the public and serves only as a correspondence address. The consultation location is provided when the appointment is confirmed. Please do not visit the former boutique without an invitation.

Not necessarily. We can initially review photographs and documents and, where appropriate, arrange a private appointment in Geneva. Physical examination or secure shipping may be needed for authentication, assessment or sale preparation. Any shipment is organised with your agreement and after we confirm the applicable instructions, safekeeping and insurance arrangements in writing.

If shipping is appropriate, our team will confirm the approved carrier and provide packing instructions and a prepaid shipping arrangement at no cost to the seller. Depending on the country and the item, the carrier may be Swiss Post, FedEx or another suitable provider. Please do not dispatch jewellery before receiving our written instructions and confirmation of the applicable insurance arrangements.

No. Shipping arranged and approved by ISKENDERIAN is prepaid and free of charge to the seller. Please follow the carrier and packing instructions we provide; do not arrange an independent shipment without our prior agreement.

Please contact us promptly if you wish to withdraw an item after dispatch. Return is possible when permitted by the written mandate and any commitments already made to a buyer. The procedure and timing will be confirmed with you; no additional seller fee is charged for an agreed return. We cannot cancel a sale that has already become binding under the agreed terms.

Ship only the items and accessories specifically listed in the instructions we send you. If original boxes, certificates or documents are requested, we will record them with the item and confirm how they will be handled or returned. Use appropriate protective packaging. Do not include cash, unrelated valuables or original documents unless we have asked for them in writing.

Before any item is shipped or entrusted to us, we confirm the applicable transport, custody and insurance arrangements in writing, including any insured value, exclusions and claims procedures. Coverage is subject to the terms of the relevant policy and to the agreed shipping instructions; no universal insured amount is promised. If an incident occurs, we will assist with the applicable carrier and insurer procedures.

The insurance arrangements and any insured value are assessed and confirmed individually in writing before we accept an item. Coverage, where applicable, is governed by the policy terms, limits, exclusions and agreed transport or custody instructions. Do not assume that a standard coverage amount applies to every piece; contact us for the terms specific to your item.

ISKENDERIAN charges the seller one fixed commission of 5% of the final selling price, and only when a sale is completed. No additional seller fees apply, including for the initial appraisal, consultation, sale preparation, approved shipping or an item that remains unsold. We confirm the commercial terms in writing before proceeding.

Our remuneration is the single 5% commission deducted from the final selling price following a completed sale. If your item does not sell, no commission is charged. We do not charge additional seller fees.

No. There are no additional charges to the seller beyond our single 5% commission on a completed sale. Any operational arrangements for the item are discussed and confirmed in advance in the written mandate.

No. If your item is not sold, you owe no commission and no additional seller fees. Any return is arranged according to the conditions agreed with you in writing.

Please send us any existing gemmological reports or certificates with the information about your item. We will review them and advise whether an updated or independent examination would be useful. Additional testing is not automatically necessary and does not guarantee a higher selling price.

No. An insurance appraisal estimates a value for a particular insurance purpose; it does not establish a guaranteed resale price. A gemmological report records technical characteristics of a stone, such as a diamond’s weight, cut, colour and clarity. Independent reports may help buyers assess an item, but neither document guarantees its market value or that it will sell.

When a specialist report is appropriate, we may arrange an examination by an established independent gemmological laboratory, such as GIA or HRD Antwerp, depending on the piece and the service available. The choice of laboratory and the scope of any report are confirmed in advance; this does not imply an exclusive commercial partnership.

An independent gemmological report may help establish a diamond’s characteristics and provide useful information for valuation and sale. Whether additional grading is necessary is assessed case by case, taking account of existing certificates and the proposed sales method. We will discuss this with you before arranging it.

Preparation is tailored to each piece and may include professional photography, condition assessment, cleaning and, when useful, independent gemmological analysis. The proposed work and the item’s handling are agreed with you in advance. Preparation does not guarantee a sale or a particular price, and no additional seller fee is charged.

Sales may take place privately through ISKENDERIAN’s international network of collectors and professional buyers or through another suitable channel agreed with the seller. Not every item is offered at auction. Our former boutique at 12 Rue Robert-Céard is closed to the public and is not a place for retail sales or client visits.

An offer below the agreed reserve price is not accepted without your approval. Depending on the written mandate and the status of the sale, you may consider the offer, continue looking for a buyer or arrange the return of the item. We will discuss the available options with you; no additional seller fee is charged.

Before any jewellery is entrusted to ISKENDERIAN, we confirm the arrangements for receipt, secure custody, transport and applicable insurance individually and in writing. These arrangements depend on the item and the agreed service. Our former boutique at 12 Rue Robert-Céard is not a public reception point; please request instructions before delivering or sending any item.

If no acceptable offer is received, we will discuss the next steps with you, which may include adjusting the sales strategy, continuing to seek a buyer or returning the item under the agreed conditions. An unsold item does not generate any commission or additional seller fees.

Buyers are worldwide located, collectors, private amateurs and professionals in the industry.

Once a sale is completed and the buyer’s cleared funds have been received, ISKENDERIAN arranges payment of the net proceeds after deducting its sole 5% commission. Bank transfer is generally preferred; any alternative lawful payment method is agreed individually. Payment remains subject to any applicable identification, compliance and bank processing requirements.

We arrange settlement after receiving the buyer’s cleared payment and completing any applicable verification requirements. Bank and payment-processing times vary, including for international transfers; we therefore do not guarantee a fixed number of days. We will provide an update on the expected payment process for your transaction.

All clients’ details and submissions are strictly confidential.

Depending on the transaction and applicable legal requirements, ISKENDERIAN may need to verify the identity of the seller, ownership of the item and the payment details. We will explain which documents are required and how they are used. Please send sensitive documents only through a communication channel agreed with our team.

We suggest that you submit a small sample of the collection and indicate that you have a larger collection that you would like us review. Our specialists will be in touch regarding next steps.

Yes. Contact ISKENDERIAN at +41 22 310 22 08 or info@iskenderian.ch, or submit your request online with photographs and available documents. Our team will review your enquiry and respond according to availability. Private consultations in Geneva take place only by confirmed appointment; the meeting location is provided upon confirmation. Our former boutique is not open to visitors.

There is no need to make any changes to your item at this time. An Iskenderian specialist will review the current condition of the item you submit and produce a condition report prior to the sale.

Please note that certain brands, designs or prices thresholds are not accepted by Iskenderian. We will inform you if your property falls within these categories.

We only accept property/items that meet fine jewelry, diamonds, gemstones and watches. For any further information, feel free to contact us +41 22 310 22 08 or info@iskenderian.ch

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