Policies & IssuesFeb 03, 2026
Tariff Relief on Horizon for India as Trump, Modi Make DealPresident Trump said he has reached a trade deal with India, which, when made official, will bring relief to the country’s diamond industry.
Brought to you by
The Future of Jewelry Appraisals is Digital: An Instappraise Case Study with David Scott Fine Jewelry
With more and more people ditching printed appraisals, Instappraise's digital platform makes the process simple, quick and easily accessible.
Brought To You By Instappraise
General Manager of David Scott Fine Jewelry Keith Courtney is a satisfied user of the Instappraise.com platform. With two brick-and-mortar locations in Florida, David Scott Fine Jewelry was seeking an appraisal creation and management platform that was cloud-based, so employees from both stores could access the same information seamlessly. Keith and his team decided to try the Instappraise platform in 2019 and soon after transitioned completely to Instappraise from their old appraisal platform. To read what Keith has to say about his experience with Instappraise, continue reading the interview below.
Please describe your overall experience with Instappraise.
Keith Courtney
We started with Instappraise in the mid-way of 2019. We were looking for a solution. We were using another software vendor before, and it also did a good job, but it was not web-based. It wasn't nearly as advanced.
When we joined Instappraise, or at least did the test drive, it checked all the boxes for everything that we were looking for. We went from a single-store operation to a two-store operation, which made it nice to be web-based. Both stores could see that information.
One of the things I love about it is that the Instappaise team is so open to ideas, so anytime I have a suggestion or something that I think can be fixed or improved, they are always very responsive about taking that into consideration and trying to make it better as a whole for all the users.
Can you describe your overall impressions about the onboarding experience for Instappraise?
Keith Courtney
Well, to be honest, the system - at least for me - seems so intuitive that even before we had our chance to do the onboarding, we were able to bring ourselves up to speed really quickly. It was very easy when we did the onboarding.
How would you describe the learning curve and the ease of use?
Keith Courtney
Anybody that has a basic knowledge of the industry that we're in can jump headfirst into it and get up to speed very, very quickly.
How has the Instappraise platform changed the way that you create, manage, and think about appraisals for your business?
Keith Courtney
Well, I'll tell you one thing, right off the bat, we used to do appraisals the hard way, you know, literally a Word document and print it out. So I'm much more apt to offer appraisals to everybody now, which obviously increases revenue. It makes it so easy, not only for us, but for the customers too because they have an online portal where they can manage all of their appraisals and send them to their insurance carriers.
“I'm much more apt to offer appraisals to everybody now, which obviously increases revenue. It makes it so easy, not only for us, but for the customers too,” says Keith Courtney, General Manager of David Scott Fine Jewelry, Panama City, FL.
We have two stores now, and if they do an appraisal that needs attention on our side, easy, it's done. Or if a customer comes in and has questions, it's so easy just to look at their account, manage their account, see all the appraisals that they have in their account. It's just all right there.
What types of feedback have you received from customers regarding their appraisals since you started adopting this new process?
Keith Courtney
The first thing is the professional look and feel of it all. Everything is laid out concisely. It has a very modern, yet clean aesthetic to it. The customers can see all the information spelled out right there in front of them. I think the thing that they're most impressed with is the ease of being able to handle their appraisals digitally because all the insurance carriers and customers now don't want paper copies.
They want digital copies. So honestly, we don't really print a lot of appraisals anymore. They're in your inbox, and that makes it really easy.
With Instappraise, jewelers and appraisers can now offer an online portal for their customers to access and manage their jewelry appraisals.
How do you think it's impacted the customer experience overall?
Keith Courtney
We kind of do two services of appraisals. Anytime anybody buys something in the store, I try to do an appraisal form on it, so there's an added value there for the customers. "We appreciate your business, here's a way to get it insured." But then with customers who are bringing in things, I think they appreciate it and can tell the amount of work that goes into it, because of the way the appraisals are laid out, and the overall quality of it all.
What are your favorite or most frequently used features of the platform?
Keith Courtney
Well, when Instappraise added the importing of the GIA and AGS laboratories, that was eye-opening because before we would open the appraisal report digitally and have to go through and do all that. That saves so much time.
The description builder's great. It really helps you to quickly build a description for that piece of item. The new 360-degree videos, if you can take advantage of them, are great. Another thing, when the customer logs in digitally, it really looks like a million bucks.
To see the platform in-action, click on the image below.
To see the platform in-action, click on the image below.
What would you like others to know about the platform?
Keith Courtney
One thing that I've been most impressed with is probably the people. I think it's a breath of fresh air when you are able to talk to the person who has such a hand in the product. At the end of the day, their founder is more of a technology guy, and he's not sitting here in a retail jewelry store. But he's taking the time to understand exactly what our needs are and how to best meet those needs. So it's very nice and a breath of fresh air honestly to have someone that's receptive to the things that we're dealing with.
Would you feel comfortable recommending Instappraise to colleagues and industry partners?
Keith Courtney
Oh, yeah, without a doubt. I mean it's so easy because with the free trial you can just jump right in and make sure it's right for your business. There are other solutions out there, but I don't think any have the jeweler's interest in mind quite like Instappraise. It's not only accurate gemologically but easy and time saving. That investment for the small amount of money per month pays off immensely.
More on Technology
The Latest
CollectionsFeb 03, 2026
Jade Trau Releases New Charms, Introduces RondellesThe designer’s latest collection takes inspiration from her classic designs, reimagining the motifs in new forms.
WatchesFeb 03, 2026
Casio America Calls Jersey City HomeThe watchmaker moved its U.S. headquarters to a space it said fosters creativity and forward-thinking solutions in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Brought to you by
The MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program: Attracting & Training the Next Generation of Bench JewelersLaunched in 2023, the program will help the passing of knowledge between generations and alleviate the shortage of bench jewelers.
SourcingFeb 03, 2026
Nivoda Reveals Upgraded Gemstone MarketplaceThe company also announced a new partnership with GemGuide and the pending launch of an education-focused membership program.
Weekly QuizJan 29, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
GradingFeb 02, 2026
IGI to Acquire American Gemological Laboratories IGI is buying the colored gemstone grading laboratory through IGI USA, and AGL will continue to operate as its own brand.
CrimeFeb 02, 2026
Ylang 23’s Dallas Store BurglarizedThe Texas jeweler said its team is “incredibly resilient” and thanked its community for showing support.
Brought to you by
How Jewelers Can Fight Back Against Cell JammersCriminals are using cell jammers to disable alarms, but new technology like JamAlert™ can stop them.
EditorsFeb 02, 2026
Stars Choose Chokers, Elongated Earrings at 2026 GrammysFrom cool-toned metal to ring stacks, Associate Editor Natalie Francisco highlights the jewelry trends she spotted at the Grammy Awards.
CollectionsFeb 02, 2026
2026 Winter Olympic Medal Design Symbolizes UnityThe medals feature a split-texture design highlighting the fact that the 2026 Olympics are taking place in two different cities.
SurveysJan 30, 2026
These Are the Top Brands of 2026, Says YouGovFrom tech platforms to candy companies, here’s how some of the highest-ranking brands earned their spot on the list.
CollectionsJan 30, 2026
Follow the Beat With Etiq’s ‘Khol’ RingThe “Khol” ring, our Piece of the Week, transforms the traditional Indian Khol drum into playful jewelry through hand-carved lapis.
MajorsJan 30, 2026
Arch Crown’s 2026 ‘Tag & Label’ Catalog Is HereThe catalog includes more than 100 styles of stock, pre-printed, and custom tags and labels, as well as bar code technology products.
CollectionsJan 29, 2026
Ghirardelli’s ‘Chocolocket’ Returns for Valentine’s DayThe chocolatier is bringing back its chocolate-inspired locket, offering sets of two to celebrate “perfect pairs.”
AuctionsJan 29, 2026
These Were Bonhams’ Top 10 Jewelry Lots in 2025The top lot of the year was a 1930s Cartier tiara owned by Nancy, Viscountess Astor, which sold for $1.2 million in London last summer.
SourcingJan 29, 2026
Stuller Website to Mark AGTA-Sourced GemstonesAny gemstones on Stuller.com that were sourced by an AGTA vendor member will now bear the association’s logo.
WatchesJan 29, 2026
Audemars Piguet Opens AP House in AtlantaThe Swiss watchmaker has brought its latest immersive boutique to Atlanta, a city it described as “an epicenter of music and storytelling.”
SourcingJan 28, 2026
Ethical Gem Fair to Debut Designer Showcase in TucsonThe new addition will feature finished jewelry created using “consciously sourced” gemstones.
ColumnistsJan 28, 2026
Peter Smith: Setting the Next Generation Up for SuccessIn his new column, Smith advises playing to your successor's strengths and resisting the urge to become a backseat driver.
SurveysJan 28, 2026
Consumer Confidence Falls Below Pandemic Lows in JanuaryThe index fell to its lowest level since May 2014 amid concerns about the present and the future.
IndependentsJan 28, 2026
Foundrae Heads to Aspen for Latest Store OpeningThe new store in Aspen, Colorado, takes inspiration from a stately library for its intimate yet elevated interior design.
FinancialsJan 28, 2026
Tiffany & Co., Bulgari Sales Resilient as LVMH’s 2025 Sales SlipThe brands’ high jewelry collections performed especially well last year despite a challenging environment.
CollectionsJan 27, 2026
De Beers London, GemFair Debut New Collection Highlighting Artisanal DiamondsThe collection marks the first time GemFair’s artisanal diamonds will be brought directly to consumers.
SourcingJan 27, 2026
GemGuide Launches Pricing for Montana SapphiresThe initial charts are for blue, teal, and green material, each grouped into three charts categorized as good, fine, and extra fine.
SourcingJan 26, 2026
Tucson Preview 2026: Earthy Tones and Innovative Shapes Buyers are expected to gravitate toward gemstones that have a little something special, just like last year.
SourcingJan 26, 2026
Angolan Diamond Cos. Join NDC as Rio Tinto, Murowa Exit Endiama and Sodiam will contribute money to the marketing of natural diamonds as new members of the Natural Diamond Council.
MajorsJan 26, 2026
Francesca’s To Close All StoresThe retailer operates more than 450 boutiques across 45 states, according to its website.
