Asturalba Ltd
Ellon, Scotland, UK
Avg. Rating 
5.0 (6 reviews)
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About this Valuer
Carmen Garcia-Carballido MSc., L. Geology, EurGeol, FGA, DGA, GIA AJP, specialises in gemstone jewellery and provides cost-effective jewellery valuation services for the purposes of: Insurance, Confirmation of Will, Division of Assets, Sale by Private Treaty, Cash Liquidation and Loan Security. She can also assist with an insurance claim should you lose an ‘un-valued’ precious jewel by providing you with a Post Loss Assessment Report. Operating throughout the Aberdeenshire area, she provides impartial assessments, independent from any jeweller or insurance company.
All the appraisals are carried out by Carmen, who is an experienced qualified and award-winning Geologist & Gemmologist, and has passed the Certificate of Appraisal Theory by the UK’s Institute of Registered Valuers. She travels to meet clients and provides a free quotation of her valuation fee. Once the client agrees to go ahead with the valuation, the customer will be provided with a descriptive receipt of the items to be valued. The items will be returned to the client within a few days together with the valuation report. The valuer can also work at the client’s location on request, but some gemmological testing may need to be done at the valuer’s premises. Carmen provides a complimentary clean of your jewels and instructions on the care of your jewellery.
Carmen can issue gemmological identification reports, including diamond grading reports (following the GIA classification) and can advise customers before they purchase any jewel or loose gemstones. She is also available to do educational talks on gemstones.
Carmen operates through a Scottish registered company called Asturalba Ltd. (Registered Company number 427215). She charges per item and can accept payment in cash or by BACS transfer, within 7 days of the client receiving the invoice. As Asturalba Ltd. is a small business, it is not required to charge any VAT
Please use the phone and email contact links at the top of this page to contact Carmen with enquiries.
The Business
- Private Practice
- Business mix: Valuer, Geologist and Buyer/Seller
- Principal + 0 staff valuers
- Mon - Fri: 8am to 5pm
Weekends on request. - Home visits, via jewellers & at Valuer’s office
Financial
- Per-item based fees
- Cards not accepted
- Full valuation reports start at £75
Qualifications
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- FGA, DGA
- CAT
- MSc: Master Integrated Petroleum Geoscience,
L. Geology: Licenciada in Geological Sciences.
EurGeol: European Certification as Geologist
Memberships
- Gem-A, SGA, SLMC
- AETA
Awards
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SGA - The Pairman Trophy 2016.
AAPG - Robert H. Dott Sr. Memorial Award 2011
Languages
Photos
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Location
Asturalba Ltd
Protected Address
ELLON
Aberdeenshire
- Restricted Access
- Free, on-site
- Visitors by appointment only
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Reviews
All reviews have been verified. The Jewellery Appraiser has confirmed the validity of the report details provided by the Reviewer but did not see the Reviewers rating or review text during the validation process. This produces unbiased, reliable and genuine reviews.
John & Jacqueline. Aberdeen
Oct 2021
Appraisal and Valuation of Sapphires
After approaching several jewellers' shops with misleading or no results, I contacted the Scottish Gemmological Association who recommended Asturalba to value a small collection of gemstones. As a person she is warm, friendly, obliging and a people person. As a professional she is excellent, precise, detailed and an exemplar of her business. The presentation and content of the report is of the highest degree of expertise and experience, with photos, text, tables of description to a forensic level, yet easily understandable by a lay person. She takes time to explain procedure and context in all aspects of origin, description and valuation. She also has contacts and colleagues in the gem trade and can offer advice on sale. I cannot commend her service enough...highly recommended.
Expertise / Items Examined: Collection of cut sapphires
Robertson. Aberdeen
Sep 2021
Excellent & Reliable Service
Carmen was extremely informative throughout the entire process from enquiry through to report completion. Everything was complete in a timely manner in comparison to jewellers who quoted 2-4 weeks. I felt at ease that the items were in great hands and I would highly recommend this service for those in the North East of Scotland area.
Expertise / Items Examined: Diamond engegment ring.
Darren. Aberdeen
Aug 2021
Engagement Ring Valuation
I met with Carmen to value and appraise an engagement ring that I had purchased abroad, I wanted a professional opinion of the ring based on current UK market as the ring was bought in Dubai. Great communication throughout, we discussed my needs and the valuation report is stunning. Well presented and very thorough. A lot of great detail and from meeting to having the ring with report returned was 24hours. Great service would highly recommend. Thanks.
Expertise / Items Examined: Engagement ring.
A.Nedelcu. Edinburgh
Jul 2021
Quick and Professional
I have contacted Carmen in order to get her professional opinion with regards to some old jewels. She accepted to evaluate them, gave me all the details I needed and I have got the answers and my jewels back in no time. I am thinking about getting in touch sometime soon as I have some more gemstones that I would like to know more about.
Expertise / Items Examined: Very old pendants and a ring with gemstones.
Carol. Banchory Devenick
Sep 2020
Impeccable Service
I considered having my engagement ring valued after getting the setting redone. Carmen's professionalism, knowledge and expertise was second to none. She went above and beyond to keep me fully informed step by step of everything entailed in what determines a valuation. I found that so interesting and felt completely involved. I would highly recommend Carmen.
Expertise / Items Examined: My pear shaped diamond engagement ring.
Anne. Aberden
Jun 2019
Excellent Service
Earlier this year I asked Carmen to value a few bits of jewellery for me. The work was done very quickly and very efficiently. Carmen is very professional and 100% trustworthy. I recently asked her to value my daughter’s new engagement ring. My daughter was short of time but Carmen accommodated her and valued her ring in one day.
Expertise / Items Valued: Diamond ring; gold charm bracelet; Omega watch