Please acquaint us with your jour- ney from beginning in the colored gemstone business to today. How did you train and gain your knowl- edge as an appraiser?
Who were your early mentors in the colored gemstone / jewelry trade?
I took home-study courses (Dia- monds, Colored Stones, and Gem Identification), supplemented with studies in residence via GIA in lieu of family vacations.This also required a sizeable invest- ment in lab equipment (e.g., liq- uids, magnification, scale, filters, lamps, etc.) in order to successful- ly complete the correspondence courses. Wow!!! …Now, what do I do? My GIA Instructor (Cap Beasley) suggested I become a Jewelry Appraiser.After filing for licensing in October of 1972, I opened “Diamond Appraisal by Stoddard.” Easier than you might think.Where are my clients? With no clients, especially in the early 1970s, an individual shop owner was truly handicapped. Unless your family was in the business, no one wanted to speak to you. Fortunately, a local jew- eler needed someone to do his appraisals and agreed to provide me the assistance required to get started. Today, after fashioning stones, designing/creating/building jewelry, selling/brokering these items both through retail and/or wholesale markets, I have been able to concentrate on Certified Independent Jewelry Appraisals and Consulting, with Accredited Senior Gemologist (AGA),Affil- iate Member (AGTA), Certified Jeweler (SJTA), Certified Insur- ance Appraiser (JIBNA), GIA Alumni, and National Associa- tion of Jewelry Appraiser Senior Member (NAJA) credentials, as someone who works by appoint- ment ONLY. The rest is history.
Cap Beasley, Edward Druck- er,Alan Hodgkinson, Harold Oates, Howard Rubin, and Joe Tenhagen were my mentors. Apologies if I left anyone out!
My training came from decades of working one-on-one with
jewelers, at- tending live auctions, and through continued education via trade shows and related seminars. Education included studies in Fundamen- tals and Ad-
What initially attracted you to AGTA? Joe Tenhagen steered me in the AGTA direction.An opportunity I will never forget.
What is your favorite colored
gemstone? And why.
vanced Appraisal Procedures for Gemstone and Jewelry Apprais- als, which was taught at Palm Beach Community College. This experience has been supplemented with an ever-ex- panding library of reference materials (i.e., physical literary assets, samples, minerology ex- hibits, electronic and hardcopy data storage, etc.). I must say this is a never-ending adven- ture. If you seek, you will find something new in the colored gemstone market daily (e.g., discoveries/finds, test equip- ment, market condition, etc.). Conclusion: Continued education is probably the most instrumental endeavor. How- ever, without Cap’s suggestion, I’m not sure colored stones were in my future as an appraiser.
I have two: Brazilian Paraiba Tourmaline and Australian black Opal. Paraiba, because of the blue/green colors with strong saturation and medium tone; they remind me of the colors of oceans throughout the world. And Australian black Opal, due to the one-of-a-kind combina- tion of colors and patterns. During your involvement in the gem trade, what changes have you witnessed? Also, how are you adapting to meet today’s challenges? The introduction of desktop/ laptop computers, software programs, electron grading of cuts/colors and online price guidelines/trading prices/ appraisal, and electron analysis
Above: Chuck Stoddard with Martin Rapaport at 2020 Palm Beach Convention Cen- ter’s Jewelry, Art & Antique Show. Below: Chuck Stoddard and Judie Stoddard with sisters, Antoi- nette Matlins, Karen DeHaas, and Kathryn Patrizzi at the 2020 AGA Awards Gala.
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