Login with:

Facebook

Twitter

Tumblr

Google

Yahoo

Aol.

Mibba

Your info will not be visible on the site. After logging in for the first time you'll be able to choose your display name.

Daryl's Irish Destiny

The Appraisal

They decided they had enough to do today that they wouldn’t have time to spend time at the house.Over breakfast they chatted about what the day’s plan was.They had an appointment for the appraisal in town, Niamh had a doctor’s appointment and Daryl wanted to do some shopping.“I’d like ta take ya out fer dinner again tonight, if tha’s ok.”Daryl was still shy asking her out on dates but not as hesitant as he was at first.“That would be lovely.The hotel?”Daryl shook his head.“Nah.Wanna take ya somewhere’s special.A surprise.”Niamh smiled her delight and Daryl’s heart thumped in his chest.He found himself wondering again how he got so lucky to have this beautiful girl all to himself.

“Ok.We both have things we need to do today, the appraisal we can do together, if you want me there.” Daryl nodded his agreement.“But then I have a doctor’s appointment at 2 and a hair appointment at 3.” Daryl had some shopping that he needed to do but he didn’t elaborate on it.“I made a reservation fer 7, so I’ll pick ya up at 6.30.Aight?”Niamh grinned and replied with the same.“Aight.”

They were a few minutes early for the 11 am appointment with the appraiser and had the opportunity to browse the old jewelry on display in the shop.They didn’t find anything that looked as good as the items they had with them.Daryl had both necklaces and only 5 of the raw diamonds, a good selection of sizes representing the whole number.He didn’t feel comfortable carrying the whole bag with him and left the remainder locked up in his hotel room safe.

“Hello.Mr. Dixon?Miss Cavanagh?” A smartly dressed man in his late 50s stepped through a door leading to a back room and met them at the counter.At their agreeing nods, the small man offered his hand and shook both of theirs.“I’m Conrad McFee.You said over the phone that you had two pieces you needed valued?”Daryl reached into his pocket and pulled out the two velvet bags.“Mr. Dixon recently inherited his family’s ancestral home.These pieces recently came to light as we’ve been clearing the house in preparation for sale.”Daryl looked at her, surprised by her formal explanation.She wasn’t lying but the way she explained made it sound grander than it was.

Daryl opened both bags and gently spilled their contents onto the glass top in between them.Immediately, Mr. McFee’s countenance changed.He pulled a jeweler’s loup from his vest pocket and placed it in his eye and turned on a bright lamp, directing the light over the pieces.He picked up the emerald necklace first.He spoke softly, almost with reverence as he examined the necklace.“Stunning piece.18 karat gold, princess cut emeralds…probably African in origin going by their colour and brilliance.Huge stones, the smallest is two carats, the largest closer to eight.This wee stamp here is the hallmark which tells me the assay on this piece was paid in London in 1845, the necklace would date to the same year.I’d have to look at recent auction sales to find a comparable piece to offer a valuation for auction but I can tell you I’ve not seen a piece this fine since I helped catalog the Queen’s collection in 1978.My estimate would be that you’d have to pay about £120,000 to replace a piece this fine.I recommend you insure it for twice that amount.”

Daryl blew out a long breath.Insure it for near enough quarter of a million pounds sterling? Damn.That’s close to half a million US dollars.For one necklace.Daryl’s mind boggled.This one necklace was worth about the same as Wulver’s Folly and 5 acres of land.The little man picked up the opal necklace and examined it closely.“Not silver, platinum mounted and chain, assay stamp dates this as a little earlier, 1825.That date alone tells me how rare this opal is.Most opals come from Australia but not until closer to the end of the century.Today, Australia accounts for 90% of mined opals globally.I’d hazard a guess that this opal is also from Africa.Nearly 200 years old, the value of this piece comes from its rarity rather than the value of the gem or the platinum.Again, I’ve never seen anything like it and would estimate its worth at around £80,000.I recommend you insure it for at least twice that amount.”

Mr. McFee removed the jeweller’s loup from his eye and smiled benignly at them both.“Thank you for bringing them in, you’ve made my day.If you need an official valuation, I’d be happy to provide a detailed one in writing.”Niamh thanked him kindly and Daryl reached into his pocket to pull out the raw diamonds.He had yet to speak but said explained to the man what he had.“We also foun’ a pouch a these.” He placed them in the man’s palm and he put his loup back on.“We think they’s raw diamonds but wha’ can ya tell us?”

Niamh looked at Daryl, her brow wrinkling a bit, wondering why his accent had suddenly got a whole lot thicker and he sounded like he didn’t know what he had despite the fact they knew for sure what they were.She didn’t say anything, expecting Daryl to have his reasons.Mr McFee didn’t notice anything, focused on the stones as he was.He hummed and ahhed as he turned each of the stones over in his hand and examined it from every angle under the close inspection his loup provided.“They are indeed raw diamonds.Old ones.African again, I’d wager.They’re not all the same, either.Two of these are yellow diamonds, two are white diamonds and this one here is a pink diamond.” He held up the smallest rock.

“True value of diamonds can’t be accurately named until they are cut, of course, because the cutting can reveal flaws in the stone itself and sometimes, if too flawed or incorrectly cut, the diamond itself can shatter and then has no value.”He handed the stones back to Daryl.“I’m afraid I’m out of my depth with these.I recommend you take them to a diamond merchant who is also a cutter who can give you the best valuation of what you have there.There are a few diamond merchants in Belfast who can give you the name of a reputable dealer and cutter.The best diamond cutters are in Belgium though, Antwerp is still the world’s diamond capitol.But thank you for showing them to me.You have a most fortunate discovery in the legacy you’ve inherited.”He blinked at them and they both thanked him.

Daryl requested a written valuation for each of the necklaces and Mr. McFee took close up photos of them to assist him with this effort.He paid the man’s fee and they left the shop.Niamh turned to Daryl as they exited.“What was that about?Pretending you didn’t know the value of what you had?”Daryl smirked.“It was a test ta see how honest he was.Ta see how much I could trus’ him ta give a accurate estimate.”Niamh smiled at his wiliness.“If he lied and said they weren’t worth anything or tried to buy them off you for nothing, you’d know you couldn’t trust his valuation?”Daryl nodded. “’xactly.”

Notes

Comments

Sweet Jesus carol is amazing!

Loul461 Loul461
12/6/16

So happy when I saw the update at work I just had to read it! And four chapters...bless your heart!! I've been thinking about you of late and when we might hear from you again. Wonderful update as usual, just love Merle, Daryl and Niamh together. And Carol! What an unexpected surprise. Just love her! Can't wait to read more. ;-)

Grimesgirl63 Grimesgirl63
12/6/16

@Tripper
What can I say? I love badass Carol.

Darylfan1969 Darylfan1969
12/6/16

I love the interaction between Merle. Daryl and Niamh, such a good thing got Merle to see what family does for one another.

And wow, this is a new Carol. I look forward to watching her tame the wild beast that is Merle!

Thanks for the awesome update!

Tripper Tripper
12/5/16

4 chapters added.

Darylfan1969 Darylfan1969
12/5/16