Have you always wondered what that piece of heirloom jewelry is worth? How do appraisers fix the value? How do auctions work?
At our June Hazak Lunch and Program, Brad Wanstrath, Cowan's Auctions Director of Fine Jewelry & Timepieces, discussed the current trends in the jewelry world as well as the auction process from start to finish. He also demonstrated how he evaluates pieces of jewelry and took questions from the audience.
In his fifth year with Cowan’s, Mr. Wanstrath has nearly 40 years of experience in the jewelry industry. From owning and operating his own jewelry manufacturing company, to selling international jewelry lines from Germany, Spain, Belgium, New York, and California, to his current job as the Director of Jewelry for Cowan’s Auctions, he has the seen the business from multiple angles. Mr. Wanstrath holds certifications from the Diamond Council of America and the Gemological Institute of America.
HaZak, which stands for Hokma (wisdom), Zikna (maturity), and Kadima (forward) provides monthly programs for people 55+ from September through June at Northern Hills Synagogue. It is an accessible facility that strives to make all events inclusive of people with disabilities.
Photos by Elaine Hordes.
Bobbi Handwerger introduced Brad Wanstrath from Cowan's Auctions.
Brad Wanstrath gave a presentation about fine jewelry.
