Mark Cartwright IMJVA
Mark T. Cartwright, ASA, MGA, GIA GG, IMJVA. Education, experience and integrity in valuations of fine jewelry, diamonds and gemstones
Albuquerque, NM JVA Registered Valuer ®
Mark was introduced to the world of gems and jewelry as a rockhound from age 6 and amateur lapidary from age 12. He began designing and making jewelry at age 18 and nine years later, in 1981, he and his father opened a retail jewelry store specializing in one-of-a-kind, custom fine jewelry set with natural colored gemstones and diamonds. Although the store was closed when Mark accepted the position of jewelry designer for a major jewelry store in 1995, Mark continues to design and make jewelry in addition to his work as an appraiser / partner in Gemologically Speaking, LLC.
His first valuation in 1983 was for an intimidating individual who was a “debt collector” for a casino in Las Vegas. He was in need of a liquidation appraisal for a large collection of gems and jewelry he’d accepted in lieu of payment on debts. The experience was sufficiently harrowing to cause Mark to immediately seek education from the few sources teaching appraisal theory and practice in the U.S.
Over the course of 4 decades in the jewelry trade, with 22 of those years as an independent appraiser, Mark has earned the highest appraisal designations from 4 U.S. based organizations: the America Gem Society (AGS-ICGA), the International Society of Appraisers (ISA-CAPP), the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers (NAJA-CMA), and the American Society of Appraisers (ASA-MGA). He is proud to be an International Member of JVA and is excited to learn even more from the Jewellery Valuers Association.
After operating his own independent gemological laboratory for 19 years, Mark closed it in 2019 and he is currently a partner with Mary B. Reich at Gemologically Speaking, LLC in Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. A past winner of an AGTA Spectrum Award, Mark enjoys creating beautiful jewels and operates his own jewelry design company, SSKY, LLC in his “spare” time.
He has served as the Gems and Jewelry Discipline Chair for ASA, developed and teaches their 120 hours of Principles of Value courses with Mary, and is currently the Gems and Jewelry Education Committee Co-Chair for ASA. Mark is also an Appraiser Qualifications Board Certified USPAP Instructor for The Appraisal Foundation and sits on the Personal Property Resource Panel of the Appraisal Standards Board of The Appraisal Foundation.
Gemologically Speaking, LLC is an independent appraisal firm experienced in providing accurate, defensible, evidence-based valuations of gems, diamonds, watches and jewelry of every period from circa 1800 forward. Serving the local, regional and national markets since 2007 providing appraisals intended to be used for estate tax computation, non-cash charitable donation, gift tax computation, equitable distribution of an estate or trust, post-loss insurance claim settlement, equitable division of a marital estate, liquidation, resale, and of course, scheduling insurance. We have also worked with attorneys in litigation situations, including the Attorney General’s Office of New Mexico.
Gemologically Speaking, LLC maintains Accredited Gemologists Association Certified Gem Lab #28 on premises and works closely with our industry colleagues to find answers if specialized expertise or equipment is necessary for an assignment. We don’t guess; we do whatever is necessary to find credible answers for our clients’ valuation or identification needs.