Layaway & Appraisals — Take Your Time, Get It in Writing
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Two services for people who plan ahead: found the perfect piece in our cases but payday is not cooperating? Put it on layaway. Need your jewelry's value on paper for insurance or an estate? Our GIA-certified appraiser writes it up properly. Both happen right here at 1107 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston.
Layaway — 20% Down, Up to 5 Months to Pay
See something in the cases — a watch, a ring, a bag — and want it held as yours while you pay it off? That is layaway. No credit check, no interest, no loan paperwork: just a down payment and time.
The terms in plain numbers: 20% down · up to 5 months to pay · no credit check · no interest. Layaway is not a loan — it is your purchase, held under your name while you pay for it.
Running behind or changed your mind? Come in and talk to us — we would rather work something out than put your piece back in the case, and we will lay out your options honestly at the counter.
Appraisals by a GIA-Certified Appraiser
Our appraisals are performed by a GIA-certified appraiser on staff, backed by a certified appraiser — so the document you walk out with is the one your insurance company, your attorney, or an estate will actually accept. People bring us pieces for insurance coverage, estate settlement, divorce proceedings, and simply to know what they have.
Every written appraisal includes:
- A full description of the item — materials, stones, weights and measurements
- Photographs of the piece
- A signed written appraisal document stating the appraised value
- The basis of the value — replacement value for insurance, or fair market value for estates
Most appraisals are completed within a few business days. If you are bringing an estate with many pieces, we will give you a timeline before you leave anything with us.
Antiques & Fine Art Appraisals
Jewelry is not the whole story. Antiques and fine art — paintings, prints, sculpture and decorative artwork — are appraised in-house too, by the same people who buy and sell them every day. If a piece needs a specialist outside the shop, we will tell you that straight rather than guess at a number.
To start, text photos of the piece to 857-867-6468, or book time with the appraiser through our Priority Services page.
Settling an Estate? Free Estate Appraisals — House Calls Included
For artwork and antiques, our estate appraisal service is free — including house calls. A veteran certified antiques appraiser — formerly the owner of Bayles Auctioneering and Services, now an appraiser with Kaminski Auctions — or Michael himself will walk the home with you and appraise the estate where it sits. And if you want to sell, we buy whole estates outright for cash, paid the same day — no waiting for an auction. Start by texting room-by-room photos to 857-867-6468 or emailing them to toshenterprisesllc@gmail.com. Full details on our Estate AppraisalsAntiques & ArtsDesigner Bags page.
Skip the drive-first guesswork. Text a photo of your item to 857-867-6468 and get a ballpark before you come. Prefer to talk? Call the same number during shop hours.
Questions we hear
- How much do I need to put down for layaway?
- 20% down, then up to 5 months to pay the balance. No credit check and no interest — you are reserving the piece, not borrowing against it.
- Is layaway the same as a pawn loan?
- No. A pawn loan gives you cash against an item you already own. Layaway holds an item you are buying from us while you pay it off, and you take it home when the balance is paid.
- Who does the appraisals?
- A GIA-certified appraiser on our staff, backed by a certified appraiser with decades of experience. Antiques and fine art are appraised in-house as well.
- What do I get with an appraisal?
- A signed written appraisal document with the item's full description, photographs, and the appraised value, stating what it was appraised for — replacement value for insurance, or fair market value for an estate. It is the paperwork insurers, attorneys and estates ask for.
- How long does an appraisal take?
- Most appraisals are completed within a few business days. A large estate with many pieces can take longer — we will give you a timeline before you leave anything with us.
- Do you appraise whole estates?
- Yes — estate appraisals for artwork and antiques are free, including house calls, and we buy whole estates outright for cash paid the same day. Send room-by-room photos by text or email to start; see our Estate Appraisals page for details.