OUR HISTORY AND FOUNDER
“The Code of Ethics of the American Society of Appraisers is the appraisal client’s assurance of fair and honest treatment; it is my personal ethics code as well.” –Edward M. Czarnetzky, ASA
Our company, IGS Diamonds, Inc., got its roots as a pioneering and innovative firm established to wholesale and cut gemstones for metropolitan Washington D.C. area jewelers (the first) in competition with New York dealers. We were International Gem Services. Our founder, Edward M. Czarnetzky, an Accredited Senior Appraiser with the highly regarded American Society of Appraisers, never accepted the status quo as the way things must be. With the Diamonds Direct program he developed an innovative means to supply the diamond shopper with that perfect selection at a price that was even the envy of many jewelers and pawn shops. His experience as a master stone cutter (lapidary), wholesaler and appraiser coupled with a nearly lifelong study of the markets guided him in establishing the direction of the company.
Mr. Czarnetzky was an accredited Senior Member of the American Society of Appraisers and past president of their Washington, DC chapter. He chaired the Gems and Jewelry Sub-committee for the Washington, DC chapter. He held the Master Gemologist Appraiser certificate as well as the certificate for the National Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).
He held a Bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York and had done graduate studies in Chemistry and X-Ray Crystallography at the University of Pennsylvania. He was a Qualified Appraiser under Internal Revenue Service guidelines and has testified as an expert witness.
As a professional appraiser more than for 25 years, Mr. Czarnetzky worked for hundreds of private individuals. He numbered several area banks, insurance companies, attorneys and federal agencies as his clients.
The American Society of Appraisers is the country’s oldest multi-disciplinary appraisal certifying organization and has a strict code of ethics as well as a stringent re-certification program which is required at 5 year intervals. This program assures up to date gemological and valuation competence of all senior members. It is committed to fostering professional excellence in its membership through education, accreditation, publication and other services. Its prestige is intended to contribute to the growth of its membership and to the appraisal profession.
