About

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, has 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’s 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 has guided him in establishing the current direction of the company.

Mr. Czarnetzky is an accredited Senior Member of the American Society of Appraisers and past president of their Washington, DC chapter. Currently he chairs the Gems and Jewelry Sub-committee for the Washington, DC chapter. He holds the Master Gemologist Appraiser certificate as well as the certificate for the National Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).

He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York and has done graduate studies in Chemistry and X-Ray Crystallography at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a Qualified Appraiser under Internal Revenue Service guidelines and has testified as an expert witness.

As a professional appraiser for 25 years, Mr. Czarnetzky has worked for hundreds of private individuals. He numbers 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.

Please see Ed’s appraiser web site at www.gem-appraiser.com