Does a photo appraisal count for insurance?
A remote appraisal from photos or video is enough for many insurers to schedule a piece and enough for a resale or quick-sale estimate. High-value items usually need the stone examined in hand.
What a remote appraisal can do
A credentialed appraiser working from clear photographs, a video call and any paperwork you already have can identify the piece, estimate the stones and write a supportable replacement value. Many insurers accept that for scheduling a ring under a few thousand dollars.
It is also enough for the two numbers people usually want quickly: what the piece would sell for and what a buyer would pay this week.
What it cannot do
Nobody can take a refractive index or a specific gravity from a photograph. Treatments, synthetics and replaced stones are found under magnification in the hand. If the value matters the stone has to be seen.
What to do
Ask your insurer what they accept before you book and say whether the appraisal will be remote. It is a one-line question and it decides which kind you need.