TENHAGEN APPRAISALS

When I was a little girl, I spent hours browsing through my grandmother and aunt's jewelry boxes. It was heavenly. My earliest memories are of golden bracelets richly laden with enchanted charms, a spinning wheel that really spun, an enameled jack-in-the-box that popped up when it was gently coaxed, and the many other mementos of a life well lived.

I can still remember receiving pieces of jewelry to celebrate my life's milestones -- birthdays, Christmas, First Communion. My first love was a delicate purple enamel butterfly ring. I was heartbroken when I discovered I had left it behind in our hotel room while on vacation. Thankfully, Dad promptly turned the car around and went back so I could retrieve it. Then I was blessed with a beautifully engraved cross for my First Communion followed by not one, but two, amber-hued Venetian glass bangle bracelets. Imagine my delight when the lovely diamond cut-ins sparkled as I turned my wrist.

Today I collect every single style of jewelry imaginable from ethnic-based bracelets to old-fashioned brooches and contemporary earrings. My favorites are ones I have discovered at art festivals, galleries, antique shows and include treasures from the Victorian and Art Deco eras as well as the 40's, 50's and beyond.

I was born in Troy, Ohio and have been a Fort Lauderdale, Florida resident since 1978. I have an art school background with a degree in Interior Design. I have been blessed to have returned to the world of jewelry because jewelry has always been my first true love.

Joseph Tenhagen has been an independent appraiser since 2000. Joseph Tenhagen was passionate about gemstones, in fact, his favorite stone was Emerald. For many, many years he went to Colombia to visit the mines and loved to share his stories and photographs about those trips. He began his career in gemstones in 1973 while still working for the Federal Government as a meat inspector. With a degree from the University of Miami as a Geology Major with a Chemistry Minor, he then went on to gain his Graduate Gemologist Diploma from the Gemological Institute of America in 1969 and soon thereafter his Fellowship F.G.A. Diploma from the Gemmological Association of Great Britain. Soon enough he became thoroughly enthralled with gemstones and minerals and became a full time dealer of colored stones and diamonds. He would travel the country doing the shows and loved meeting people and sharing his passion. The annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Show was his favorite. There, he could buy, sell, trade and see the incredible minerals that were brought there from all over the world.

In 1975, he established an office in the Seybold Building in downtown Miami Florida were he worked until his death from Cancer in 2013 at the age of 79. In the mid-1990’s, Joseph began his career in Appraisals and went on to become an Expert Witness in many cases, small and large. He especially loved the work he did for the Federal Government but this time it was for the FBI, U.S. Customs and various other Law Enforcement agencies. Joseph loved to teach young and old about gemstones and was the Superintendent of Minerals and Gems at the Dade County Youth Fair from 1979 to 2012. Joe delighted in seeing the projects the children submitted for the exhibit. He taught a series of Gemology classes at the local Colleges and Museums and was a frequent lecturer at numerous jewelry and gemstone industry meetings and conventions.

Joe was happy to teach and share his knowledge of gemstones with those who were interested. Joe had articles published in Gems & Gemology, Lapidary Journal, The Jewelry Appraiser, Jewelry Lapidary Business and Precious Stones Newsletter. He also produced the Diamond Value Index from 1995 to 1998. Joseph will always be remembered for his larger than life personality and for his love of gemstones.