amorim fine violins

Violin Appraisal 
and Valuation

Conducted by our master luthier Luiz Amorim, with decades of experience in the international fine instrument market. Our appraisals are Formal, signed documents used for insurance, inheritance, sale and collection management.
What an appraisal from Amorim Fine Violins is

An appraisal is a written, signed assessment of what an instrument is worth — for a stated purpose, on a stated date. It rests on the instrument's attribution and its condition, and on current evidence from the market in which the instrument would actually sell.

At Amorim Fine Violins, appraisals are performed by our practicing master luthier Luiz Amorim based in Cremona. Combining first-hand instrument knowledge, scientific analysis, and active presence in the fine violin market. We only appraise instruments we are qualified to evaluate.

When a professional appraisal is needed

Insurance Covarage

A certified replacement value, not an estimate. The number your insurer needs to cover your instrument properly.

Inheritance & Estate

When a fine violin changes hands through a family or estate, an appraisal ensures the fair price to be documented.

Investment & collection

Know exactly where your instrument stands in today's market, and how it compares to similar pieces.

Selling an instrument

Before you set a price or accept, a figure grounded in real transactions rather than asking prices — and a document a serious buyer will take seriously.
how we do

How we conduct an appraisal

01

Establishing what the instrument is

No value is meaningful without attribution. Where a credible certificate exists we review it; where one does not, we advise on certification before any figure is discussed.

02

Condition assessment

We document the instrument's current state with precision — repairs, cracks, modifications, wear — and assess how they affect long-term value. Preservation guidance can be included where relevant.

03

Market evidence

Comparable sales, auction results, private transactions, and our own daily dealing in the international market. Real conditions, not textbook figures.

04

The document, and the conversation that follows

You receive a signed document stating the value, the purpose it was prepared for and the date it applies to. We then talk it through with you, so you know what the result means for your situation. Values move; we recommend reviewing an appraisal every three to five years.

appraisal vs valuation

Appraisal or valuation: which one do you need?

Valuation: A market estimate.
A current price range based on comparable sales and the instrument's visible characteristics. Faster and less formal, suited to situations where you want an informed sense of where an instrument stands: benchmarking a collection, or pricing an instrument before you decide whether to sell. Not a certified document. Generally not accepted for insurance, legal or estate purposes.

Appraisal: A certified formal document.
A comprehensive, signed assessment covering attribution, condition and a stated value for a defined purpose. Produced by a qualified expert who stands behind every conclusion. Required by insurers, estate lawyers and serious buyers. Carries professional and accountability.


What sets Amorim Fine Violin apart?

01

Based in Cremona

The global center of violin-making for five centuries. Being here means handling high-level instruments as daily work, seeing great examples constantly, and transacting in the market rather than observing it from a distance.
02

The expert eye of a copyist

Luiz Amorim copies the great Italian makers: measuring, studying and reproducing every choice they made. Over decades he has built an expertise that identifies a maker's hand and understands every detail.
03

Scientific analysis in the Amorim Lab

Infrared and ultraviolet imaging, X-ray analysis, dendrochronology and structural diagnostics, carried out in our own laboratory — and a condition report written with the precision those findings deserve.
04

Expertise in sound

An instrument is not only wood and varnish. We assess each one on its own terms, and we adjust each one — setup, strings, soundpost — until it answers the player who will use it.
05

Transparent personal service

We work with musicians, collectors, and institutions across the world. Every transaction is handled personally, and we stay available for the conversation afterwards.
06

A trusted family legacy

Amorim is a family business, with the same values as the great Cremonese workshops before us. Our reputation depends on every document we sign.
knowlegde

Deepen your understanding

Guides, makers and market perspectives for musicians, collectors and institutions.

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Get in touch

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Get advice from our experts

Our team is available for consultations in person at our Cremona workshop and remotely for clients worldwide. We will advise on the appropriate service for your situation before any engagement begins.




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