A knack for antiques

By Zenaida Serrano Espanol
Advertiser Staff Writer

Appraiser Brenda Reichel of Hawai'i Kai examines a weathered cruet set. Because of her expertise, she has done appraisals for state and federal courts. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser Verify your valuables Think you've uncovered a family treasure in the attic and want to learn more about it? Several specialty appraisers work in Hawai'i. The Bishop Museum and Academy of Arts use local appraisers whenever possible. The art museum works with these appraisers: • Wayne Morioka, International Evaluation Consultant LTD: specializes in Asian Art, Paintings and Sculptures, 536-1655 • Don Severson, Hawaiian Antiquities and specialty Hawaiiana items, 591-2929 • Don Metcalf, Hawaiian Islands Stamp and Coins, specializes in monarchy, stamps and coins. 531-6251 • Pake Zane, Antique Alley, specializes in collectibles, bottles, Hawaiian and American Nostalgia. 941-8551 Clients should ask appraisers where they received their training, and about their educational and professional background. Appraisal costs vary from free to thousands of dollars, depending on the complexity and depth of the appraisal. Tomorrow Brenda Reichel appraises a shell necklace and knife in the first Island Treasures column.

So was helping a client sell a 50-cent garage-sale find — a padlock and key that turned out to be from the 1800s — for $500.

Discovering Picasso lithographs at a Kaua'i estate was pretty darn thrilling too.

Such is the life of an appraiser: days filled with pleasant surprises, sometimes downright mind-blowing ones.

"Every day is different," said Reichel, owner of Carats & Karats Fine Jewelry, a retail store and appraisal firm in Honolulu. "Everything that comes in the store is different, whether it's art, a Japanese doll collection, baseball collection or Grandma's diamond ring."

The Hawai'i Kai resident, 45, is The Advertiser's new Island Treasures columnist. In the column, which debuts tomorrow, Reichel will address readers' questions about the history and value of their antiques and collectibles.

"I'm excited," Reichel said with a big smile. "I can't wait to get e-mails and pictures."

Island Treasures will be a place where readers can inquire about everything from restoring feather lei to identifying authentic samurai swords or Mikimoto pearls, Reichel said.

Reichel's credentials run long. She is a graduate gemologist and an accredited member of the International Society of Appraisers, National Association of Jewelry Appraisers and the Accredited Gemologists Association.

With Reichel's expertise in jewelry and gemstones, she also serves as an expert witness and appraiser for federal and state civil and criminal courts, and for estate-tax purposes. She has done work for the U.S. Marshals Service, the Honolulu Police Department and FBI.

Her interest in gemstones and jewelry began when she was 12. Influenced by her grandparents, who cut and polished gems as a hobby, Reichel began appraising in her 20s. And although she's been in the industry for more than 20 years, Reichel constantly strives to better her skills.

"There's always doubt, so you always want to make sure you do your homework," Reichel said. "That's why research and education are so important (to) an appraiser."

Reichel stays up to date by reading trade publications, attending trade shows, and taking appraisal classes every year.

"I'm amazed at her knowledge," said Watters Martin, co-owner of an apartment-rental business. "She has all these reference books, and that's just at the store."

For nearly 10 years, Reichel has been appraising and repairing Martin's Hawaiiana collectibles, such as his boars' tusk jewelry from the 1890s.

"She has a good grasp on her field," said the Nu'uanu resident, 55.

Real estate agent Erminia Caracciolo has known Reichel for more than 10 years and often has Reichel appraise and repair her collectibles, such as Caracciolo's antique garnet beads that belonged to her grandmother.

The 'Aina Haina resident, 54, described Reichel as a tireless woman who is always working.

"She loves her job, and that's proven by all the certification she has," Caracciolo said. "She's on top of her industry."

When not running her business, Reichel keeps busy as host of a weekly radio show, Gemnews, which airs 6 to 7 p.m. every Saturday on KWAI, 1080 AM. Reichel has hosted the program for nearly 13 years. She also teaches gemology at the Honolulu Academy of Arts each spring.

At one of her classes, Reichel met a student who owned a 19th-century tiara worth $25,000 to $35,000. The woman brought the tiara to class, where Reichel showed her how the Victorian-era piece had screwed-in sections that could be taken apart and transformed into another piece of jewelry.

The woman had owned the tiara for years and had no idea it could do that, Reichel said.

"It actually made into a very nice festoon necklace," she said. "Her daughter wore the tiara for her wedding ceremony, then wore the tiara as a necklace during her reception."

Such stories are what makes work worthwhile, Reichel said.

But there is life outside of running a jewelry and appraisal business.

Reichel, who moved to Hawai'i from California 20 years ago, has a 17-year-old son, James Keanu-Reichel. For nearly 15 years, she has been a member of Wai'alae Baptist Church, where she sings in the choir and teaches Sunday school for adults.

Reichel is also a cancer survivor. She has had melanoma and suffered from cellulitis, as well as an auto-immune disease called idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, now in remission.

"God's not done with me yet," Reichel said. "I'm here for a reason. I'm here to help people with whatever they need to know."

Reach Zenaida Serrano Espanol at zespanol@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8174.