Take the Fruitville Road (SR 780) exit off of I-75
Head 5.0 miles west (into town) on Fruitville Road (SR 780)
Left on US 301 (Washington Blvd)
Head 0.5 mile south on US 301 (Washington Blvd)
Pull in at Art and Antique Center on SW corner of Oak & Washington
Take east entrance into building (Oriental Art Museum entrance)
Enter Sarasota Vault Depository (just to left of Oriental Art Museum)

The Vault Depository is a maximum security building with a “man trap” entrance. They will buzz you in the first door. Then you have to give them your driver’s license in order for them to buzz you through the second door. I’ll meet you just inside! Thanks.

Mailing In Directions

The safest method of shipping in the world today is USPS Registered Mail, insured with a return receipt. The Hope Diamond was mailed this way once, after a big police procession was arranged as a decoy.

The next safest is Federal Express Priority Overnight shipment, double boxed in two Fedex cardboard boxes. Federal Express does not insure diamonds and jewelry, so this can only be done if you’re working with someone who carries private party insurance (which SGL does).

The third safest method of shipping is UPS Overnight, using their insurance. UPS doesn’t cover loose stones, and you’ll likely have to show them what you’re shipping before they will cover it.

Shipping Registered Mail: The best type of box to use is a two part box with sealing flaps. The only place I’ve found which sells these is some pharmacies, although theoretically you should be able to find them at some shipping places such as Mail Boxes Etc, etc.

Address the box with no information which would indicate it’s contents. Don’t use the Sarasota Gemological Laboratory designation, but rather Richard Sherwood.

When mailing the box, fill out the white, 2 part Registered Mail Receipt, along with the green Return Receipt. Indicate the amount of insurance you want the diamond covered for on the white Registered Mail Receipt.

Only mail the package at a main USPS center, not a contracting service like Mail Boxes Etc or a small post office located inside another store.

Shipping Federal Express: Call SGL for instructions which will establish private third-party insurance for the package. You’ll be shipping in a small Fedex box double-boxed inside a medium Fedex box, with the airbill number handwritten on the small box. Again, put no information on the airbill which would indicate something valuable is inside, and call SGL for the third party number and reference number to use.

Shipping UPS: Fill out the airbill for UPS Overnite Insured Shipment in an Overnite Box. You’ll indicate the value on the airbill, and probably have to show a supervisor the contents and have him sign off on it. They’ll seal it up in front of you. Once it’s gone don’t worry about it.

Working with Internet vendors: If you are using SGL as a third party appraisal and/or escrow service when contemplating purchase from an Internet diamond vendor, you don’t have to worry about any of this. SGL will work with the vendor in arranging all shipping and return shipping. Just give the vendor the okay to ship the diamond to SGL, and they’ll initiate the process from there.