Check: You can appraise common or well-known objects with a DC 12 Appraise check. Failure means that you estimate an object’s value at 50% to 150% (2d6+3 × 10%) of its actual value.
Appraising a rare or exotic item requires a successful check against DC 15, 20 or higher. If the check is successful, you estimate the object’s value correctly; if the check fails, you are unable to estimate the item’s value.
A magnifying glass gives you a +2 circumstance bonus on Appraise checks involving any item that is small or highly detailed, such as a gem. A merchant’s scale gives you a +2 circumstance bonus on Appraise checks involving any items that are valued by weight, including anything made of precious metals. These bonuses stack.
Action: Appraising an item takes 10 consecutive full-round actions, a total of one minute.
Try Again: Appraise cannot be tried again on the same object, regardless of success.
Special: A Shemite gets a +2 racial bonus on Appraise checks that are related to gems or jewellery because Shemites are familiar with valuable items of all kinds A character with the Diligent feat gets a +2 bonus on Appraise checks.
Untrained: For common items, failure on an untrained check means no estimate. For rare items, success means an estimate of 50% to 150% (2d6+3 × 10%) of the item’s value.
As he rode, he drew from his belt a ring in which gleamed a jewel that snared the starlight in a shimmering iridescence. He held it up to admire it, turning it this way and that. The compact bag of gold pieces clinked gently at his saddle-bow, like a promise of the greater riches to come.
– Shadows in Zamboula