Allie Azrael Lopato

Graduate Gemologist | Director Of Estate Jewelry

As the Director of Estate Jewelry at Samuelson’s Diamonds, Allie Lopato is the driving force behind the evaluation, acquisition, and curation of the store’s premier vintage collections. A Graduate Gemologist (G.G.) certified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), Allie combines technical precision in diamond and colored stone grading with a deep mastery of the secondary luxury market.

A Baltimore native, Allie began her career in New York City at Circa, one of the world’s largest and most prestigious estate jewelry buyers. During her six-and-a-half-year tenure in Manhattan, she rose to become the company’s top producer and eventually a Director, specializing in the high-stakes valuation of signed pieces, heritage brands (such as Cartier, Tiffany & Co., and Van Cleef & Arpels), and luxury timepieces.

In 2018, Allie returned home to lead Samuelson’s estate jewelry division, overseeing buying operations for both the Baltimore and Chevy Chase locations. Her expertise allows Samuelson’s to navigate complex estate liquidations and acquire rare, period-correct pieces—from intricate Art Deco designs to significant Victorian and Edwardian heirlooms.

On the Samuelson’s blog, Allie shares her “buyer’s eye” perspective, educating readers on how to identify authentic signed jewelry, the nuances of the antique market, and the sustainable value of pre-owned luxury.

Allie is a graduate of The Park School of Baltimore and earned her B.S. from Indiana University Bloomington. Outside of the showroom, she stays busy traveling and embarking on new adventures with her young kids and her Labradoodle, Dexter.