How to Cover Your Jewellery from Theft, Loss and Damage

You’re the careful type. You take your ring off before heading to the beach. You keep your necklaces tucked safely away at home. You always check twice before checking out of a hotel.

Yet still, jewellery goes missing.

It might slip off during a night out or disappear in transit overseas. Sometimes, it’s damage you didn’t notice until later. That sinking feeling? It’s made worse when you go to claim and find out your home contents insurance doesn’t cover you for this kind of situation.

Here’s what some standard home and contents policies might not highlight up front:

• Items worn outside your home may not be covered

• Lost your ring down the drain? Accidental loss isn’t always included

• Don’t know how your jewellery went missing? Mysterious disappearance may not be covered

• Travelling with your jewellery? Some policies limit or exclude incidents abroad

• Full replacement? You may not be able to go back to your original jeweller

• Has your jewellery increased in market value? Some policies don’t update valuations over time.

These kinds of oversights can sometimes only become clear when it’s too late to take action.

That’s why some people turn to specialised jewellery insurance. It’s not just about having cover, it’s about knowing how that cover works when the unexpected happens. Policies designed specifically for jewellery may offer more clarity and flexibility when it comes to things like updated valuations, worldwide cover, and working with your original jeweller for repairs or replacements.

And yes, that can make all the difference.

The scenarios presented in this blog are intended as general guidance only. They do not constitute financial advice and should not be relied upon as definitive statements of coverage. All coverage is subject to the specific terms, conditions, and exclusions of the Q Report policy.

Real Scenarios. Real Risks.

Jewellery doesn’t need to vanish in some elaborate robbery to be lost forever. More often, it’s the quiet moments, the ones that don’t make headlines, that cause the most heartache. Here are a few real-world situations that show how quickly things can change, and how specialised jewellery insurance can help.

A Ring Lost to the Ocean

You're on a break by the coast. You slip into the water without thinking. The temperature drops, your hands shrink slightly, and just like that, your ring disappears beneath the waves.

• Home and contents cover may exclude incidents that happen during travel.

• Q Report covers accidental loss and theft worldwide, including when travelling, with the exception of sanctioned countries.

Missing Jewellery from Checked Luggage

You check your suitcase before a flight. Inside is a small pouch with a few pieces you packed last minute. By the time you reach your destination, the jewellery is gone. There’s no sign of forced entry, and the airline offers a token reimbursement, if anything at all.

• Travel insurance may exclude items in transit, especially if they’re not specifically listed on your policy

• Q Report may cover for jewellery while in transit, provided documentation is available and reasonable steps have been taken to locate the items.

A Loose Prong and a Lost Stone

You didn’t notice it snag earlier in the day. The claw was slightly bent, and now the diamond it held has vanished. There's no dramatic moment, just a quiet loss discovered too late.

• Home and contents cover may apply limits for repairs to expensive jewellery or unexplained damages or losses.

• Q Report may cover your jewellery for damage as long as it has been properly maintained. You may be eligible for repair or replacement, often with your original jeweller.

Worth noting: Most jewellery losses aren’t loud or obvious. They’re gradual, accidental, and expensive to fix without the right cover.

How Jewellery Insurance Actually Helps with Theft, Loss and Damage

Jewellery is worn, carried, and often taken from place to place. That mobility increases exposure to risks like theft, accidental loss, and damage. While home and contents insurance can offer cover, it may not be designed with jewellery in mind.

Specialist jewellery insurance provides targeted coverage. It accounts for how and where jewellery is typically worn and usually offers broader support in the event of a claim. The difference isn’t just in what’s covered, but in how claims are handled, who you can work with for repairs or replacements, and whether the value of your item keeps pace with market changes, meaning you are covered for its true worth.

Below is a side-by-side comparison of how Q Report responds to the most common types of jewellery incidents compared with what could be available through some general contents cover.

Accidental Loss: Frequently Happens, Only Sometimes Covered

• Q Report: Covers accidental loss, including situations where the exact moment of loss is unknown, such as a ring that slips off or a stone that falls out.

• Home and contents: Sometimes excludes accidental loss or limits it to specific scenarios with capped payouts and conditions.

Theft Outside the Home

• Q Report: Includes cover for theft from personal belongings while travelling, such as jewellery stolen from luggage, a handbag, or a hotel room. Forced entry is not always required.
• Home and contents: Theft may be covered only if it occurs at the insured address, and may have conditions such as it must involve forced entry, and involve an individually listed item.

Damage Resulting in Loss

• Q Report: If damage such as a weakened claw results in loss, and the piece has been properly maintained, Q Report may approve a claim. Repairs can often be handled by your original jeweller.

• Home and contents: Cover for damage may be limited. Approved repairs sometimes need to be managed through the insurer’s chosen network.

Cover That Extends Beyond the Home

• Q Report: Jewellery remains covered while at home, out and about, travelling, or in transit, with exclusions for countries under sanctions when your jewellery journeys worldwide.

• Home and contents: Policies sometimes limit cover to incidents occurring at the home address, with little or even no coverage while travelling.

Updated Valuations

• Q Report: Jewellery is revalued annually at no extra cost to reflect current market values. This helps ensure the sum insured remains aligned with the item’s replacement cost.

• Home and contents: Valuations may be fixed unless manually updated by the policyholder, which may result in underinsurance over time.

5 Ways to Reduce Risk Before You Need to Claim

Insurance plays a vital role in covering your jewellery, but the way you care for and manage your pieces also matters. These preventative steps could help reduce the likelihood of loss or damage and support a smoother claims process if something does go wrong.

1. Insure Your Jewellery as Soon as You Purchase It

If your item is valued over $2,000, it could meet Q Report’s eligibility criteria. Once our team reviews and approves all of your required documentation, a formal quote can be provided where cover is active as soon as payment is made. We recommend arranging cover before you wear it for the first time, as losses can occur quickly, even at home.

2. Store Securely and Separately

At-home storage can help prevent theft and accidental damage.

• Use a safe that meets current security standards

• Keep high-value items separate to avoid tangling or surface wear

• Avoid storing all items in one location

• For delicate pieces like pearls, climate-controlled storage is recommended.

3. Schedule Regular Maintenance

Settings loosen, clasps wear down, and chains weaken over time. A professional inspection once a year could help prevent damage or loss and may also support your eligibility at claim time, as many policies expect reasonable care.

4. Photograph and Document Your Pieces

Create a visual and written record of each item:

• Take clear photos from multiple angles

• Keep purchase receipts, valuation certificates, and repair records.

Having this documentation on hand can simplify the claims process and help confirm the item’s value and condition.

5. Review and Update Your Policy

Jewellery values shift over time, and your lifestyle can too. Revisit your policy details annually to ensure they still reflect your needs. With Q Report, annual revaluation is included, helping your values stay current without extra effort from you.

Jewellery Needs More Than a Basic Policy

General home and contents insurance is sometimes designed for broad cover and may not be as suitable for items with unique value, craftsmanship, or sentimental significance. Jewellery can sometimes fall into the gaps of these policies, especially regarding wear, travel, and replacement expectations.

Specialist jewellery insurance isn’t about adding more cover than you need. It’s about having the right type of cover—purpose-built from the outset to reflect how jewellery is worn, valued, and repaired.

Ready to get specialised cover for your most prized pieces? Start a quote with Q Report today to cover your jewellery from theft, loss, damage and more.