Does Travel Insurance Cover Your Jewellery?
It’s crucial to make sure your jewellery is protected when you travel abroad. Crowded hotspots, airports and water activities all raise the risk of loss or damage. In a combined home insurance policy, jewellery usually sits under contents cover; higher-value pieces can be listed individually and, with the right extension, insured worldwide subject to limits and conditions.
rivr’s combined home insurance brings buildings and contents together on one policy, with cover for listed high-value items and optional worldwide protection.
So the big question is: does your travel insurance cover lost, stolen or damaged jewellery, and how does that interact with your home policy?
Travel insurance limitations
While travel insurance offers some protection when it comes to lost jewellery or items, it is important to understand its limitations, particularly when it comes to jewellery.
Limited coverage – Travel insurance policies impose restrictions or limits on the value of jewellery that can be claimed under the policy. Coverage limits vary between policies, but they typically range around £1,500 per item. If your jewellery is worth more than this then it would not be covered under the travel insurance policy.
Exclusion of jewellery – Due to the higher value and risk of theft some travel insurance policies explicitly exclude jewellery from cover, leaving some people exposed if their jewellery is stolen, lost or damaged whilst on holiday.
Be sure to read the fine print of your policy to make sure you understand what is and isn’t covered.
The case for a high-value contents policy
If you travel often and with high-value jewellery, you might consider purchasing a high-value contents policy. This type of insurance offers a more comprehensive level of cover than standard contents insurance, and has a number of key perks:
All-risks cover – Unlike standard home or travel insurance, a high-value contents policy offers all-risks cover. What this means that your jewellery is not only protected for theft and loss, but also for any damage whether that be accidental or not. This is the highest level of cover that you can get for your jewellery.
Worldwide coverage – You are also covered worldwide. This means that you never need to worry about your jewellery when you are travelling as it is always protected regardless where you are. This helps make sure you really can relax whether you’re on a business trip in Tokyo or a vacation in Bali, your jewellery remains protected at all times.
Standalone jewellery policies may not extend coverage worldwide, so be sure to check the specifics of your plan.
High limits and coverage – High-value contents policies are designed to be able to insure higher value jewellery and often have a high single item of limit of £10,000 or £25,000, and is able to insure items over and above this limit too if individually specified.
Cost-effectiveness – While a high-value contents policy may have higher premiums, it can prove to be more cost-effective in the long run. By comparing the cost and coverage of travel insurance to a contents policy, you can determine which option offers better protection for your valuable jewellery.
Protecting your jewellery abroad
In summary, while travel insurance may offer some protection, it often falls short when it comes to protected high-value jewellery. The limits imposed and potential exclusions can leave you underinsured and exposed.
On the other hand a high-value contents policy offers comprehensive, worldwide coverage, ensuring that you never need to worry again when you are travelling abroad.
Before your next trip, review your insurance coverage to ensure your valuables, especially jewellery, are protected. Consider investing in a contents policy with high-value item limits and worldwide coverage to give yourself peace of mind no matter where your travels take you.
For complete peace of mind, explore how rivr’s high-value home insurance can protect not just your jewellery, but all your prized possessions, with worldwide coverage and high item limits.
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Frequently asked questions
The general rule is that you need high-value contents insurance if you have:
General contents are worth over £100,000
or
Valuable items that together are worth over £30,000
Usually not. Free estimates lack testing and signatures, so most insurers will not accept them for insurance purposes. Policies typically expect a written report with specifications, photos, and a stated basis of value. Use free jewellery valuation routes to explore selling, and paid reports to insure. That is the correct course if you want your jewellery properly covered.
With rivr contents cover, you only need to specify any single jewellery item over £25,000 and keep a recent professional valuation for your jewellery. New purchases are covered automatically for 60 days up to 25% of your contents sum insured while you arrange the valuation.
Your policy does not cover general wear and tear, unexplained loss without evidence, or theft where there’s no forced entry.
Pieces of jewellery valued over £10,000 must be kept in a locked safe when not worn. Items left unattended in public places or visible in unlocked vehicles are also excluded.
Usually, but only at low levels (often capped between £150–£400 per item), and with many exclusions. Specialist jewellery insurance or add-ons are generally needed for full protection.
Contents insurance can be bought on its own to cover your belongings, whether you own or rent your home. Some insurers, including rivr, offer flexible policies with higher limits for homes with more valuable contents.
