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Special events, destination weddings, work events- what do all of these have in common? They could mean that you are planning on travelling with your fine jewelry. While you are trying to coordinate other details for your trip, don’t forget to protect the jewelry you are travelling with. You want to avoid having your valuable- and perhaps sentimental- pieces lost or stolen. As you prepare to embark on your destination, here are some considerations for your jewelry.
Review your travel itinerary to see what pieces you absolutely need to pack. Checking travel advisories for your destination is a smart idea. Your jewelry may be safer at home, but don’t forget to store it somewhere safe while you are away. If you don’t have a safe at home, consider renting a safety deposit box. Make an inventory of the pieces that you will be bringing with you. Take photos of the pieces and document each piece’s appraised value.
If you don’t have a valuables policy, know that typically homeowner’s policies have limits for certain categories for personal property. Some valuables policies that are available in the marketplace offer worldwide coverage. If you have a valuables policy in place, be sure you know the limitations of your policy.
Our knowledgeable team works with many top insurance carriers to provide options for protecting your valuables, like fine jewelry, luxury watches, and fine art. If you have questions about your existing insurance policies or about available options, you can reach out to our team here. Making sure you have the appropriate amount of coverage in place means having your pieces appraised regularly.
If you are staying in a hotel, reach out to them ahead of time to see how they can accommodate your pieces. They may offer a vault as an alternative to the in-room safes that are typically provided.
Carefully look over each piece you plan to bring with you, or alternatively plan on bringing them to a reputable jeweler for inspection. Check that clasps are working properly and not broken, prongs are in place and not damaged or worn down, and that there are no loose stones. If you see anything out of place, set the piece aside for professional repair. Scheduling regular cleanings and inspections of your jewelry is a good habit to establish and can catch potential issues before they lead to loss.
If you don’t plan on wearing your jewelry while traveling, a safely looked after carry-on is your next safest choice. Wrap each piece in a soft cloth to prevent scratches and choose containers or pouches that won’t reveal what is packaged inside. For watches, use a watch roll. Keep any luggage containing jewelry with you at all times- this includes when travelling by private plane.
If you are traveling internationally, you are required to report to customs the transport of goods valued at $10,000 or more. If you need to go through airport security, you can request that TSA screens your carry-on bag in private. Wearing your jewelry through security commonly does not set off alarms. If you need to remove a piece you are wearing for any reason during screening, place the piece securely in your carry-on bag.
Be cautious about revealing your jewelry to strangers while you travel. Stop to think before sharing photos on social media. It’s never a good idea to share your real time location, so avoid backgrounds that could reveal where you are.
If you need to travel through a more dangerous or crowded area, think of ways to conceal your jewelry. Necklaces can be tucked under shirts, shawls, or scarves. A long shirt or jacket can conceal a watch. Generally speaking, gloves are not the best solution for rings, as the pressure can loosen the prongs over time. Instead, flip the ring so the stone will face the inside of your hand and be less visible.
Never leave your jewelry out in the open unattended in your hotel room or in an easily accessible place like your luggage. Be aware that the safe in your hotel room may be accessible to hotel staff.
While there are many venues and events where donning your best jewelry can enhance your look, with some activities you are better off letting your jewelry sit out. For example, you may want to leave your jewelry home instead of taking it on a trip to the beach – constantly applying sunblock can cause your rings to slide around more, thereby increasing the risk of it either becoming lost or damaged. Activities where you could sweat- like sports, biking, and going to the gym- can also cause your rings to slide around more.
After you have returned home from your escapades, take your jewelry to be professionally cleaned and inspected.
If you think your jewelry has been stolen, notify security at the place where it occurred. Contact the local authorities to file a formal police report. In the event of a covered loss, having appropriate insurance coverage can protect the investment you have made. If you would like to talk with someone about insurance coverage for your fine jewelry pieces, our insurance agents are here to listen and help you explore your options. Our team has experience working with successful individuals to protect their assets, and can provide you with competitive quotes for a broad range of exposures.
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This article is for general informational purposes only and is not to be relied upon or used for any particular purpose. Cross Insurance shall not be held responsible in any way for, and specifically disclaims any liability arising out of or in any way connected to, reliance on or use of any of the information contained in this article. The information contained or referenced in this article is not intended to constitute and should not be considered legal, insurance, accounting or other professional advice, nor shall it serve as a substitute for the recipient obtaining such advice. The views expressed in this article are that of its author and do not necessarily represent the views of Cross Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Cross Insurance”) or Cross Insurance’s management or shareholders.
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