Short answer: start with the insurance policy you already have. Standard homeowners and renters policies usually include jewelry but cap what they pay for some losses. Under a standard homeowners policy, the theft limit for jewelry is generally about $1,500, according to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) and the South Carolina Department of Insurance, and a standard policy may not cover simply losing a ring. If your piece is worth more than your policy’s limit, ask your agent about scheduling it on a floater or rider. Insurers often ask for a professional appraisal before they will schedule a piece. An appraisal is an independent written valuation, usually of retail replacement value. Keep your order confirmation, a copy of the product page, photos and any appraisal together, and update the appraisal over time.
This guide is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Coverage varies by policy, insurer and state, so check your own policy and ask your agent or insurer before you rely on anything here. If you have questions, your state insurance department can help.
Three documents that get confused
| Document | Who issues it | What it records | What it does not do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order confirmation and product page | The seller | What you bought, when, for how much, and what the listing stated | It does not value the piece or grade the stones independently |
| Grading report | An independent gemological laboratory | The quality characteristics of one examined stone | It does not state a price or replacement value |
| Appraisal | An independent appraiser | A description of the finished piece and an estimate of its value | It does not guarantee what an insurer will pay |
As our guide to diamond grading reports puts it, a report “does not state a price or replacement value”, and “An appraisal is a separate document, prepared by an appraiser, usually for insurance.” IMPERVORA does not provide appraisals, and finished jewelry with set stones ships without an individual grading report unless the product page says otherwise.
Does your existing policy already cover it?
Usually in part, up to a limit. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), in a 2018 consumer guide, says that “Most homeowners and renter’s insurance include jewelry as personal property”, and adds: “Many policies set a limit and might not protect against all losses.”
Triple-I’s consumer explainer gives more detail. It says a standard homeowners policy covers jewelry against the perils the policy already lists, such as fire, windstorm, theft and vandalism, but sets special limits of liability for certain items, so the insurer will not pay more than the amount the policy specifies. It adds that “the standard policy has a relatively low limit of liability for theft, generally $1,500.” The South Carolina Department of Insurance gives the same figure, “generally about $1,500”.
That $1,500 is a general figure, and your own policy’s limit may be higher or lower. It is also a limit on theft; accidental loss is a separate question. Both sources give dropping a ring down the kitchen sink drain as an example of an accidental loss that, in Triple-I’s words, “your homeowners insurance policy will not cover.” To find your own numbers and exclusions, check your policy’s special limits for jewelry, or ask your agent.
What scheduling a piece generally adds
Triple-I describes two ways to increase coverage: raising the limit of liability, or “scheduling” individual pieces on a “floater” policy.
- Raising the limit. Triple-I calls this “the cheapest option; however, there may be a limit on the amount you can claim for the loss of any individual piece”.
- Scheduling on a floater. Triple-I says this “may cost more in premiums, but it offers broader protection because the floater covers losses of any type, including accidental losses”. Both Triple-I and the South Carolina Department of Insurance add: “Before purchasing a floater, the items covered must be professionally appraised.”
The NAIC uses other names for similar options, a “rider” or “an endorsement”. Terms, prices and exclusions differ between insurers, so compare the policy wording, not the label. We do not recommend any insurer or policy.
Getting an appraisal
The NAIC says that “In many cases, insurers will require an appraisal.” Before you book one, ask your insurer what it accepts, because requirements differ. One jewelry insurer, Jewelers Mutual, says most of its customers can start coverage without submitting an appraisal, with “some exceptions”, but need an appraisal “(or other adequate documentation)” when they file a claim.
Jewelers Mutual, a jewelry insurer, explains how appraisals work on its consumer pages. We cite it for that, not as a recommendation.
- What it is. “A jewelry appraisal is an expert determination of how much your jewelry is worth.” The written appraisal “will include a detailed description and photographs of your piece” and the appraiser’s estimate of its current retail replacement value.
- Who does it. According to Jewelers Mutual, “The best way to find a qualified appraiser is through an appraisal association like the American Gem Society, the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers or Gemological Institute of America.” GIA itself says it “does not perform appraisals”; associations can help you locate an appraiser. Our grading-report guide suggests asking about their gemological training, what the fee covers and what type of value the document will state.
- What to bring. Jewelers Mutual says the appraiser will ask for “any documentation you have for the piece, such as sales receipts, previous appraisals, or laboratory certificates.” For a piece from us, that means your order confirmation and saved product page.
- How it is charged. Jewelers Mutual says appraisers charge “either by the hour or via a flat fee”, and that “Appraisal fees should never be based on a percentage of the jewelry’s value—this is unethical.” It gives an average of “$50 to $150” an hour, “depending on the complexity of the piece”. That is one insurer’s figure; ask for a quote before you book.
An appraisal for insurance usually states retail replacement value, which Jewelers Mutual describes as “how much it would cost to recreate it”. That figure can differ from what you paid. It is also not what you could sell the piece for: Jewelers Mutual notes, “Remember, retail replacement value is higher than resale value.” If the number surprises you, ask the appraiser how it was reached, and ask your insurer how it uses the figure in a claim, since that varies by policy.
Jewelers Mutual also notes that “Appraisals can spot things like loose prongs before they cost you a lost gemstone.” Between appraisals, our jewelry care guide covers the checks you can do at home.
The paperwork to keep
The NAIC recommends that you “Store photos of each item and a copy of the appraisal in a safe place and add them to your home inventory.” For a piece you have just bought, that means keeping:
- Your order confirmation email. Our order tracking page notes that your order number “appears in your order confirmation email, directly beneath the subject line, and in your account dashboard under Orders.”
- A saved copy of the product page. Save it as a PDF or print it soon after you buy, because listings can change. On the 14K Yellow Gold .02 ct. Natural Diamond Evil Eye Charm/Pendant, for example, the details record the metal, the stone count and size, a diamond quality of “I1, G-H (supplier-assigned range)” and the disclosure “Natural diamond. Supplier disclosure: not treated. Quality grades are the supplier’s assigned range; no independent grading report is included.” These are descriptions of what you bought, not a valuation.
- Photos from several angles, including any stamp inside a band or on a clasp.
- The appraisal, if you get one, and any grading report that came with the piece. If your listing names a laboratory or a certificate but no report arrived with your order, ask Concierge before you assume one exists.
- Later receipts for repairs, resizing or re-appraisals.
Keep copies away from the jewelry, such as in a cloud folder, so a fire or theft does not take both.
Keeping it current
The NAIC notes that “Some policies may require periodic appraisal.” Jewelers Mutual says “we recommend getting a new appraisal every two years”; that is one insurer’s recommendation, and your policy may set its own schedule. Update your records, too, after a repair, resizing or stone replacement.
If you might return it
Our return and refund policy gives you 30 days from delivery for eligible items, and returns “must be postmarked within that window”. Custom, personalized or engraved pieces, pierced earrings, final sale items and gift cards cannot be returned. To be eligible, an item must be returned “Unworn, unaltered, and free of damage, scratches, or signs of wear”, “In its original packaging, including any pouches, boxes, or protective sleeves”, and “With all original tags, certificates, and documentation attached and intact”. It also states: “Items showing wear, resizing, engraving, repair, or alteration by any third party cannot be accepted.”
If you might return it, keep all packaging and documentation intact, and ask Concierge before handing the piece to anyone else during the return window. To start a return, email Concierge@impervora.com with your order number and the reason for return; returns need a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) number. The policy recommends an insured, tracked service, because “Until a return reaches us, it remains your property and your risk”.
Next step
Check the jewelry limit in your policy, and save your order confirmation and a copy of the product page. If the piece is worth more than your limit, ask your insurer what it needs, then book an independent appraisal. If you have a question about what a listing states, email Concierge@impervora.com and we will tell you what the product page does and does not confirm.
