How to keep watches and jewellery safe at home
No one wants to think about their jewellery and watches being damaged or stolen, but did you know there were nearly 191,500 home burglaries reported in 2022/2023, equivalent to 525 a day? And this is not taking account on the street thefts either. To stay one step ahead, here are our top tips to help keep your watches and jewellery safe at home.
1. Use an insurance-approved jewellery safe
If, like many people, you keep your jewellery in a traditional jewellery box, consider upgrading to a jewellery safe. This is the best way to keep jewellery safe at home. While a jewellery box is great for organising and storing your jewellery, it’s no match for burglars and will likely perish in a fire. Jewellery boxes are also the first place that thieves will look to find valuables and can be easily broken into or stolen.
An insurance-approved jewellery safe is a robust and secure unit designed to protect high-value items. It acts as an anti-theft system for jewellery and comes with an advanced locking mechanism. Jewellery safes can provide significant protection against theft, environmental damage and even fire, which makes them ideal for large jewellery collections.
Even if a safe is broken into, the time it takes to do so can prevent any significant home thefts, allowing for police to arrive on the scene before the worst happens.
When purchasing a safe look out for the insurable cash rating. A cash rating is the maximum amount of cash and/or valuables an insurer will cover in the safe and the higher the cash rating the more secure the safe. An insurer will multiply the cash rating by ten to calculate the maximum jewellery limit. For example, an insurer will cover for up to ￡10,000 of jewellery in a ￡1,000 cash rated safe, ￡20,000 in a ￡2,000 cash rated safe and so on.
Installing a safe can be a significant bit of work, here’s our top tips, prior to installation, when choosing the right cash rated safe:
Bear in mind your house plans. Are you thinking about moving house soon? Then consider a freestanding safe, as opposed to an anchored safe, which can be transported when you change house.
2. Ensure you have an anti-theft system in place
While there are steps you can take to keep your beloved jewellery and watch collection safe, the overall security of your home is crucial for protecting these items. A secure home significantly reduces the risk of theft of high-value items and provides you with peace of mind.
Traditional security systems such as monitored alarms with motion detectors help to alert authorities immediately when a break-in is attempted. An increasing number of homeowners are now also investing in doorbell cameras since these allow you to monitor deliveries and visitors to your home, even when you’re not there.
You can also install high-resolution security cameras at each entry point to provide maximum surveillance while deterring intruders. These cameras can be conveniently integrated into smart home systems, so you can monitor your home and receive notifications on your smartphone in real time. While providing a clear view of your home at all times, a security camera can discourage potential burglars just by being visible. It lets people know that attempting to enter your home without permission will trigger an alarm.
You can also replace your existing windows and doors with strong, reinforced ones with high-quality locks. This helps to make it more difficult for a potential burglar to force entry. Also, having motion-activated lights and a well-lit exterior, especially around more vulnerable areas that are out of view of cameras, can be an effective deterrent.
You may benefit from talking to a security specialist to provide bespoke advice to your situation. At Stanhope, we work closely with credible security experts who can help – give us a call to find out more.
3. Keep an inventory of your jewellery and watches
While you may love every watch or piece of jewellery you own, if you have a large collection, it can be difficult to remember every single piece. If your items are damaged in a fire or stolen, your insurance provider may require proof of ownership prior to replacing or reimbursing you for the loss. Proof of items includes invoice, receipts or if you do not have those, an up-to-date valuation from within the last 5 years and we recommend taking photos of proofs of ownership to store them securely online.
For a large amount of items, we recommend keeping a detailed home inventory, including photographs of each item, ideally with a photograph of you wearing each piece. You’ll also need to record important details about the item, including what it is, its value, the date of ownership and a detailed description. This should include materials (such as platinum or gold), gemstones, serial numbers or identifying marks. Making a digital and physical copy of your inventory and storing it somewhere secure will ensure that you can easily access it if necessary.
4. Ensure your items are appraised
An appraisal is a formal assessment of the value of your jewellery and watch collection. It can sometimes be a requirement for insurance, especially if you own high-value items. A qualified appraiser will inspect the item and determine its value based on materials, weight, size, and quality of gemstones and craftsmanship.
An up-to-date appraisal reflecting the current market value of the jewellery is essential should the item be lost, damaged or stolen. Without a professional appraisal, you risk undervaluing your collection or being unable to claim appropriate compensation from your insurer should something happen.
5. Store your items effectively
One of the most important things you can do to keep your jewellery and watches safe is to look after them properly. Caring for valuable jewellery means proper storage and care for its long-term value and safety. Keeping your jewellery out of direct sunlight in a secure safe keeps it out of sight of thieves, and also reduces the risk of loss or damage. Try to store your jewellery separately to avoid the chains getting tangled. Meanwhile, keep certain gemstones such as diamonds from touching other jewellery as they could scratch and damage them.
Watches and other delicate pieces should be stored in cushioned, temperature-controlled environments. This helps them avoid tarnishing, scratches, humidity or extreme temperatures that can stop them working. Regular cleaning, maintenance and servicing are also important in helping to preserve the item’s beauty, functionality and condition.
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6. Be extra vigilant when completing renovation work at home
When conducting a home renovation, your front door is open to a host of people you might not know personally, and they have access to your property!? We recommend being extra vigilant during this time. Be discreet about the location of any safe installed in the home and lock doors to rooms not being renovated.
7. Get the right insurance for your jewellery and watches
Whether you’ve built up an impressive jewellery collection or had some pieces passed down to you, your jewellery often has greater subjective/sentimental value than financial.
Start by investing in an insurance-approved jewellery safe to store your jewellery. It can prevent potential thieves from getting their hands on your family heirlooms and keep them safe if there’s a fire or a flood. Next, consider installing surveillance systems such as security and doorbell cameras to monitor your home and act as effective deterrents for would-be burglars. Meanwhile, should something happen, and you need to make an insurance claim, keeping an up-to-date inventory and regular appraisals of your collection will make it easier.
Round off your security measures with the right insurance. After all, the unexpected can happen regardless of how careful you are. Jewellery insurance helps to give you peace of mind and can protect you whether your jewellery is lost, damaged or stolen. Talk to your broker about the security you have installed and that can help reduce premiums too.
When you choose a specialised broker such as Stanhope, you can expect a premium service tailored to your specific needs. Find out more about our jewellery and watch insurance or get a quote today.
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