Guide to jewellery insurance for bespoke, high-value, and heirloom pieces
With jewellery, not all pieces are created equal. Beyond their sparkle and monetary value, some items embody rare craftsmanship, family history, or unique design.
These pieces deserve more careful protection than the cover typically offered by standard home insurance.
This brief guide discusses what you may need to know about insurance and bespoke, high-value, and heirloom jewellery. So, first of all...
What is considered high-value jewellery for insurance?
While there is one definitive answer, generally, in the world of jewellery, a few characteristics distinguish a high-value or bespoke item from a typical retail piece:
- A single item whose replacement or reconstruction value exceeds common limits (often £1,000–£2,000 or far more).
- One-off or custom design, or a limited production rather than mass produced
- Use of rare gemstones, unusual metals or treatments, irregular cuts or antique stones.
- Historical or provenance value (e.g., an heirloom passed through generations).
- Difficulty in sourcing comparable materials, artisan skills or design references.
These traits mean that replicating or replacing such items is rarely as simple as buying a “same model” off a shelf. The uniqueness, sentiment, and craft push them beyond standard cover.
The special risks for bespoke and heirloom jewellery
Bespoke and heirloom jewellery are exposed to risks that ordinary pieces may not face or at least not to the same degree. For example:
- Rarity and sourcing: Replacing identical materials, cuts or design elements can be extremely difficult.
- Craftsmanship: Repairs or reconstruction require specialist artisans, which can increase replacement or repair costs.
- Market volatility: The values of gemstones and precious metal values can shift, affecting replacement expense.
- Sentimental loss: No policy can truly compensate for heritage or emotional value.
- Security exposure: High-value pieces are more tempting targets, especially when worn or transported.
Understanding these risks helps in assessing how robust your high-worth jewellery insurance needs to be.
Does home insurance cover my bespoke jewellery?
People often assume that their home contents insurance automatically covers their jewellery, but this is often not true for bespoke rings or high-value pieces.
Standard home insurance policies usually include a small valuables limit – this may be typically between £1,000 and £2,500 per item but depends on the individual home insurance policy and a total cap for all valuables combined.
For something like a bespoke engagement ring, diamond suite, or a family heirloom, this limit can easily fall short.
In addition, home insurance is designed for general possessions, not one-of-a-kind or irreplaceable items. It may:
- Apply restrictive limits for items taken outside the home (for example, a maximum of £500–£1,000).
- Exclude loss or damage while travelling abroad or restrict cover to short periods or limit the number of days you can spend abroad in any on period of insurance.
- Maybe be subject to an excess (this is the amount you are financially liable for in the event of a successful claim). With our jewellery insurance cover, there is no excess to pay although you can elect to have an excess in return for a discount.
That’s why bespoke, vintage and heirloom jewellery owners should consider specialist cover from a provider experienced in high-value jewellery insurance, such as us here at Assetsure.
Further reading:Is jewellery covered by home insurance policies?
What does jewellery insurance cover?
Specialist jewellery insurance is designed to go further than a standard home insurance policy, offering broader protection tailored to the risks of valuable and bespoke pieces. While exact features vary by policy and provider, jewellery insurance may typically include:
- Worldwide cover: Protection at home and abroad, whether you’re travelling for business, holidays, or events (some policies cover you for unlimited trips abroad, providing no one trip exceeds 60 days in duration – the period depending on the insurance provider). Our blog: Travel guide for taking your jewellery abroad covers this in more depth.
- Accidental loss and damage: Cover if you misplace your jewellery, drop it, or damage it through accidental impact.
- Theft including outside the home: Protection if jewellery is stolen from your person, hotel room, (subject to reasonable security conditions we advise reading your policy wording carefully when away from your home, as you will usually be required to leave items in a safe when not being worn).
- Restoration or recreation by skilled jewellers: Specialist repair or reconstruction by approved craftsmen to preserve authenticity and quality.
In short, high-value jewellery insurance is designed to restore you to the same position you were in before the loss - financially and emotionally by recognising the craftsmanship, artistry, and individuality of your pieces.
Common exclusions that often affect bespoke jewellery
Apart from understanding what your cover entails, you must also be aware of what is excluded from the cover and any obligations you may have to keep the jewellery safe.
Typical exclusions that hit most types of jewellery pieces, including those that are custom or heirloom, include:
- Wear and tear or gradual deterioration.
- Loss when jewellery is left unattended in insecure or public settings.
- Failure to provide proof of ownership (valuation, photographs, certificates).
- Improper storage (failure to keep items in approved and secure safes.
Make sure you know what your jewellery insurance exclusions are, as well as any special conditions speak to your insurance provider for clarification.
Caring for and storing heirloom jewellery
Insurance is a safety net, but prevention is your first line of defence. Good habits reduce both risk and future repair costs:
- Use a high-quality security safe.
- Avoid wearing jewellery during exercise, household chores, chemical exposure or tasks that may scratch or damage.
- For antique or delicate stones, use professional cleanings rather than home ultrasonic devices.
- Store each item separately in lined boxes, pouches or compartments to prevent abrasion.
- Keep photographic records, valuation reports, and digital backups (for example, in secure cloud storage).
While our blog How collectors are protecting their watch portfolios talks about watches, the information can also relate to safeguarding your other jewellery too.
Protecting what matters most
Bespoke, high-value and heirloom jewellery embody stories, artistry and emotional significance that typically far exceed their material worth. Insuring such treasures demands more than generic cover.
For complete reassurance, consider arranging dedicated jewellery insurance with a specialist provider such as Assetsure we offer tailored cover for high-value, bespoke, and heirloom jewellery pieces, ensuring they’re protected whether at home, or abroad.
You can request a no-obligation jewellery insurance quote here. Or please give us a call on 0208 0033 190 and enjoy the peace of mind that your most treasured possessions are properly insured against life’s unexpected moments.
Further reading:The true cost of replacing a lost ring.
