The Most Common Jewellery Insurance Claims and How to Avoid Them

It usually starts with a tiny sound—a knock on the counter, a tug on fabric, a clasp that suddenly feels looser than usual. You glance down and notice something's off. A chipped stone. A bent claw. A broken chain link. And just like that, your jewellery isn't quite what it was.

Internal JewelCover claims data (Jan–Dec 2024) indicates accidental damage represented ~52 % of jewellery claims. While theft and mysterious loss do occur, our 2024 claims data suggests that everyday accidents generated the largest share of claims.

The encouraging part? Many claims may be reduced or avoided through simple habits and more mindful wear.

Together, we'll break down some of the most common jewellery insurance claims—based on real customer data—and show you how to reduce the risk of each one. Whether you're planning to insure the jewellery you wear every day or heirlooms you keep tucked away, this article will help you make smarter, more informed choices.

We'll also discuss how purpose-built insurance policies from providers like JewelCover support the full lifecycle of a piece (see the PDS for inclusions and limits).

Why Claims Happen (and Why They Matter)

The True Cost of Jewellery Loss

Some pieces are worn so often that they feel like part of you: a wedding ring, a necklace from a parent, a bracelet marking a milestone. When one of these precious items breaks or disappears, it feels like a gut punch.

People miss these pieces the most because they carry meaning beyond their dollar value. That's why the most common jewellery insurance claims often follow subtle slips: catching a ring on washing baskets, wearing earrings to bed, or wearing your watch when you accidentally take a tumble. The damage feels small—until it isn't.

How Standard Home & Contents Cover Could Differ

Many owners assume their pieces are covered, yet some home-and-contents policies could apply low sub-limits unless items are individually listed or itemised. Or if jewellery is lost while overseas or worn during travel, your home and contents policy may not apply.

Specialist insurers like JewelCover offer cover designed for everyday wear—at home, in transit or overseas (refer to the PDS for details).

The Most Common Jewellery Insurance Claims in Australia

Insurance claim data often reveals what jewellery owners rarely speak about: the everyday habits that lead to preventable damage or loss. According to JewelCover's 2024 data, the most common claims fall into four key categories.

Accidental Damage

It's the most common claim and the most overlooked.

• Think chipped stones, snapped chains or bent prongs from catching a ring on clothing, knocking a bracelet against a countertop, dropping an earring on tiles, or smashing your watch against a door when rushing into a meeting.

• Damage can happen at any time, but it is more common during active moments, such as workouts, gardening, home repairs, or simply pulling laundry from a machine.

Prevention tip: Get into the habit of removing jewellery before manual tasks—even if they seem minor.

Simple changes to your routine can significantly reduce the risk of damage over time.

Accidental Loss

This one happens fast. One minute, it's there; the next, it isn't.

• Many claims follow travel, swimming, or routine moments like a ring slipping off in cold weather.

• Loose clasps, resizing delays and stacking rings can all contribute to loss.

Prevention tip: Schedule regular ring size checks and avoid wearing loose jewellery in water or during transit. Temperature changes, like jumping into cold water on a hot day, can cause your fingers to shrink by half a size or more, increasing the risk of your jewellery slipping off. It’s best to remove your pieces before swimming or similar activities.

The loss might not seem serious until it's time to replace a piece that's no longer in production, or personally irreplaceable.

Theft (At Home or While Travelling)

While less frequent than damage or loss, theft still accounts for a significant portion of claims, especially during holidays and peak travel seasons.

• Opportunistic thefts occur in hotels, gyms, parked cars, or when jewellery is left unattended in public places.

• Home burglaries also contribute, particularly when jewellery isn't stored securely.

Storage Tip: When you're not wearing your jewellery, store it in a safe or an out-of-sight location. Consider a discreet, travel-safe pouch and avoid leaving items in luggage or vehicles.

Check out our blog How To Protect Your Jewellery Overseas: The Best Tips For Travellers for more helpful tips.

Mysterious Disappearance

Sometimes, jewellery isn't stolen or misplaced—it simply vanishes.

• Mysterious disappearance refers to claims where the item is gone, but no clear cause or evidence exists.
• These claims can sometimes be difficult to process without solid documentation, but this type of claim may be covered, depending on the terms of your JewelCover policy.

Insurance Tip: Keep updated photos, receipts, and written descriptions of each piece. These records support claims and make valuation easier. JewelCover keeps photos and written specifications of your items to assist in the event of a claim and for revaluations, which ensure you are insured at the correct market value annually.

To recap: What are the most common jewellery insurance claims?

• Accidental damage

• Accidental loss

• Theft

• Mysterious disappearance

Next, we'll explore how changing how you store, wear, and care for your jewellery in everyday life can reduce the chances of needing to claim.

How to Lower the Risk of Needing to Make a Jewellery Insurance Claim

It's not about locking your jewellery away. It's about building habits that make damage, loss, or theft less likely, without taking the joy out of wearing what you love.

Safe Storage Habits

Where your jewellery lives when not being worn can make all the difference.

• Use a secure safe or lockable drawer at home—somewhere out of sight, not next to your bedroom window or bathroom sink.

• When travelling, use a purpose-built travel case or a padded jewellery roll. Tossing rings in a toiletry bag or zipping a necklace into a coin purse is where tangles and breakages begin.

• Avoid storing multiple high-value items in the same spot. If one thing goes missing, they all do.

Think of storage like seatbelts. You don't need them until you do, and then you're glad they were there.

Know When Not to Wear It

Wearing your jewellery everywhere sounds like a good idea until it’s not.

• Remove jewellery before exercising, swimming, showering, or doing housework. Chlorine and cleaning chemicals are especially harsh on metals and gemstones.

• Consider which pieces are essential and which could stay at home for travel or special events. You don't have to go without; you may want to choose lower-risk options that still match your style.

• Insurers sometimes ask how and where you wear your jewellery. Your usage habits can affect policy recommendations and claims.

A bit of planning makes your pieces easier to enjoy long term, without constant repairs or replacements.

Get the Right Valuation

Knowing what your jewellery is worth isn't only for resale. It's essential for insuring it accurately and replacing it if something happens.

• Update your jewellery appraisal every 2–3 years to reflect changing market values and any wear or upgrades.

• Request a written valuation, including high-quality photos, full descriptions, and relevant gemstone certifications.

• This documentation also helps if your piece disappears without explanation, supporting a smoother claims process.

Next, we'll examine how your insurance policy can be affected by all of this, especially daily wear, travel, and choosing the right provider.

Choosing the Best Jewellery Insurance Australia Has to Offer

There's no shortage of insurance policies mentioning jewellery, but only a few are designed with your real-life usage in mind. Whether you're wearing your wedding ring daily or insuring a one-of-a-kind pendant, the right cover should reflect how you live with your jewellery, not how you store it.

Key Features to Look For

Here are some key features when comparing options:

• Replacement policy: Some policies include cover for a like-for-like replacement or repair, putting you back in the same position you were prior to the loss.

• Worldwide cover: The policy may continue while travelling globally and extend your coverage worldwide (check the Policy Wording and PDS for terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy).

• Annual free revaluation: JewelCover policies include complimentary annual revaluations.

• Return to your chosen jeweller: Some specialist policies allow repairs or replacement through your preferred jeweller, rather than a set panel, when possible.

These features clarify what your policy covers before you ever need to use it.

Why Specialist Cover Matters

When you choose a provider focused solely on jewellery, you get more than a line item on your insurance.

• Specialist jewellery policies are built around everyday wear, travel, and sentimental significance.

• Claims may be handled faster, with more transparency and understanding of how unique or customised a piece of jewellery might be.

• Insurers like JewelCover can offer support shaped by real-world jewellery experience, not one-size-fits-all conditions.

It's about aligning coverage with how you use and care for your jewellery.

Understanding the Fine Print

Before signing up for anything, review what's included and what isn't.

• Look out for sub-limits, exclusions for certain types of loss (like mysterious disappearance), or requirements for updated valuations, receipts and frequency of these requirements.

• Double-check whether cover extends to theft from unattended luggage or if wearing your jewellery daily affects your eligibility.

• Ask how the claims process works and whether you're limited in terms of repair providers or valuation sources.

If you're customising your jewellery, whether resizing, remodelling, or modifying, it's worth checking whether that impacts your coverage or claim eligibility. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Jewellery Insurance in Australia

Can I claim for lost jewellery on house insurance?

You might be able to—but it depends on your policy. Some home and contents insurance includes limited jewellery cover, which could be capped at a few thousand dollars unless you've listed the item separately. Some policies exclude loss outside the home or require proof of ownership, which can complicate claims. That's why thousands of Australians turn to specialist providers when they want to insure jewellery.

Does travel insurance cover jewellery?

Travel insurance may cover jewellery, but sometimes, it has capped claim amounts and exclusions for wear and tear and may not cover items stored in checked luggage. If you're taking valuable jewellery overseas, a specialist jewellery insurance policy with worldwide cover may be worth considering.

What is jewellery insurance?

Jewellery insurance is a standalone or specialist policy designed to cover valuable jewellery usually against loss, theft, or damage. Unlike some general contents cover, some jewellery insurance in Australia could include jewellery-specific benefits such as complimentary annual revaluations and worldwide cover. JewelCover is one example of a provider offering insurance tailored to how people wear and enjoy their jewellery which includes cover for loss, theft or damage with benefits such as complimentary annual revaluation and worldwide cover, subject to policy terms, conditions and exclusions.

How does jewellery insurance work?

Jewellery insurance helps to cover the cost of replacing or repairing your item if it's lost, stolen, or damaged, depending on your policy. Many insurers require an up-to-date valuation, photos, and proof of purchase to approve cover. If something happens, you can usually lodge a claim with documentation. If approved, your item is typically repaired or replaced. Read Jewellery Insurance: How Does It Work?

How to insure jewellery?

Start by collecting all the essential documents about your jewellery, such as receipts or valuations. Then, choose a policy that matches how and where you wear your jewellery. Some people add items to their contents insurance. Others prefer specialist cover that includes annual revaluation, $100 excess, no impact claims and may offer access to repair or replacement with their original jeweller, like JewelCover.

Claim Less, Enjoy More

Jewellery is meant to be part of your life, not hidden away in a box. From weekend trips to daily routines, the moments that matter most are often when jewellery is most at risk.

Avoiding damage or loss starts with small decisions; how you store your pieces, when you wear them, and how often you check their condition. The rest comes down to smart coverage that works with your lifestyle, wherever your jewellery goes.

Choosing a specialist provider that offers jewellery insurance Australia-wide may give you cover that travels with you and stays aligned to current valuations.

Want to insure jewellery with a provider who understands how it's worn, not just how it's stored?

Get started on your quote from JewelCover today.