Home insurance - tips & advice - contents insurance

Replacing jewellery that has gone missing or has been stolen can be an emotional issue, as it often has a sentimental value in addition to its monetary value. Direct Line Contents Insurance provides cover on a new-for-old basis; in the case of jewellery this means that you should be able to replace any lost or stolen item with an equivalent brand new piece. Please note that items valued at £1,500 or more must be specified and our Home Contents Calculator can help you work out how much and what kind of cover you need.

To ensure you have adequate cover for larger or more expensive pieces, get your jewellery valued. The Guild of Valuers and Jewellers has a location finder for stores offering valuation services around the UK. It also runs valuation days and home valuations for larger collections. If you do suffer a loss or theft, valuation documents including details of stone size, metal type and weight, unique reference numbers, an insurer notice and photographic evidence of your jewellery can really help when making a claim. A link to a central database can also give you added peace of mind. For more details visit www.gvj.org.uk.

In addition, Direct Line Contents Insurance automatically covers personal belongings in the home, garages and garden sheds, and even contents that have been temporarily removed to another location in the UK.

You can add another level of protection by opting for Personal Possessions cover. This insures any items that you would normally take outside your home or on holiday, including jewellery, against accidental loss or damage and theft anywhere in the UK and for up to 60 days elsewhere in the world (please note there is a limit of £7,500 if you are taking property overseas).

If you have suffered a break-in or had property stolen from outside the home, you should first call the police, then either call our claims hotline on 0845 246 8412 or you can register a claim online. Our expert advisers are on hand, here in the UK, to offer help and advice.

If you want to make sure that your jewellery is adequately insured, why not get a quote now from Direct Line.