Jewellery and watch cover

Jewellery and watch insurance typically covers:

• Theft
• Accidental loss (including loss of diamonds and stones)
• Accidental damage
• Away from home cover
  

Your jewellery is protected against theft and loss by John Lewis Contents Insurance as standard. Items containing precious metals are also covered if they are damaged in a fire or flood. However, your policy will have limits on unspecified valuables. So if you have any items worth more than the single article limits for unspecified items mentioned in the table above, you'll need to specify these in your policy.

The National Association of Jewellers recommends contacting three valuers to compare their services. Their website can help you find a local and trustworthy Institute Registered Valuer IRV. They may ask you about previous valuations, any gemstone and diamond certificates and ask to see original receipts.

Their final report will include:

• Photos of your jewellery
• A detailed written description
• A covering letter
• The purpose of the valuation

Watch valuers will typically check four key things:

1. Watch model - Workmanship, materials and aesthetics all play a part during the valuation.

2. Condition of watch - The better the condition of your watch, the greater its value.

3. Rarity - When demand outweighs supply, the value of your watch rises.

4. Authenticity - Proof of purchase, authenticity documents and original packaging. These will give your valuer the information they need to confirm your watch is genuine.

If you get engaged, you might need to declare your engagement ring to your insurance provider to make sure it's covered.

Our Bronze, Silver and Gold level Contents Insurance covers unspecified individual valuables valued up to £3,000 in the home. For engagement rings that cost £5,000 or more we’ll ask for a valuation or original purchase receipt.

Depending on the value of your engagement ring, you may need to upgrade your total home contents cover level. This means the other items in your home stay safely insured.

Our Specialist Home Insurance policy covers newly acquired jewellery up to 20% of the total sum insured for contents. For example, if your policy covered £200,000 worth of contents, we would be able to cover a new ring worth up to £40,000.

Our Gold level cover may be perfectly suitable for insuring your high value jewellery. It covers unspecified items within the home costing up to £3,000 each and up to £40,000 in total.

For unspecified jewellery items worth up to £10,000 each you could consider our Specialist Home Insurance. We can also cover items for higher than that, provided they're specified. We usually ask you for professional valuations.

Find out more about our Specialist Home Insurance

Some policies might set limits on how long your jewellery can be outside of your home. Check with your contents insurance provider for more details.

With our Bronze, Silver and Gold Cover, you can add our personal possessions add-on so that your jewellery is covered outside your home.

Our Specialist Contents Insurance covers jewellery and watches anywhere in the world. We even protect your items in another UK home or alternative accommodation for up to 5 years while your home is being rebuilt.

Discover more about personal possessions insurance

Accidental damage insurance helps to cover the costs of repairing or replacing jewellery and watches damaged by an accident in the home or accidentally lost in the home. It comes as standard for John Lewis Specialist Home Insurance customers.

Bronze, Silver and Gold customers can add accidental damage cover to their policy.

Get the accidental damage add-on

To insure your jewellery and watches with John Lewis we’ll ask for details about:

• You

• Your jewellery and watches – including their value

• When and where you purchased the item/s

• The level of cover you need

To insure jewellery valued at £10,000 or more on our Specialist cover we’ll need a professional valuation.

A valuation will also be helpful for watches and jewellery valued at £5,000 or more on our Bronze, Silver and Gold cover level. However, we are happy to accept an original purchase receipt if the item was bought within the last five years.