As wedding and honeymoon season kicks off in earnest, I wanted to share some surprising travel insights that may motivate you to hold your gorgeous new ring a little closer on your upcoming trip. According to a survey by Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company, a 101-year old jewelry insurer and provider of Perfect Circle® Jewelry Insurance:
- 28% of travelers have lost a piece of jewelry while traveling (43% were rings)
- 54% of those have lost a piece of jewelry that was emotionally (or monetarily) valuable.
- and on a scale from 1-10, those travelers ranked that loss an average of 7 in terms of emotional impact.
- Over 86% of the pieces were between $0 and $5000
- 68% did not have insurance to replace it!
In fact, I was looking at diamond engagement rings the other day and came upon a gorgeous (I mean GORGE-ous!) 1.21 carat diamond ring with an elegant elongated rose cut center flanked by two 1.02 carat white diamond side stones. The price tag: $15,000
Whether you do or you don’t have a fifteen thousand dollar engagement ring, here are 7 tips from Jewelers Mutual for ensuring that your most prized possession stays safe while you travel.
- Choose wisely. With today’s baggage fees and security checks, it’s always best to pack light. That goes for jewelry as well. Take only pieces that you’ll likely wear while traveling, like your engagement and wedding rings and maybe some nice pieces for a date night at your destination. The heirloom sapphire estate earrings you save for special occasions may not be appropriate to pack. Choose simple but lovely pieces that go with everything.
- Make a list. Be sure to make a list of all the jewelry that you’ll be taking with you and make two copies of the list. Take one copy with you and store it separately from your jewelry. Leave the other copy at home. For an extra layer of precaution, take pictures or a video of your jewelry.
- Carry it on. Never check your jewelry in your baggage. With routine security checks, where your bags are opened, your jewelry may get lost (or, stolen). Instead, stash it in your carry-on bag. If you wear it, take extra care by slipping a pendant inside your shirt and turn your ring so that only the band shows. You don’t want to attract unwanted attention by flashing larger stones.
- Keep it with you. Slip your jewelry in a favorite bag that you’ll carry with you while traveling. Never leave your jewelry unattended in a car or suitcase. When checking into your hotel or condo, carry your bag personally, rather than handing it off to hotel staff.
- Use the safe. When staying in a hotel, always store jewelry in the in-room safe when you’re not wearing it.
- Reconsider taking it. Consider pairing down your fine jewelry to just your wedding band. In fact, now is a good time to leave your fine jewelry with your jeweler for a professional cleaning, inspection and re-evaluation. Your jewelry will be safe and sparkling like new when you return.
- Insure it. Insure your jewelry before leaving home and be sure that your coverage is adequate. Have a recent appraisal or insurance evaluation in your home records. If you are leaving the country, confirm that your insurance policy covers you. Also make sure that your policy covers damage, theft, accidental loss and mysterious disappearance (or unexplained loss).
Whether you’re taking your wedding jewelry on your honeymoon or other valuable or heirloom jewelry on your next mountain vacation, Mountainside Bride recommends Jewelers Mutual to insure your valuables. After all, they’ve been doing it for over a century.
Read more travel tips, get a free quote, or apply for insurance today at PerfectCircleInsurance.com