Jewellery Valuations
Why do I need a valuation?
The best way to protect your jewellery in the event of loss or damage is to insure it - and this requires a valuation. To make sure you receive the correct sum in the event of a claim, you need a professional valuer to examine your jewellery and to produce a formal document giving a precise description of each piece and confirming how their value has been determined. It is essential that you discuss with your valuer how you would replace your items if they were to be lost as this is fundamental to the type of valuation produced.
Why do my insurers need a valuation?
In the event of loss, you must prove that you owned the items you are making a claim for. Valuations establish that you owned the pieces at the time of the valuation and their correct replacement value for insurance purposes. Many insurers do not ask for valuations below an agreed value but our advice is to obtain valuations for all significant items. Smaller pieces can be grouped together and an overall value allocated. Without a valuation, insurers often use claims management specialists to try to find the value of jewellery after it has gone - an unsatisfactory process known as a post-loss valuation. Valuing something after you have lost it often results in an under-assessment of the lost item’s true value.