TL;DR: when a ring made in the UK arrives in the US, insure it from the day it arrives, and ideally from the day it leaves us, since delivery is insured and tracked with FedEx. Some people add the ring to a home or renters policy and others use a separate jewellery policy, so compare what each covers and keep your documents together. We are jewellers, not insurers, so check the terms with your provider. Pieces start from £600.
Why insure straight away
An engagement ring is small, valuable and worn every day, which makes loss and damage more likely than for most possessions. Do not wait until after the proposal, because the ring is at risk from the moment it arrives, including while it sits in a drawer waiting for the right moment.
Two common routes
In the US, some people add the ring as a named item to a home or renters policy, while others buy a separate jewellery policy. The differences can be significant, covering things such as accidental loss, theft away from home, damage and whether a replacement or a cash sum is paid. Ask each provider how a claim works and what is excluded, and read the terms rather than relying on a summary. We cannot recommend a provider or advise on policy terms.
What your insurer will want to see
Insurers commonly ask for an invoice, a description of the ring, photographs and often a valuation or appraisal. Keep your invoice, your written design approval and any stone report in one folder. Our guide to reading your invoice and certificate explains what each document shows, and what comes in the box explains what arrives with the ring. Ask us if you need anything described more clearly for your insurer.
Photographs
Take clear photographs in daylight from several angles on the day the ring arrives, including the inside of the band if it is engraved. Keep copies somewhere other than your phone, such as an email to yourself. Good photographs help with a claim and help a jeweller replace a lost ring accurately.
If you ever need to claim
Act quickly and keep a record of what happens. Report a loss or theft to your insurer as soon as you can, follow their instructions, and give them your invoice, photographs and any report. If a stone has come loose or the ring is damaged, stop wearing it and keep every piece. Tell us too, because we can describe the ring accurately to help with a replacement or repair quote.
Delivery and customs
Delivery is insured and tracked with FedEx, and the customer pays import duty and tax, which differ by country. We explain what to expect before you order. Keep any customs paperwork with your invoice, since it can help support the value of the ring if you ever need to claim.
Valuations change
The cost of replacing a ring can change over time, so review your cover every year or two and update the value if needed. An out of date valuation can leave you under insured. A regular check of the claws and setting by a jeweller is also sensible, and some insurers ask for it. Our guide to ring service appointments explains what a check involves.
Questions to ask your insurer
- Does the policy cover loss, theft and accidental damage?
- Is the ring covered away from home and when travelling?
- What documents do I need to keep?
- How is a claim settled?
- Is there an excess, and does the value need to be reviewed?
Frequently asked questions
When should I insure a ring from the UK?
As soon as it arrives, and delivery to you is insured and tracked with FedEx.
What documents do I need?
Usually your invoice, photographs and any stone report. Keep them together.
Can you recommend an insurer?
No. We are jewellers, not insurers, so please compare providers and read the terms.
What does a ring cost?
Pieces start from £600, and each design is quoted individually.