Do you know how many gold chains you have in your jewellery box? If your possessions were lost in a theft or natural disaster what would you tell your insurance company? Wouldn’t it be helpful to have a comprehensive list of your precious things if, by chance, something did happen to your jewellery? If you think about it, this makes a LOT of sense. Today, we back up nearly everything, from family photos to critical computer files. It only makes sense to do the same with our jewellery!
Your collection probably includes an interesting assortment, from costume jewellery to priceless heirlooms, gifts and of course those personal splurges! But as the years pass it can be tedious to keep track of your items and even more challenging to determine the ‘value’ beyond the priceless sentimental value. To be honest, if I were to have ‘lost’ my jewellery box prior to working in this industry I wouldn’t have known where to begin! This is where the list comes in; a comprehensive inventory of every piece you have, from the $50 costume necklace you just love to wear to your Grandmother’s invaluable antique ring.
If something should ever happen to your jewellery such as a theft, loss or damage and you needed to make a claim, your insurance company is going to want some details! Most of which will be regarding the specifics of what you have lost and they may even require proof that you are the rightful owner. In any case your insurance company will require an official Insurance Quote filled out and submitted by a jeweller. We can even deal with this for you! Check out our Jewellery Insurance page to find out more.
How do you catalogue your jewellery and create a personal inventory?
Great question! So glad you asked.
Your jewellery catalogue should include a full list of all of your precious pieces, regardless of value. The list should include the following information for each piece of your jewellery:
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Type of jewellery
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Description (including brand/designer name, metal type, gram weight etc., if applicable)
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Purchase price
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Latest appraised value (include appraisal)
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Date of purchase and/or when you received the piece
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Identification number (if you have one), and/or hallmarks and other identifying features
Each item should also include a photo of the piece for further clarification and identification purposes. Be sure to keep a hard copy and a secure digital copy.
This cataloguing system can go a long way in helping you keep track of or replace your cherished jewellery. If this is all sounding like a lot of work, a little daunting, and perhaps outside of your wheelhouse, we get that! Visit our Jewellery Cataloguing page to see how we can help. If not, happy cataloguing!
Want more? Check out the rest of our Protecting Your Jewellery series!
Protecting your jewellery: The 4 Ws of jewellery appraisals
Protecting your jewellery: Buying jewellery insurance and filing a claim
Protecting your jewellery: Care and maintenance advice
