How do you Secure/Protect your collections?

[Justin_Cutter]

Hi Friends!

I am looking for some advice on securing my home valuables. Lately I have been thinking a lot about what if someone were to break into my home and take everything. I am mainly worried about loose stones. I apologize in advance if this has already been covered.

What are your thoughts on:

1. Pro Level Home Safe
2. Bank Safety Deposit Box


Thanks
~Justin

 

[Pandora II]

I have a very good home insurance policy with a company who just happens to specialise in jewellery so that if my collection was stolen they understand the difference between a tsavorite and a TSAVORITE!

I live in a pretty secure apartment block.

I rent a security deposit box (not in a bank as they were more expensive and less flexible) in a very secure location in London. I've moved the stones that live there out of boxes and into stone papers as they take up much less space - even if the papers cost about as much as the boxes (I have the protective ones with the cloth insert).

I have photos and details of every stone so that I have some evidence if I need to ever claim.

 

[glonciaurj]

I totally agree with Pandora, can you please give me that policy company name. I am too planing to secure my jewelry, I impressed by your plan.

 

[SB621]

We have insurance on every piece I own. If it is over a specific dollar amount I have individual insurance plan for that piece specifically. If it is under that $$ amount that I have a blanket jewelry policy that will cover anything.

I have a safe at home, but we don't use it. We have small children so I perfer to keep everything off site in a safety deposit box. We chose a bank that is on a military installation which I also feel is more secure as you will need to access the base to get to the bank first.

I should also say that I personally don't bother insuring anything unless it is over 1k. Other people have other limits but that is for me personally.

 

[Pandora II]

I totally agree with Pandora, can you please give me that policy company name. I am too planing to secure my jewelry, I impressed by your plan.

I'm afraid I'm in the UK and so it's no a policy or company that is of any use in the USA. In any case, the company is T H March.

 

[Barrett]

Purple cape


or a bunch of dudes in dark suits and sunglasses

 

[kenny]

I keep my collection in a safe deposit box in a bank far from home.
Also nobody knows about it except my SO and my closest friend ,,, oh and the Internet.

Amethystguy, you are too funny.

 

[ruffysdad]

I keep some lower value rough and cut at home (which has a GOOD alarm system and 2 very protective Akita mixes ) and the more valuble stuff in a safe deposit box nearby.

Amethystguy, is that guy mafia, an IRS agent or one of the blues brothers?

Pete

 

[T L]

I agree with the others that a safety deposit box is the way to go, and it helps you sleep better at night. However, just be warned that organic gems like pearls don't fare well in safety deposit boxes as they need humidity and the bank keeps it really dry in there.

 

[minousbijoux]

Amguy: you really are all set, aren't you?! Love that purple cape...

Justin: I too have a safe deposit box, have to update my appraisals so I can update my insurance, and finally, I have pretty much decided to buy a bolt down closet safe (pretty hard to walk off with something that weighs 200 lbs). My only concern, if I do, is whether I would ever really use it or whether I would leave it open all the time - kind of defeats the purpose, heh heh.

...and just read TL's post...don't put emeralds or opals in either.

 

[colorluvr]

This and two large dogs

 

[Pandora II]

Oh, yes... do my pythons count?

 

[LD]

Pandora TH Marsh refused to insure me because I have too much!

 

[Pandora II]

Pandora TH Marsh refused to insure me because I have too much!

Good grief - have you got the Crown Jewels at home? I'm really suprised.

ETA: May be you could get business insurance from them - and just not sell your stones? They insure the vast majority of HG so I'd be suprised if they'd turn you down...

 

[T L]

Amguy: you really are all set, aren't you?! Love that purple cape...

Justin: I too have a safe deposit box, have to update my appraisals so I can update my insurance, and finally, I have pretty much decided to buy a bolt down closet safe (pretty hard to walk off with something that weighs 200 lbs). My only concern, if I do, is whether I would ever really use it or whether I would leave it open all the time - kind of defeats the purpose, heh heh.

...and just read TL's post...don't put emeralds or opals in either.

My emeralds are in there, but all the filler has dried up anyways. I think untreated emeralds, or those with very very little filler can go in there. True about the opals though. Forgot about that one. Thanks!

The bank told me that I could leave a little cup of water in there, but I would have to refill it too often. A home security system is a plus too, but I wouldn't keep too much at home, but it will help with your homeowner's insurance premium. Even with insurance, it's sad that some gemstones are just non-replacable, as many of us are well aware, especially for what we paid.

LD,
Sorry about your insurance woes.

 

[minousbijoux]

Pandora TH Marsh refused to insure me because I have too much!

Umm, I'd like to have this problem...hee hee

 

[SB621]

Pandora TH Marsh refused to insure me because I have too much!

Oh gosh can I play in your jewelry box...I can only imagine!

 

[Barrett]

and now you know why I want to marry LD...

 

[Justin_Cutter]

Thanks everyone for the great comments! Pandora I wish we had a insurance company like that here in the states. To my knowledge no company in the USA will insure loose stones My only finished piece is my fiance's ring and that is well insured thankfully.

I like the idea behind a bank safety deposit box because I feel that the security at most banks is high enough that my stones should be safe. What I don't like is having to drive to my bank every time I want to look at them or take one home.

As for the home safe well this is what I had in mind. Although the weight may be to much for my floor. Good thing is that means it is very difficult to move.
http://www.lackasafe.com/products/high-security-safes/original-titan-ul-tl30-safes

"Burglary Resistant – Protects against powerful tools such as drills, chisels, sledgehammers, wedges, power saws, carbide disc cutters, and explosive attacks." I love that description ha ha especially the "explosive attacks" part!!!

Loving Diamonds: I feel bad that you were unable to be insured but you have to admit the reason for being denied is awesome!

~Justin

 

[SB621]

I have had no problem with my insurance company insuring my loose stones. I have used 2 companies in the past- both no issues.

 

[Justin_Cutter]

Sarahbear: Would you be willing to share the names of the companies? I am currently with State Farm and they told me they would have to get back to me lol. If you would rather not that is ok I understand. I can do some more research Are they specialized companies?

Thanks
~Justin

 

[minousbijoux]

Hi Justin:

If you search, you will find there are threads on this very topic. Jeweler's Mutual and Chubb are two that you might want to look into.

 

[LD]

Pandora TH Marsh refused to insure me because I have too much!

Good grief - have you got the Crown Jewels at home? I'm really suprised.

ETA: May be you could get business insurance from them - and just not sell your stones? They insure the vast majority of HG so I'd be suprised if they'd turn you down...

They refused me business insurance as well as I'm not a business. I even volunteered to have the beefed up safe (they were demanding that I had one the size a jewellery shop would have i.e. as big as a room) which was obviously going to be problematic, additional security requirements which were no problem etc etc but they still wouldn't do it! They assess your risk and if the value of your jewellery/gemstone collection is disproportionate with your house and contents value you get turned down.



Justin - I've got a safe that has similar criteria as yours. The one thing I would say is that you need to make sure it's well hidden otherwise it becomes a target in itself and once installed, trust me, you won't be able to move it so make sure it's in the right place! One other thing to mention - be careful that it doesn't get filled more than the $ "up to" amount with contents. If your safe is okay for, say, $.5 million and you put in $.6 million it negates any insurance claim you may have!

 

[SB621]

Sarahbear: Would you be willing to share the names of the companies? I am currently with State Farm and they told me they would have to get back to me lol. If you would rather not that is ok I understand. I can do some more research Are they specialized companies?

Thanks
~Justin

Oh gosh I'm sorry I should have just stated the companies I have gone through in the past. Before I was married I had Jewelers Mutal and now I use USAA. Out of the two I perfer USAA as they are much more customer friendly. I know since you are a civilian that you can't go through all their insurance departments ( such as auto) however, I think they do have valuable/ personal property insurance for civilians. I would check out their website. I have been thrilled with them so far. I have lost a necklace and a gemstone while being insured with them and both times USAA responded right away with 100% satisfaction on my part. I highly recommend them.

 

[PrecisionGem]

Put a small cheap safe in your bedroom closet, then put $50 cash in it, some papers and some cheap jewelry. Hide you good stuff someplace else in the house. If anyone breaks in they will take you cheap safe and leave.

 

[pregcurious]

I have almost everything in a safety deposit box at a bank, and insure things above a certain value individually. I don't wear much jewelry on a daily basis, and what I wear is covered by a blanket policy for lower value items.

I used to have USAA, but they would not give me discount for using a safety deposit box. Jeweler's Mutual gives a steep discount, so I switched. You have to tell JMI in writing when you take your jewelry out, and you can only do it X number of times a year. If you call JMI, they will let you know more. If USAA has changed their policy, I am not aware of it.

For my pearls in my safety deposit box, I keep track of the humidity by using a humidor hygrometer, and have found they keep it at 50% humidity, which is okay--not great. For a while, I kept my pearls in a water and air-tight box (used for boating) with humidor humidity beads that kept the box at 65% humidity indefinitely, but I found mold growing on top of a velvet liner, so I stopped doing that. I may do that again.

Edit: I just reread my last paragraph about my humidor-like setup for my pearls, and I sound like a complete nut. Oh well.

 

[minousbijoux]

Edit: I just reread my last paragraph about my humidor-like setup for my pearls, and I sound like a complete nut. Oh well.

This is exactly why we all love PS! We nuts have somewhere to play

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

I keep my jewelry accesible and hidden in the home. I only have 10K in jewelry insurance. I love to have my jewelry nearby for when I want to play with it, wear it, whatever. I do have security measures in place though.

 

[Justin_Cutter]

Loving Diamonds: Thanks for the heads up on the value of what I put in the safe!

Sarahbear: Thank you!

Thank you all for your comments! There is some great advice here and I appreciate it! I am however having some difficulty finding a Purple Cape!

~Justin

 

[LD]

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