Protection that follows the piece, not just the place.
Fine jewelry and timepieces are made to be worn, travelled with, and lived in. Our coverage is built for that life — protecting your pieces at home and anywhere in the world, against the things homeowners policies so often leave out.
Loss
A stone slips from a setting; a piece is simply gone. Covered.
Theft
Whether from your home, a hotel safe, or in transit.
Damage
A bezel, a clasp, a chipped stone — the everyday accidents of wear.
Disappearance
When a piece cannot be found and no cause can be explained.
Worldwide Travel
Coverage stays with you across borders, not only at home.
Natural Disasters
Protection extending to fire, flood, and other qualifying perils.
Coverage features vary by policy, insurer, and state. The above is a general summary and not a statement of coverage.
Coverage that keeps pace with your collection.
A fine watch is engineering, provenance, and patience on the wrist. It is also increasingly valuable — and increasingly targeted. Gem Shield arranges specialist coverage for luxury and collectible timepieces, from a single signed reference to a considered collection.
- Agreed value that can be reviewed as the market moves
- Worldwide protection — on the wrist, in transit, and in the safe
- Coverage for single pieces or entire collections
For heirlooms, engagements, and everything you never take off.
Some jewelry marks a moment. Some is simply part of who you are. Whichever it is, Gem Shield Insurance Agency arranges coverage sized to the piece — engagement and wedding rings, high-value necklaces and earrings, coloured gemstones, estate and inherited pieces, and full collections.
We insure on an agreed-value, worldwide basis, so a ring lost on holiday is covered as surely as one lost at home. And because a claim never touches your homeowners policy, protecting your jewelry with us keeps your home coverage — and your premiums — undisturbed.
Dedicated to the few things
worth protecting.
Protecting fine jewelry and timepieces is what we do. That focus shows in everything — from the coverage we arrange to the way we answer your inquires.
Specialists, not generalists
Jewelry and watches are what we do. We understand appraisals, provenance, and what these pieces are truly worth — so coverage is built on real value.
Agreed value, worldwide
Value is settled at the outset and coverage travels with you. No guessing, no depreciation surprises, no “only while at home.”
Your jeweler, your watchmaker
When a piece needs repair or replacement, we work — wherever possible — with the craftsperson you already trust.
Discreet, personal service
You speak with people, not robots. We handle what you own with tact, privacy, and the seriousness it deserves.
Your homeowners policy was not made for this.
Most home and renters policies include only a modest sub-limit for jewelry and watches, with a deductible that can rival the loss itself. You can add a rider — extra coverage attached to your home policy — but even riders leave gaps, and any claim still sits on your homeowners record. A dedicated policy is built for these pieces specifically, and a claim here stays here.
Loss
Not covered
Covered
Theft
Covered
Covered
Damage
Varies by policy
Covered
Disappearance
Not covered
Covered
Natural disasters
Varies by policy
Covered
Worldwide travel
Often limited
Covered
Preventive maintenance
Rarely included
Included
Deductible
Home deductible applies
$0 option available
General comparison for illustration only; coverage varies by insurer, policy, and state. Your issued policy governs.
Simple to arrange. Considered in every detail.
Estimate your premium
Tell us what you own and where you live, and we will come back with an indicative figure in minutes — no obligation, no paperwork yet.
Gather your documents
An appraisal is not always required to apply, but a current valuation or the original receipt makes a claim far simpler later. We will advise on what is worth having.
Apply for coverage
Share a little more about yourself, the pieces, and anyone else who wears them. Insure a single item or an entire collection; every application is subject to underwriting review.
Settle your premium
Once approved, you pay for your first year of coverage and the policy is in force. That is the whole of it.
Wear them without worry
With coverage in place, wear your jewelry wherever life takes you — at home, abroad, and everywhere between.
Claims, handled with care
If something happens, tell us and we coordinate the repair or replacement with your own jeweler wherever possible, guiding you through each step.
Not sure of the value of your piece?
Knowing what your jewelry and watches are worth is what determines how much coverage you need. Because markets move, it is worth having your pieces appraised every couple of years — and you may be surprised. Some are worth rather more than you paid for them.
Where to have it appraised
Your local jeweler may offer appraisals, but appraisers are specially trained — so check that yours is certified. The surest route is through an appraisal association such as the American Gem Society, the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers, or the Gemological Institute of America. Their members must meet defined qualifications and follow a code of ethics.
Bring your documentation
For the most accurate result, take the piece itself along with whatever paperwork you have for it — sales receipts, previous appraisals, or laboratory certificates.
What it costs
Appraisers charge by the hour or by flat fee, per piece or per group. Hourly rates commonly run $50 to $150, depending on the complexity of the piece. A fee based on a percentage of the value is a red flag — that practice is considered unethical.
How often
Precious metals and gemstones shift in value over time, and an outdated appraisal can leave you under-insured. We recommend a fresh appraisal every two years.
Not appraised yet? That is quite alright — we can often begin your quote from a description and a recent receipt, and advise on appraisals from there.
A treasured piece deserves more than a policy number. We stand quietly behind the things you treasure — so you never think twice about wearing them.
Quietly trusted.
I had put this off for years assuming it would be complicated — it turned out far simpler than I expected, and the service was professional throughout.
— A.R., Los Angeles, CAI travel all the time, and knowing my watch is covered wherever I am takes the worry out of wearing it.
— J.M., New York, NYMy ring came back from repair looking exactly as it did the day I got it. They kept me updated the whole way through.
— C.T., Pasadena, CAThe things clients ask us first.
Do I need an appraisal to get coverage?
Not always to begin. We can often start your quote from a description and a recent receipt or valuation. A current appraisal is, however, valuable at claim time, and we’re glad to advise on when and how to have your pieces appraised.
How much does coverage cost?
As a general guide, insuring fine jewelry and watches often costs a low single-digit percentage of the item’s value per year, though the exact premium depends on the piece, its value, where it’s kept, and the insurer. We’ll give you a clear, specific figure with your quote — with no obligation.
Is my jewelry covered when I travel?
Yes. The coverage we arrange is worldwide, so your pieces are protected at home and abroad — not only within your own state.
Will a claim affect my homeowners insurance?
No. A claim on your policy stays with that policy and does not touch your home or renters coverage or premium.
Can I insure an entire collection?
Certainly. We arrange coverage for single pieces and for full jewelry and watch collections, and can review values periodically as the market changes.
Give your pieces the protection they deserve.
A quote takes only a few minutes, comes with no obligation, and is handled with complete discretion.