How safe is your jewelry? Where do you keep it when you're not wearing it? Is it really safe in your home?

 The majority of thefts occur when workers, guests or friends are in your home, and your jewelry is visible or accessible for them to steal. In addition, burglars are known to case neighborhoods looking for opportunities to steal. They look for uncut lawns, newspapers on the doorstep, no cars in the driveway--signs that indicate you aren't home or you've been away for awhile. Some thieves even have the nerve to knock on your door to see if anybody's home.

Security for your jewelry and other valuables in your home is a matter of attitude; realize that all neighborhoods are vulnerable to burglaries. Your home could be a target if a thief feels you have valuables worth stealing and there's easy access to your valuables.

Surprisingly, most burglaries occur during the day, not at night. Burglaries also are more frequent when doors and windows are unlocked, whether or not people are at home. Think about this: How easy would it be for a burglar to slip into your home unnoticed and steal your valuables if you were occupied in another part of the house, outside in the garden, or mowing the lawn? It could only take a minute!

You can protect your jewelry and other precious possessions by taking these steps.

• Install good locks on your doors and windows and establish family procedures for locking them. Most burglaries would be eliminated if people had properly locked doors and windows. When practical, keep your doors locked at all times, and always when you leave. If you have children who need quick entry, consider having them use a back door or a door that is routinely monitored.
• Make your house look lived in--keep the lawn groomed and pick up your mail and newspapers daily.
• When not wearing your jewelry, put it in a secure place, such as a home safe or a safe-deposit box. If you don't have these, choose a secure hiding place in your home, preferably a locked compartment that is immobile. Jewelry boxes and dresser drawers, as well as almost any other spot in bedrooms, are probably the first places a thief will look for your valuables. Consider storing infrequently worn jewelry in a bank safe-deposit box. Choose a hiding place that is inconspicuous, yet convenient for you.
• Remove your jewelry and place it in a safe location before gardening, playing sports, or performing difficult chores around your home.
• When traveling, store unworn jewelry in the hotel's safe-deposit box.
• Never leave jewelry in your luggage to be transported by airlines, cruise lines, or other public transportation.
• If you bump or catch your jewelry, inspect it immediately for missing stones or damaged prongs. Take extra care when removing gloves. If you suspect damage, place the jewelry in a safe place until you can take it to a jeweler for inspection and repair.
• Never trust putting jewelry in your pockets. Even pockets with zippers can be susceptible to opening.
• Do not set jewelry items on an open surface such as a sink, counter or public area. They can be forgotten, lost or even stolen.
• Have your jeweler inspect your jewelry on a regular basis. This is especially true for items you wear frequently. Sometimes, small problems - like loose stones, worn or damaged prongs, faulty clasps - can be detected and repaired before they turn into bigger problems. Since jewelry values periodically change, these inspections also allow your jeweler the opportunity to make sure your jewelry is properly valued for replacement purposes.

Finally, insure your jewelry to assure that you can replace it if it is lost, stolen, or damaged.  Contact Jewelers Mutual today to learn more about how you can protect your jewelry investment.

• Is the leading U.S. insurer for the jewelry industry;
• Offers coverage for jewelry businesses in retail, repair, custom design, jewelry appraising, wholesale, and manufacturing;
• Provides coverage for individuals' personal jewelry for residents throughout the U.S.
• Is licensed in all 50 states;
• Has earned an A+ financial rating from A.M. Best;
• Is a mutual company owned by our jeweler policyholders and individuals who purchase our Personal Jewelry insurance;
• Is represented by more than 500 independent agents across the country who provide local service to our commercial jeweler policyholders.

How can I apply for Personal Jewelry Insurance?

When you purchase a piece of jewelry, have your jeweler perform an insurance appraisal or evaluation for each item. Complete the application, and mail it to us, along with a copy of the appraisal/evaluation and your check for the annual premium. Coverage will begin on the postmark date stamped on the envelope.

How are insurance rates determined?

Insurance rates are based on our historical losses for the state or county in which the person possessing the jewelry resides. For example, if a mother purchased a necklace for her daughter, the rate would be based on the daughter's state and county of residence.

What is covered under this policy?

Our Personal Jewelry Insurance is a repair or replacement policy that provides coverage for loss, theft and damage protection for your jewelry. It even covers mysterious disappearance. This policy is not available for unset stones and irreplaceable items such as antiques. It is also not available for damaged items, items missing stones or pieces, watches that do not work, and non-jewelry items.

How do I insure additional items?

How do I renew my policy?

Before your policy's expiration date, we will send renewal instructions to you. Periodically, we will ask you to take your  jewelry to your jeweler to have it inspected and values updated, if necessary. If your jewelry requires an inspection before we can renew the policy, we will send you a renewal offer form. Take your jewelry and this form to your jeweler for the inspection. When the inspection is complete and your jeweler has signed the form, send it to us along with your check for the premium.

What payment plans do you have and what do you accept?

If your total premium is $200 or more, you may pay in either two or four installments. A service charge is added to each installment. We will accept money orders, checks, MasterCard, VISA and Discover credit cards.

How do I change the address on my policy?

If your address changes, please send us the change via mail, a telephone call, or e-mail us your changes through our web site. Please include your name, policy number, and the address currently listed in your policy.

What do I do if I have a loss?

If your insured jewelry is damaged, lost or stolen, call Jewelers Mutual at 888-884-2424 and a Personal Jewelry Insurance claim representative will give you complete instructions. If you prefer, you can report your claim through our web site. In addition, if your jewelry was stolen or you suspect it was stolen, you should report it to the police. In most instances, you will return to the jeweler who appraised your jewelry and/or performs your periodic inspections to have the jewelry repaired or replaced.

How do I delete a piece of jewelry from my policy?

To delete an item from your policy, mail or fax a request explaining that you want a certain piece of jewelry taken off your policy. Reference the jewelry item number in your request. We will delete the item from your policy on the postmark date stamped on the envelope that is sent with your letter. You will receive a notice in the mail from us about the deleted item, along with a refund in premium if applicable.

If you have any other questions, please contact the Personal Jewelry Insurance staff at 888-884-2424 (toll free) or submit your questions to a licensed service representative on-line.