This is a sponsored post written on behalf of Jewelers Mutual Insurance for IZEA. All opinions belong to the author.

Today my lovely brides (and grooms!) we’re discussing fine jewelry insurance with Jewelers Mutual. I’ve always been a huge advocate for protecting your most special pieces of fine jewelry with a supplemental insurance policy, but now I have a very personal story to tell you about how it really came in handy. Sadly, it’s been reported that 1 in 4 women will lose a piece of fine jewelry while they are traveling. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened to my friend Heather, and she didn’t just lose any piece of jewelry, she lost her brand new engagement ring!

image courtesy of: Diana MacIntyre Photography

HEATHER’S STORY

Let me paint you the pretty picture… it was earlier this year when her boyfriend Brian whisked her away to the Bahamas for a romantic getaway. Little did she know he was proposing! He did a fabulous job of protecting her ring through packing, the airport, the ride to the resort and etcetera. On the first night of their trip, he had a stunning candle-lit dinner planned for her with help from the resort staff on a beautifully secluded pier. He asked for her hand, right after they enjoyed a glass of champagne at sunset and of course, she said yes! She then had 4 more days in paradise to relax and embrace her new bride status. As you can imagine the bubbly was flowing and great memories were being created. In this celebratory mood, she took her ring off while washing her hands. She was drying it off and looking at it on her way back to the table and at that moment someone yelled – dolphin! There was a huge pod of dolphins swimming by and so she put the ring in her pocket and rushed to see the sight. It was late in the afternoon and they were having a drink and little snack before dinner, so she walked back to their table and enjoyed what they had ordered. Sometime between the dolphins and dinner that night, she lost her beloved ring. Why the heck she put it in her pocket and not back on her finger, we’ll never know. She was devastated when she realized it was gone and even hesitated to tell Brian because she was afraid he’d be upset. He could tell by the way she was moving around the room that something was wrong and when he asked, she broke down and told him what happened. He, being a funny guy, made her sweat for a bit before telling her that he’d purchased an insurance policy for the ring through Jewelers Mutual. He knew he’d be traveling with it and he knows she can be a tad bit forgetful, and he wanted to protect his investment. It’s an amazing thing that he did! They helped him through every step of replacing her ring and as he puts it, “it was pain-free”. Learn Jewelry Insurance 101 

10 TRAVEL TIPS FOR PROTECTING YOUR FINE JEWELRY

With many of you about to travel on your honeymoons and for the holiday’s I figured it would be the perfect time to share my best tips for traveling with your fine jewelry…

1. Purchase Peace Of Mind. Protect your fine jewelry with Jewelers Mutual’s Jewelry Insurance before you leave home. They insure your jewelry against loss, damage, theft and mysterious disappearance wherever your travels take you – worldwide. So get the right insurance from a company that’s been protecting jewelry since 1913. Then relax, be yourself and have fun.
2. Choose Wisely. Pack light and take only the jewelry that you will actually wear with the outfits you are bringing along. Learn what brides-to-be want in an engagement ring!
3. Make A List. Yep, that’s right. Make a list of all the jewelry that you’re taking with you. Make two copies or keep it in your cloud. Take one copy with you and store it separately from your jewelry and leave the other copy at home. Taking pictures or video of the jewelry is a terrific way to know exactly what you have.
4. Pack Carefully. Properly protect all the jewelry you are packing. Purchase a specialty jewelry travel bag – or make your own by packing special pieces in small cloths to protect them from scratching or getting tangled together.
5. Carry It On. Never, ever put valuable jewelry in checked baggage. Instead, wear it or stow it in your carry-on bag.
6. Use The Safe. Always store your jewelry in the in-room safe when you’re not wearing it.
7. Don’t Draw Attention. If you are traveling in unsafe areas, you might want to consider “dulling” down your bling. Place your necklace under your shirt, turn your diamond into the palm of your hand or pull your sleeve over your watch.
8. Keep It With You. Don’t leave your jewelry unattended in a car or suitcase. When checking into the hotel or condo, don’t hand your jewelry bag to the hotel staff – always carry it personally.
9. Be Aware. Be mindful and aware of your surroundings. Pay attention to what the locals are wearing. If they are flashing beautiful jewels then most likely it’s safe for you to flash yours as well. If not, I’d follow suit.
10. Leave Them Behind. I know you might not want to, but you can always leave your jewelry in good hands. Your vacation is a great time to leave your fine jewelry with your jeweler for a professional cleaning, inspection, and re-evaluation. Your jewelry will be safe and sparkling like new when you return!

image courtesy of: Roger Ellsworth of E.P. Love

GET A FREE QUOTE TODAY

Most policies only cost 1-2% of the value of your ring per year, which means if your engagement ring cost $4000, expect to pay $40 to $80 a year to get it covered. I probably throw out lettuce each year that costs more than that. Be smart, be like Brian, look into coverage with Jewelers Mutual and Get a free jewelry insurance quote!

image courtesy of: Norma Ibarra of La Pir0