Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Jewelry, Fine Art, and Collectibles?
- Adam Overmyer
- Nov 20
- 4 min read
If you’re a homeowner in New Jersey, New York, or Pennsylvania, you may assume your homeowners insurance automatically covers everything you own—including your engagement ring, artwork, or collectibles.
It makes sense. You’re already paying for personal property coverage, so why wouldn’t your valuables be protected?
Here’s the reality:
Most high-value items like jewelry, fine art, luxury watches, and collectibles are NOT fully covered under a standard homeowners policy. And in many cases, they’re barely covered at all.
As an independent insurance agent who reviews homeowners policies every day, this is one of the most common coverage gaps I see among homeowners in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Let’s walk through what’s actually covered, what isn’t, and what you can do to protect the items that matter most.
What Your Homeowners Insurance Actually Covers
Every homeowners insurance policy includes personal property coverage—typically 50–70% of the dwelling limit.So if your home is insured for $600,000, your belongings may be covered up to $300,000–$420,000 total.
But high-value items aren’t covered the way most people think.
The Problem: Sublimits
Insurance companies apply sublimits to certain categories of personal property, such as:
Jewelry theft: $1,500 – $5,000
Fine art: special limits or exclusions
Collectibles: often restricted or excluded
Luxury watches: limited
Firearms: $1,500 – $3,000
Cash/precious metals: very limited
This means that even if you have $300,000 in personal property coverage, your $12,000 diamond ring may only be covered for $1,500 if it’s stolen.
Same goes for fine art, antiques, heirlooms, designer items, and collections.
Why Jewelry Needs Its Own Coverage
Jewelry is one of the most frequently lost, stolen, or damaged categories of personal property.
“Mysterious disappearance” is especially common—this is when the item simply goes missing:
A diamond falls out of the setting
A ring disappears at the beach
A watch is lost while traveling
Most homeowners policies do not cover these types of losses.
The Solution: Schedule Your Jewelry or Add a Personal Articles Policy
By scheduling your jewelry, you receive:
Full replacement cost coverage
Worldwide protection
No deductible
Coverage for loss, theft, damage, and mysterious disappearance
Insured value based on a recent appraisal
Carriers we work with—such as Travelers, Chubb, Hanover, and Safeco—offer strong, affordable options for scheduled jewelry and personal articles policies.
Fine Art and Collectibles Need Special Attention
Artwork, antiques, sculptures, memorabilia, and collections don’t fit neatly into standard homeowners insurance.
Policies often have limitations on:
Breakage
Loss during shipping
Transit coverage
Market value changes
Off-premises display or storage
Damage during a move
These exclusions can leave you exposed if you don’t schedule your fine art or collectibles properly.
Many homeowners underestimate the value of inherited artwork, antiques, or collections. With the right appraisal and coverage, you can make sure these items are fully protected.
What Does “Scheduling” an Item Mean? (Simple Explanation)
Scheduling an item means you list it separately on your insurance policy with a specific insured value.
Think of it this way:
Your homeowners policy is a big box.Scheduling creates a smaller, customized box for each important item—giving it its own coverage, its own value, and full protection no matter what happens.
Items that should typically be scheduled include:
Engagement rings
Wedding bands
Luxury watches
High-end jewelry
Original paintings
Sculptures and fine art
Designer handbags
Memorabilia and collections
Coins and stamps
Musical instruments
Scheduling is simple—my agency handles all the paperwork and helps you understand what appraisals or documentation are needed.
Real Example: Cranford, NJ Homeowner
One of my clients recently moved to Cranford, NJ and had a homeowners policy with a $2,000 jewelry limit—but also owned a $19,000 engagement ring.
She had no idea the ring wasn’t fully covered.
We scheduled the ring on her policy, and the annual premium was around $170. With that one change, she now has:
No deductible
Worldwide coverage
Full replacement value
Coverage for mysterious disappearance
A small premium for a very important piece of protection.
How My Independent Agency Helps (The OIA Difference)
As a regionally based independent insurance agency serving NJ, NY, and PA, we represent multiple top-rated insurance companies. This means we’re able to:
Review your current homeowners policy
Identify any uncovered or underinsured valuables
Explain in simple terms what is and isn’t covered
Recommend the best way to insure your jewelry, art, or collectibles
Compare multiple insurance carriers (Travelers, Chubb, Hanover, Safeco, etc.)
Provide a clear, easy-to-understand coverage comparison
Handle all scheduling and paperwork for you
Update your coverage as your valuables grow or change
My goal is always to give you clarity, confidence, and the right protection—without any confusion.
Do You Need Additional Coverage for Jewelry or Valuables?
You should consider scheduling or a personal articles policy if you have:
Jewelry valued at $1,500–$2,500 or more per item
Fine art or collectibles worth more than your policy limit
Designer or luxury items
High-value watches
Family heirlooms
Items you frequently travel with
A growing or newly acquired collection
If you’re unsure, I’m happy to review your policy and give honest guidance.
Final Thoughts: Your Homeowners Policy May Not Cover What You Think
A homeowners policy protects your home and many of your belongings—but not your high-value or sentimental items.
Adding the right coverage is:
Affordable
Straightforward
Comprehensive
The best way to protect priceless valuables
And as your agent, I’ll walk you through every step to make sure everything you care about is properly insured.