10 key things to remember about jewelry appraisals and jewelry insurance.

1. Have all of your wedding jewelry appraised by an independent jewelry appraiser. Make sure each item is listed, described and valued in the jewelry appraisal; the description provided will be used as the purchase order for the replacement jewelry so make sure it contains all of the details that are important to you.


2. Read your home owner's or renter's insurance policy to find out the amount of coverage it provides for items such as jewelry.


3. Keep in mind that rates for personal jewelry insurance may vary according to your zip code, and you can select coverage with or without a deductible.


4. Speak to your insurance agent about adding a rider to your home owner's policy to cover jewelry that goes beyond the value of personal property covered in the basic policy.


5. Consider separate jewelry insurance (such as that offered by a jewelry insurance company) as another alternative.


6. Compare all insurance plans, as well as the reputation of each company, and choose the one that gives you the most coverage for your money and the most flexibility if you have to replace jewelry. The best jewelry insurance will cover loss, theft and damage.


7. When you are figuring out the basic coverage offered by your home owner's policy, don't forget to figure in deductibles. After a deductible is paid, you should be able to receive the full value of your jewelry


8. Beyond having insurance, to keep your wedding jewelry safe you should store it in a personal safe or in a safety deposit box.


9. Having photos of jewelry items is also important, as lost or stolen pieces can sometimes be recreated on the basis of a good photograph.


10. All jewelry should be appraised on a regular basis for reassessment of value. If your jewelry is not valued appropriately, you will not be able to recover what you need to replace it if it is lost, damaged or stolen.