5 Mistakes People Make When Storing High-Value Jewellery

High-value jewellery — diamonds, coloured gemstones, antique pieces — presents unique storage challenges that bullion investors don't face. After speaking with thousands of clients, we've identified the most common mistakes.

1. Relying on home contents insurance. Most home and contents policies cap jewellery coverage at A$2,500–$5,000 per item, with an overall limit that may be far below the total value of a serious collection. Specialised jewellery riders exist but are expensive and still typically require professional vault storage for items above a certain value. Check your policy's sub-limits before assuming you're covered.

2. Storing all pieces together. A single break-in can result in total loss if everything is in one location. Distributing high-value pieces across secure storage and a home safe (for frequently worn items) reduces concentration risk significantly.

3. Inadequate documentation. If a piece is lost, stolen, or damaged, insurance claims are far easier with professional appraisals, photographs, and a documented provenance trail. Many clients arrive with no documentation at all. We encourage all clients to create a detailed inventory with photos and professional valuations before lodging assets with us.

4. Treating storage as a one-time decision. Jewellery values change. A piece appraised at A$15,000 in 2015 may be worth A$40,000 today — and your insurance coverage may not have kept pace. Annual reappraisal is good practice.

5. Underestimating the risks of home storage. High-quality home safes are a reasonable solution for frequently accessed items, but they have real limitations. A safe that can be removed and cracked elsewhere provides little protection. Fire-rated safes may not perform as advertised in a sustained house fire. For pieces you rarely wear or that carry significant sentimental or financial value, professional vault storage provides a meaningfully different level of protection.