There are a few different options to consider when insuring your jewelry. Some options you have may include using your homeowners or renters insurance or attaining a separate insurance policy to specifically cover jewelry items.

Renter’s and Homeowner’s Insurance Policies

Renter’s and homeowner’s insurance policies set limits for the loss of certain categories of personal property, including jewelry. Homeowner’s policies typically pay a maximum of $1,000 for jewelry theft. A renter’s insurance policy might have a lower limit for jewelry loss, commonly $500. Another aspect to consider is that most policies also have deductibles of $250 or $500, which is first applied to an insurance loss.

You might be surprised to learn that many renter’s and homeowner’s insurance policies only cover jewelry loss as a result of theft and do not provide coverage for lost or damaged jewelry items. It is important to read your policy carefully and ask your insurance agent to clarify the types of losses that are covered on your standard policy.

Additional Jewelry Insurance

You can usually purchase additional or separate insurance for your jewelry through your homeowner’s and renter’s insurance, called a policy “rider”. Be sure to ask your agent questions so that you have a good understanding of the coverage. Some questions that may be helpful are included below:

• Is there a deductible? If so, how much is it and how does raising or lowering the deductible affect my policy costs?
• Is an appraisal required prior to obtaining insurance? Are there only certain types of appraisers whose reports are accepted?
• Are the items covered no matter where the loss takes place? Would the policy cover me for a loss that occurs during domestic or international travel?
• Are items covered for full replacement cost? Must I replace the item, or can I obtain cash settlement?
• Does the policy cover repairs to damaged jewelry?

The rider is usually covered by a separate deductible that only applies to a loss of this kind of personal property, and it customarily covers for any type of loss!

Private Jewelry Insurance Options

The Chubb Group
The Chubb Group provides insurance specifically for jewelry. They offer policies through independent insurance agents and jewelry retailers.

Chubb’s jewelry policy guidelines are detailed below:

• Full coverage for the itemized amount shown on the policy
• No deductible
• Coverage applies worldwide for lost or stolen rings
• Replacement is not required, Chubb offers cash settlement. If you do replace the ring, you select the jeweler.

Chubb recommends an appraisal for all insured jewelry, but only requires an appraisal for items valued over $50,000. Chubb does not offer coverage for loose diamonds.

With a policy from Chubb, you can have the peace of mind to wear, use and enjoy your jewelry anywhere in the world. Your jewelry will be insured against most types of loss without a policy deductible.

Chubb provides some coverage for your new jewelry purchase, giving you time to contact your agent. And we make it easy by offering one of the most flexible appraisal requirements in the business.

Jeweler’s Mutual

Since 1913, Jewelers Mutual has been a leader in jewelry protection for jewelers across the country. They can protect your personal jewelry, frequently covering jewelry insurance claims that homeowner’s insurance or renter’s insurance doesn’t. The standard homeowner’s policy provides only limited jewelry protection, often excluding breakage or loss.

Jeweler’s Mutual offers personal jewelry insurance that covers both repair and replacement. The policy is not available for unset stones, damaged items, or antique jewelry. An appraisal is required for coverage.

You may either insure your jewelry for full value with no deductible, or you may elect a deductible of up to $500, that will lower the annual premium by as much as 14%!

Jeweler’s Mutual Insurance provides coverage for:

• Jewelry damage
• Jewelry loss
• Jewelry theft
• Mysterious disappearance

Jeweler’s Mutual insurance policy offers jewelry protection with no deductible, unless you choose one, so if you experience jewelry damage or loss, you won’t have to pay out of your own pocket.

They offer jewelry repair or replacement for your lost or damaged jewelry with items of same kind and quality, returning you to the same position that you were in before the loss.

Many homeowner’s and renter’s insurance policies force policyholders to use impersonal jewelry replacement companies for jewelry repairs and replacements or to obtain several estimates to cover their personal jewelry damage or loss.

With Jeweler’s Mutual jewelry insurance, when you experience jewelry damage or loss on a piece covered by your policy, you’ll be able to work with a jeweler of your choosing. With Jeweler’s Mutual, you will only be required to attain one estimate, as opposed to other companies that require you to get several estimates.

When determining whether to insure your jewelry, you may want to consider that according to the U.S. Department of Justice; nearly $1 billion worth of jewelry is stolen each year. You can protect yourself from this risk with an insurance policy and have peace of mind knowing your jewelry’s value will be reconciled to you.

You may be surprised to discover that the actual metal that is responsible for most allergic reactions to jewelry is Nickel!

Nickel allergies are quite common, affecting about 6 in every 100 people. Nickel is often present in gold, silver and even platinum pieces, as well as cheaper metals used in costume jewelry. Surprisingly, it is said that one must first have contact with nickel in their blood stream in order for one’s skin to later become irritated upon contact with nickel. In other words, the allergy often only becomes active after a trauma to the skin, such as ear piercing. Many people develop a reaction in the earlobe, which then makes them allergic anywhere on the body. To prevent this problem, ears should be pierced only with a stainless steel needle and earrings with stainless steel posts should be worn while the earlobe heals.

Metal allergies result in a rash that usually clears up within a few days of removing the jewelry, buttons, snaps, zippers, or other sources of metal from the skin. Allergic reactions to metals increase in the hot-weather months because the condition often is triggered by perspiration. Nickel dissolves easily and the salt in perspiration corrodes the metal and releases the nickel, bringing it into contact with the skin. This explains why many people can tolerate certain types of metals in the winter and cannot wear them during spring or summer.

Pure gold and silver metal are too soft to be mounted into any form therefore, jewelers mix nickel, zinc and copper into the pure metal to be able to mold the metal into the desired shape. Zinc and copper do not harm the skin but skin is always sensitive to nickel.

Allergies to gold and other metals are much rarer, although gold allergies can also develop after ear piercing. Allergic reactions caused by gold last much longer than a nickel-induced rash, sometimes as long as a month. Gold itself is reactive and causes allergies but, nickel is usually the culprit. Gold of any karat contains nickel, although the lower the Karat values, the more the nickel content. So therefore, it is always better to wear high karat gold jewelry; for example 18Kt gold as opposed to 10Kt gold.

In the same way, silver is also mixed with nickel and copper to attain hardness and durability required to make the jewelry.

Nickel is also used in jewelry made of platinum and white gold. Allergies to platinum and white gold are less common because these metals are also hardened by palladium that does not cause allergies. Palladium is more expensive than nickel. Nickel is commonly used for gold and silver jewelry as it costs less, gives better hardness and has strong lustrous effect.

Metal used in artificial jewelry contains nickel too. The allergy that occurs by wearing original or artificial jewelry can happen anytime at any age. Every single human body reacts to a different degree with nickel depending upon the tolerance and susceptibility level. The allergy is caused when the skin comes in contact with the metal usually via white gold, yellow gold, silver, or platinum containing nickel.

Typically, women suffer more with this allergy than men. The symptoms of these allergies are an itching and burning sensation around the area where the skin comes in direct contact with the jewelry item, sometimes producing blisters. Rashes or patchy red marks usually appear on the skin under the jewelry.

People who are highly sensitive to nickel should have their jewelry lacquered, coated or plated with palladium to protect the direct contact of nickel with their bare skin. At J.R. Jewelers, we would be glad to provide this service to you so that you are able to comfortably wear your treasured jewelry.

JR Jewelers - Orange sapphire ring

Mexican Fire Opal – These are not your grandmother’s milky white opals! Bursting with life and vitality, the Mexican Fire Opal is a riot of dazzling color. One of the most vibrant gems of our time, the Mexican Fire Opal is sure to bring life to your jewelry and demand serious attention. Its blazing orange color is one of the boldest of nature’s hues, communicating security and success as well as health and vitality.

Carnelian – Richly colored, deep and intense red to brown tones show abundant orange. Carnelian boasts a warmth and energy that complements virtually any skin complexion. The vibrancy is largely responsible for Carnelian’s reputed ability to help its wearer to think clearly, balancing the creative and the logical sides of the mind. If you purchase one of these beauties, we will all agree that your thinking is well.

Spessartite Garnet – This Garnet is of a cheery orange hued variety. The Spessartite Garnet was first discovered in the German Spessart Mountains. Unfortunately, so little was found that the rare gem was largely reserved for collectors. This remained so for many years, until another source was discovered along the Kunene River between Angola and Namibia in Africa. A later find in Nigeria brought a small supple to market. Supplies of gem quality Spessartite, however, remain limited making it a rare treasure.

Precious Topaz – Topaz was revered by the Egyptians and Romans, who associated it with the setting sun. It was also one of the gemstones that were reported to form the foundation of the twelve gates to the Holy City of the New Jerusalem. In modern times, large quantities of Precious Topaz were discovered in Russia and placed in the jewels of the Russian Czarina’s, which is where the gem earned the name, “Imperial Topaz” Today, Imperial topaz refers to Topaz that displays a peachy pink hue, which are extremely rare and superbly beautiful.

Get ready for the new products in the luxurious Signature Collection! JR Jewelers is getting ready for the 2011 wedding season with new additions to the Signature Collection. The splendid bridal jewelry at great affordable prices will impress you surely. Have a look at the stunning collection on JR Jewelers website.

Tiara Engagement Ring and Wedding Band

Tally Engagement Ring and Wedding Band

Pixie Engagement Ring and Wedding Band

Enchantness Engagement Ring and Wedding Band

Claria Engagement Ring and Wedding Band

Cashe Engagement Ring and Wedding Band

Carolina Engagement Ring and Wedding Band

Anabella Engagement Ring and Wedding Band

Amy Engagement Ring and Wedding Band

Amanda Engagement Ring and Wedding Band

Adie Engagement Ring and Wedding Band

See more ArtCarved Engagement Rings and ArtCarved Wedding Bands.

White Tungsten and Diamond Ring

Tungsten Carbide Concave Wedding Band

Tungsten Carbide & Carbon Fiber Wedding Band

White Tungsten Ring

White Tungsten and Diamond Ring

White Tungsten Ring

White Tungsten Wedding Band

White Tungsten Wedding Band

White Tungsten Wedding Band

Tungsten & Ceramic Wedding Band

Get your FREE Tungsten Wedding Bands but first visit our Bridal Collection.

JR Jewelry had added some more precious jewelry to December’s jewelry collection:

Blue Zircon and Diamond Dangle Earrings

Blue Zircon and Diamond Earrings

Blue Zircon White Gold Ring

Tanzanite White Gold Necklace

Tanzanite and Diamond Earrings

Tanzanite and Diamond Earrings

Tanzanite and Diamond Necklace

Tanzanite and Diamond Ring

Tanzanite Dangle Earrings

Tanzanite Diamond Ring

Christmas Gifts for Him

Gent's Cufflinks $150

Sterling Silver & Rubber Inlay Ring $111

Sterling Silver Valet Key Ring $199.5

Club Stripe Money Clip $150

Christmas Gifts for Her

14Kt Gold Fleur-di-lis Pendant $420

Pink Opal Briolette Drop Earrings $184.5

Diamond Cocktail Ring $2,770

Silver Bamboo Double Cuff Bracelet $244.5

Christmas Gifts for Children

Gold Ladybug Children's Earrings $97.5

Children's Monkey Necklace $105

Children's Heart Ring $112.5

Bumblebee Necklace $106.5

More than 60 jewelry companies, including Sears, Herff Jones, and Tiffany & Co., have committed to purchase cleaner sources of gold by endorsing the Golden Rules, a set of principles for more responsible mining. These companies are calling on the mining industry, one of the world’s dirtiest, to move away from current practices that harm local communities and generate millions of tons of toxic waste.

These retailers, which represent 22 percent of the U.S. jewelry market and $14.5 billion in sales, are urging the mining industry to end practices that harm local communities, pollute drinking water, and generate millions of tons of toxic waste. The production of a single gold ring generates about 20 tons of mine waste, which can release acids and toxic pollutants.

Gold demand for jewelry represents the equivalent of 90 percent of gold mine production , making jewelry the single largest market for gold. Despite growing pressure from jewelers and consumers, the mining industry is dragging its feet on implementing the kinds of changes needed. Mining companies have yet to make measurable and verifiable progress towards applying the Golden Rules, which call for more responsible practices, including:

• respect for human rights and workers’ rights;
• free and informed consent from local communities before mining;
• staying out of protected natural areas;
• an end to dumping mine waste into rivers, streams and coastal waters;
• guaranteed payment for the costs of closing and cleaning up mines.

*EARTHWORKS and partners from around the world launched the “No Dirty Gold” campaign in 2004 to educate and motivate consumers and jewelry retailers to push the mining industry towards more responsible practices. Since then, over 60 jewelry companies have committed to switching to cleaner gold sources when available, and more than 100,000 consumers have joined the effort.