How Often Should Jewelry or Other Scheduled Valuable Appraisals be Updated?

Jewelry Should Be Appraised Every Few Years for Several Reasons

• The market value of precious metals and stones can be volatile and may change from year to year.
• The value of jewelry may change as the inflation rate changes.
• Damage to jewelry may impact its value.

These same issues of market, inflation, and condition can similarly apply to antiques, fine art, collectibles, and other high-value items you insure separately; therefore, they also need to have periodic appraisal updates. For jewelry, the Insurance Institute of America recommends updating every two years, but it’s up to you (the insured) to decide when to provide an updated appraisal to your insurer.

Ultimately, you want your appraisals to be recent because if a claim occurs you want to be properly compensated. Outdated appraisals can result in you being underinsured, which can result in you being compensated only up to your insurance limit even if it is determined that the actual value at the time of loss was significantly more. If you have questions about appraisals, contact your insurance professional for guidance.