Jewelry, watches, silver, art and collections are personal property on a homeowners policy, but certain categories carry small special limits for each loss, especially for theft. Scheduling lists each item with its own amount of insurance and, according to the Insurance Information Institute, offers the broadest protection, including accidental losses the homeowners policy would not cover. Insurers usually want a professional appraisal before they schedule an item, and values should be reappraised as they change. The settlement wording on the schedule decides what a claim actually pays, so read it before a loss.
Why the homeowners policy isn’t enough
On the common ISO homeowners form, special limits apply to each loss for all property in a category, and they do not add to the personal property limit. Among them:
- $1,500 for theft of jewelry, watches, furs, and precious and semiprecious stones.
- $2,500 for theft of silverware, goldware, platinumware and pewterware, including flatware, tea sets, trays and trophies.
- $200 on money, bullion and coins.
- $1,500 on securities, manuscripts and stamps.
On that same form, personal property is covered only for a list of named perils, so a dropped ring or a lost earring may not be covered at all. Policies written for high-value homes can carry different limits, so the policy in front of you is what counts.
How scheduling works
The Insurance Information Institute describes two ways to add coverage. You can raise the category limit, which still caps individual pieces and the total. Or you can schedule individual valuables on a floater, which costs more but offers the broadest protection and covers losses of any type, including accidents like a ring down the drain or a watch left in a hotel room.
The NAIC lists jewelry, furs, stamps, coins, guns, antiques and other items worth more than the normal homeowners limits as candidates for a scheduled personal property endorsement or personal article floater. California’s insurance department describes the same idea: a rider or floater that schedules property above the special limits.
More detail is on the jewelry insurance and fine art insurance pages.
Appraisals, scheduled values and claims
The Insurance Information Institute says items must be professionally appraised before a floater is purchased, and the NAIC notes that insurers often require an appraisal. Keep photos and a copy of each appraisal somewhere safe, away from the items themselves.
Values move. The Texas Department of Insurance suggests regular appraisals so you can raise or lower limits as values change, and the NAIC points to riders that pay an increased value if a piece is stolen or damaged after it has appreciated.
Ask how a covered total loss of a scheduled piece is paid: the amount shown on the schedule, or the lower of that amount and the cost to replace it. That one line matters most for art and one-of-a-kind pieces, where replacement is hard to define.
Art, wine and collections
The Texas Department of Insurance warns that a home policy may pay only to replace a collectible with something similar, may cap categories such as coins and valuable papers, and may not cover some collectibles at all. It notes that separate coverage might pay for damage a typical policy won’t, such as breakage or flood, often with a lower deductible.
Flood deserves its own check. An NFIP flood policy covers valuable items such as original artwork and furs only up to $2,500, so art stored on a ground floor or in a basement in a flood-exposed home needs a look at the flood setup too.
Collections that are bought and sold, lent to museums or kept at another residence raise their own questions about where coverage applies, so tell your broker how the collection is used.
What to gather before you call
- Recent appraisals or receipts for each piece, with descriptions, measurements and photos.
- A list of where items are kept: the main home, a second home, a vault, a gallery.
- How often jewelry is worn and where it travels. The NAIC notes that items worn daily carry more exposure.
- Security details: safes, alarms and safe deposit boxes.
- Pieces bought, sold or inherited since the last review.
Common questions
Is my jewelry covered by my homeowners policy?
Yes, as personal property, but certain categories carry special limits. The Insurance Information Institute puts the typical limit for theft of jewelry at about $1,500.
What is the difference between scheduling and raising the limit?
Raising the limit increases the category cap but still limits individual pieces and the total. Scheduling lists each item with its own amount of insurance and, per the Insurance Information Institute, also covers accidental losses.
Do I need an appraisal to schedule an item?
Usually yes. The Insurance Information Institute says items must be professionally appraised before purchasing a floater, and the NAIC notes many insurers require one.
How often should valuables be reappraised?
Regularly, and whenever values change. The Texas Department of Insurance recommends regular appraisals so limits can be adjusted up or down.
Does flood insurance cover my art?
An NFIP policy covers valuable items such as original artwork and furs only up to $2,500, so valuable art in a flood-exposed home needs separate attention.
Sources
- Insurance Information Institute: Special coverage for jewelry and other valuables
- ISO Homeowners 3 Special Form HO 00 03 10 00 (sample, published by the Insurance Information Institute)
- NAIC: A Consumer’s Guide to Home Insurance (2022)
- NAIC Consumer Insight: Learn How to Insure Expensive Jewelry and Gifts
- Texas Department of Insurance: Collectibles — why you may need extra insurance coverage
- New York Department of Financial Services: Homeowners & Tenants Insurance — What Consumers Need to Know
- California Department of Insurance: Residential Insurance Guide
- FEMA FloodSmart: What does flood insurance cover?
General information about insuring jewelry, art and collectibles as of October 2026, not legal advice. Coverage depends on underwriting and the terms, conditions and exclusions of the policy actually issued.