Valuables or household contents insurance: which is the right option?

Some valuables have "only" a price. But there are others with sentimental value: they mean something to you personally. For instance, a precious gift, a carefully preserved family heirloom or a high-quality musical instrument. Regrettably, the emotional value of an object cannot be replaced if it is stolen or damaged in a fire. But the right insurance can at least compensate the financial loss.

There are two ways of insuring valuables: either take out separate valuables insurance or include them in your household contents insurance.

Valuables insurance – for items of particularly high value

Expensive jewellery, luxury watches or musical instruments? Valuables insurance can cover these, especially items valued at 20,000 francs or more. But valuables insurance can also be used to cover items of lower value.

Under this type of insurance, the valuables are specified in the policy along with their individual values. Once they are covered, the items are insured against damage, destruction, theft or any other form of loss. The insurance protection does not apply only at home. After all, it would be a shame to have to keep your beautiful jewellery or elegant watch at home under lock and key, and not be able to wear it on special occasions.

But, when out and about, remember that valuables left in vehicles are covered only if they are stored carefully, e.g. in a locked car and out of sight. If items are stolen from a locked vehicle, the compensation is limited to 10,000 francs.

Household contents insurance – for just a few valuable items

Items valued at less than 20,000 francs each can also be insured via an additional “special valuables” module for household contents insurance. This additional insurance also allows multiple valuables to be insured at once, provided their total value does not exceed 100,000 francs.

Document, maintain and store your valuables properly

From the insurer’s point of view, it is important that you document your valuables by means of invoices, certificates, photos and, where necessary, expert opinions. You should have your precious items maintained regularly by a professional. Musical instruments, for instance, should be played on a regular basis. Valuable items like watches and artworks should, where possible, remain undamaged. In special cases it is not only advisable to place the items in a safe, it may even be a precondition for insurance.