Holiday Chaos Is Here… Are Your Valuables Ready?

The holiday season is a time when families gather, travel increases, and homes are filled with activity, celebration, and meaningful gifts.

It’s also a time when valuable possessions are more frequently worn, displayed, transported, or gifted, often creating added potential for loss without homeowners even realizing it. While many families take careful steps to safeguard their homes and loved ones, their most valuable possessions are often unintentionally left exposed.

While a standard homeowners policy provides important baseline coverage, it usually offers limited protection for high-value items such as jewelry, watches, fine art, wine, spirits, and other collectibles. When these cherished belongings are lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed, homeowners can face significant out-of-pocket expenses.

A Valuable Articles policy is specifically designed to bridge the gap, providing comprehensive, worldwide protection that reflects the true value of these items. Here are a few common examples of valuables which make an appearance during the holidays, along with strategies on how to best protect them: 

Jewelry and Watches 

Jewelry and watchesare often worn and frequently transported. Valuable pieces can be scratched, dropped, or misplaced, and many owners underestimate the exposure created by improper storage.

Traveling with jewelry introduces additional concerns, as items can be stolen from luggage, damaged during transport, or lost in unfamiliar settings.

Since homeowners’ policies typically impose strict limits on jewelry coverage, often only a few thousand dollars, a dedicated Valuable Articles policy offers broader protection with worldwide coverage and no deductible, giving clients peace of mind wherever they go.

Fine Art

Fine art, which includes, but is not limited to: paintings, sculptures, oriental rugs or mixed media pieces, are particularly vulnerable to a range of risks.

Outdoor sculptures can be damaged by wind, water, and other environmental factors, and art displayed inside the home can suffer from accidental damage caused by burst pipes, unexpected household mishaps, or improper installation. Even the simple act of moving artwork poses risks. improper packing or handling can result in scratches, dents, or total loss, and items may be misplaced or stolen in transit. 

Storage can be just as risky; without proper climate control, security, and placement, valuable art pieces can deteriorate or be permanently lost. A specialized Valuable Articles policy helps ensure that when the unexpected occurs, your art collections remain protected at their full value.

Wine and Spirits

Wine and spirits represent one of today’s fastest-growing collectible categories, with rare bottles frequently setting auction records and values rising dramatically in recent years.

Despite this, many collectors are uninsured or underinsured, especially when their cellars haven’t been recently appraised.

These collections face significant risks as well: roughly 40% of wine and spirits claims result from water damage, while about a third stem from electrical or mechanical failures that disrupt proper storage temperatures. Damage also occurs frequently during transit, when bottles are shipped from auction houses or vendors. Proper insurance is essential, not only because homeowners policies often exclude spoilage and temperature-related damage, but also because specialized coverage protects bottles worldwide, often with no deductible.

Many insurers don’t require updated appraisals for bottles valued under $50,000, making it simple for collectors to secure protection as their collections grow. Beyond insurance itself, certain companies offer additional support, including cellar risk assessments, climate monitoring solutions, and guidance on mitigating environmental risks.

Ultimately, high-value items are more than just possessions, they are personal investments that carry meaning, history, and emotional significance. A Valuable Articles policy ensures these special belongings receive the protection they deserve and gives you confidence that your most treasured items will be safeguarded no matter what life brings.