One in five to receive expensive jewellery this Valentine's

The UK is a nation of generous romantics, with one in five people planning to buy or receive expensive jewellery this Valentine's Day, and ten per cent of these people hoping to get hitched.
 
As many generous Brits plan to buy expensive jewellery, rings and watches for their loved ones this Valentine's Day, Halifax Home Insurance is reminding people to make sure their valuables are protected.  According to recent research from the insurer, almost half (47%) have not considered insuring their new items against theft or loss, and 16% have assumed items are already covered under their home insurance policy.  Only 27% of people know that their valuable jewellery items are listed on their home contents policy.

Head of Underwriting for Halifax Home Insurance, David Rochester said: "At this time of year love is most definitely in the air, and many people will be planning to pop the question with an expensive diamond, or buy a valuable gift to show how much they care.  When planning a romantic proposal, insuring a valuable gift is not necessarily the first thing that springs to mind, so we are reminding people to make sure expensive jewellery is fully covered both inside and outside the home."

Women appear less savvy than men when it comes to insuring their valuables, as the poll showed 10% of women did not have any home contents insurance, compared to just 5% of men.  This means ladies are leaving themselves liable to foot the bill if their valuables were lost or stolen.

When it comes to spending at Valentine's day, the top five most generous regions are:

Wales
Scotland
London
South West
West Midlands

To make sure valuable jewellery items are fully protected against theft or loss, Halifax Home Insurance recommends:

Have expensive jewellery items valued regularly - around every two years is ideal

Make sure you tell your insurer about any items of particularly high value, and keep any valuation certificates or receipts in case you need to make a claim in future

Avoid displaying valuables in conspicuous places such as on living room windowsills as this can be an advertisement to opportunist burglars

Keep valuables in a safe or lockable cabinet in order to deter thieves, and remember 'safe' places like under the bed or in the bedside drawers are the first places burglars look

Take photographs of your valuable items as these can also help insurers to process your claim more easily.

David Rochester concludes: "We recommend anyone with items over £1,500 in value take out additional specified items cover to ensure their most precious possessions are protected both inside and outside the home too."

Halifax Home Insurance offers unlimited cover for both buildings and contents, so homeowners can be confident they will never be underinsured.  Customers are advised to tell their insurer about any single high value items worth over £1,500 so they can be listed on the policy, and also keep a dated valuation certificate or purchase receipt so they can prove the item's worth should they need to make a claim.