Insurance Other Insurance Topics Insurance Company Reviews Best Watch Insurance Providers Jewelers Mutual offers the best coverage at an affordable rate By Mary Kearl Mary Kearl Website Mary Kearl has an extensive writing background, thoroughly researching dozens of topics including insurance, business development, career planning, parenting, and more. She has a BA from New York University and an MBA from Baruch College. learn about our editorial policies Updated on February 1, 2023 Fact checked by Dale Brauner Fact checked by Dale Brauner Dale Brauner is a fact-checker, researcher, and editor. learn about our editorial policies We recommend the best products through an independent review process, and advertisers do not influence our picks. We may receive compensation if you visit partners we recommend. Read our advertiser disclosure for more info. A fine timepiece or collectible watch is a significant investment. Watch insurance will safeguard your valuable watch from damage, theft, loss, and mysterious disappearance. We compared and reviewed the best watch insurance companies based on coverage limits, premiums, appraisals, deductibles, and more. To protect your investment, check out our guide to help you choose the best provider for you. Best Watch Insurance Providers of 2023 Best Overall: Jewelers Mutual Best for Smartwatches: Lemonade Best for Luxury Watches: AXA Best for Collectors: WAX Insurance Best With No Deductible: HODINKEE Insurance Best for Claims: BriteCo Best Watch Insurance Providers View All Best Watch Insurance Providers Our Top Picks Jewelers Mutual Lemonade AXA WAX Insurance HODINKEE Insurance BriteCo See More (3) Final Verdict Compare Providers Comparing Watch Insurance Providers Questions and Answers What Is Watch Insurance? What Does Watch Insurance Cover? How Much Does Watch Insurance Cost? Is It Worth It To Insure a Watch? Best Overall : Jewelers Mutual Jewelers Mutual Free Appraisal: NoNo. States: 50 states Sign Up Now Why We Chose It Founded in 1913, Jewelers Mutual has more than 100 years of experience insuring watches. The company offers comprehensive coverage, affordable rates, and flexible deductible options. In fact, Jewelers Mutual was also our best overall pick for jewelry insurance and for engagement ring insurance. Pros & Cons Pros Option for $0 deductible No appraisal needed to purchase coverage Easy to get a quote online Cons Doesn’t offer free appraisals Some negative reviews for poor claims handling No mobile app Overview Jewelers Mutual is our best overall watch insurance provider because it covers most types of watches for damage, theft, disappearance, and loss anywhere in the world, with the option of a $0 deductible. It’s also one of the most reputable companies, with partnerships with the American Gem Society, Jewelers of America, Jewelers' Security Alliance, and many others. The cost of watch insurance from Jewelers Mutual is generally affordable, but it depends on the piece. The company says that watch insurance will cost between 1% and 2% of the item’s value. You can apply for an insurance quote online to see how much you will pay. Coverage limits vary by state, but the deductible is flexible. You can even choose a $0 deductible. If you need to file a claim, you can do so through the online customer portal or by calling the company during business hours. Keep in mind that if your jewelry is lost or stolen, you may need to submit a police report as part of the claims process. One of the downsides of Jewelers Mutual is that it doesn’t offer free appraisals. However, you don’t need one in order to purchase a policy. We also found that the company has some negative customer reviews around claims handling, with some customers alleging unfair payouts for claims. Best for Smartwatches : Lemonade Free Appraisal: NoNo. States: 28 states (renters) and 23 (homeowners) Sign Up Now Why We Chose It Lemonade’s homeowners and renters insurance is a great option for smartwatch owners who want to protect their gadgets from a wide range of covered perils without paying a huge premium. Pros & Cons Pros Easy to get a quote online Option to purchase extra coverage for higher limits Coverage is typically very affordable Cons Must have a Lemonade homeowners or renters insurance policy Not available in every state Overview We chose Lemonade as the best watch insurance company for smartwatches because it’s a digital insurance company. Smartwatch owners who are already accustomed to using their devices will enjoy the ease and convenience of purchasing coverage, managing their policies, and filing claims right from their phones. You must have a Lemonade homeowners or renters insurance policy in order to access this coverage. However, Lemonade is one of the most affordable property insurance providers on the market. Renters insurance starts at $5 per month and homeowners insurance starts at $25 per month. The standard policies come with $1,500 in coverage for smartwatches, but you can also purchase extra coverage if your watch is worth more than $351. According to Lemonade, the average cost to insure a watch is just $9.46 per month. You can get a personalized rate quote for Lemonade smartwatch insurance online or through the mobile app. If you have owned the watch for less than five years, a receipt is required to insure it. If you’ve had it for more than five years, or if you don’t have a receipt, you’ll need an appraisal. Unfortunately, Lemonade doesn’t offer free appraisals. In terms of reviews, customers are mostly satisfied with Lemonade’s user interface, low rates, and good customer service. The biggest downside is that it isn't available in every state. Best for Luxury Watches : AXA AXA Free Appraisal: NoNo. States: 50 states Sign Up Now Why We Chose It With comprehensive coverage options, as well as scheduled and blanket insurance policies, AXA is the best watch insurance company for luxury timepieces. Pros & Cons Pros Available in all 50 states Comprehensive coverage for luxury watches Option to choose a scheduled or blanket policy Cons Can’t get a quote online Limited information about coverage limits and deductibles No online claims Overview If you own a luxury watch, like a Rolex or Patek Philippe, AXA is our suggestion for watch insurance. AXA will cover your luxury watches on an all-risk basis, anywhere in the world. You can also purchase a scheduled policy or a blanket policy, depending on the value of your watch and the number of pieces in your collection. With AXA, your watches are covered anywhere you keep them, whether in a watch case in your closet, in a home safe, or in a bank vault. So, if you wear a $10,000 Cartier watch as your daily timepiece, you can rest assured that the watch is covered wherever you go. While AXA offers reliable coverage for expensive watches, it doesn't have the most user-friendly website. You’ll need to call the company and work with an agent to get a quote, manage your policy, and file claims. We also found that AXA doesn’t include much information online about what its watch insurance policies cover. To find out what policy limits and deductible options are available, you should contact the company. We also recommend asking whether or not your watches need to be appraised in order to purchase coverage, which is not stated on its website. Best for Collectors : WAX Insurance Wax Insurance Free Appraisal: NoNo. States: 48 states Sign Up Now Why We Chose It WAX Insurance was designed by watch collectors for watch collectors. The company specializes in insuring watch collections of all sizes as well as all other classes of collectibles. All of your collectibles can be covered under a single policy. Pros & Cons Pros Manage your policy exclusively through the mobile app Simply snap a picture to add watches to your policy Policies pay cash at agreed value Policies are underwritten by other companies Newer company with less reputability than competitors Overview We recommend WAX Insurance for watch collectors, whether your collection is small or extensive. You can cover all of your watches with one policy, and there’s no need to get your pieces appraised. Using the mobile app, you’ll simply take a photo and the WAX team does the rest. Every watch you insure is covered up to 150% of the insured value, up to your policy’s limit One of the things we like most about WAX Insurance is that the company is entirely mobile. Whether you want to get a quote, file a claim, or add watches to your policy, you can handle everything through the free app. However, there are agents on standby if you need to talk to a real person. With WAX Insurance, watch collectors can get unlimited coverage for collections. There’s also always a $0 deductible. The company doesn’t advertise the price of its policies, so your best option is to get a customized quote through the app. However, WAX Insurance doesn’t underwrite its own policies. The company offers coverage through Chubb. Best With No Deductible : HODINKEE Insurance HODINKEE Insurance Free Appraisal: NoNo. States: 50 states Sign Up Now Why We Chose It If you purchase watch insurance from HODINKEE Insurance, you’ll never pay a deductible if you have a claim. The company only offers $0 deductible policies, which are underwritten by Chubb. Pros & Cons Pros Exclusively sells $0 deductible policies Policies are underwritten by Chubb, a reputable provider Appraisals aren’t needed for pieces under $100,000 Cons Doesn’t offer free appraisals Overview HODINKEE Insurance sells zero-deductible watch policies, a nice perk that will give you peace of mind in the event that your watches get damaged, stolen, or lost. Additionally, HODINKEE Insurance’s policies are underwritten by Chubb, which specializes in valuable articles coverage. The cost of watch insurance from HODINKEE Insurance depends on a few factors, including the value of the piece. For instance, an Omega Speedmaster with a price tag of $5,350 would cost about $136 per year to insure. A more expensive Rolex Dayton with a value of $13,150 would cost roughly $335 per year to insure. You can get a free instant quote online. Another thing we like about HODINKEE Insurance is that appraisals aren’t required for watches valued at less than $100,000. You’ll just need to take a picture of the watch, go through the five-step signup process, and if your policy is approved, your coverage begins instantly. To file a claim, you get access to Chubb’s 24/7 hotline, so you can start the claim process at any time, day or night. One of the most unique perks about HODINKEE Insurance is that every policy includes investment protection. When you open a policy, every watch you insure is covered up to 150% of the insured value, up to your policy’s limit. So if your insured watch increases in value before a claim, you don’t have to settle for a lower payout. Best for Claims : BriteCo BriteCo Free Appraisal: NoNo. States: 50 states Sign Up Now Why We Chose It BriteCo is the best watch insurance provider for claim handling. You can file a claim online at any time, and you’re allowed to work with any jeweler of your choice for repairs. Pros & Cons Pros Easy online claim reporting No deductibles required Includes market value protection, up to 125% Cons Doesn’t have local offices Appraisals are required to purchase coverage Overview Out of all the watch insurance companies we reviewed, BriteCo stands out as the best for claims handling. You can file a claim online at any time, without contacting an agent. And every policy includes market value protection, which pays up to 125% of your item’s insured value after a loss if it appreciates. BriteCo covers most types of watches, including high-end brands like Rolex, Breitling, and Chopard. Watches are covered worldwide against common perils, including theft, mysterious disappearance, damage, and loss. Watch insurance from BriteCo has flexible coverage limits, and you never have to pay a deductible. It’s easy to get an instant rate quote online by visiting BriteCo’s website. According to the company, most policies cost between 1% and 2% of your item’s appraised value. With BriteCo, the biggest downside is that appraisals are required in order to insure any watch, regardless of the value. It’s also not the best insurance provider if you want to work with an agent to buy coverage or manage your policy. You can reach a BriteCo agent via phone, but they don’t have local offices. Final Verdict Watch insurance can be a great investment if you own valuable timepieces. While there are several top contenders for the best watch insurance companies, we found that Jewelers Mutual is the best provider overall for watch owners. Jewelers Mutual offers the most comprehensive coverage for a wide variety of watches, whether you own expensive pieces that are reserved for special occasions or watches that are worn daily. The coverage is generally affordable, and you can choose a $0 deductible policy. Not to mention, Jewelers Mutual is backed by some of the world’s leading jewelry organizations. Compare the Best Watch Insurance Providers Company Price Coverage Limit Policy Types Jewelers Mutual Best Overall 1% to 2% of the item’s value Varies Watch insurance Lemonade Best for Smartwatches Varies Varies Included coverage with home and renters insurance AXA Best for Luxury Watches Varies Varies Watch insurance WAX Insurance Best for Collectors 0.75% - 2.3% Varies Collectibles, including watches HODINKEE Insurance Best With No Deductible Varies Varies Watch insurance BriteCo Best for Claims 1% to 2% of the item’s value Varies Watch insurance Comparing Watch Insurance Providers Not all watch insurance providers are created equal. Before you choose a carrier, it’s important to do your own research and compare your top contenders based on a few key factors. Premium: Your premium is the cost of keeping your policy active. The cost of watch insurance will depend on your location, the insurance company, the value of your watches, your coverage limit, and your deductible. Coverage limit: Your coverage limit is the maximum amount of money your insurer will pay after a covered loss. If you have a very expensive watch, you will want to look for carriers that sell policies with high coverage limits. Deductible: Your deductible is the out-of-pocket cost you have to pay toward a covered loss. Many watch insurance companies offer $0 deductible policies, while others offer flexible deductibles between $200 and $1,000. Appraisal requirements: Depending on the watch insurance company you go with and the value of your piece, you might have to get your watch appraised before you can purchase a policy. However, not all providers require it. Customer service: Look at customer reviews online to see what current policyholders think of the company. Oftentimes, customers will voice concerns around customer service or the claims process, which is helpful to know before you purchase a policy. Ease of use: Many of the watch insurance companies we reviewed make it easy to set up a policy, get a quote, file claims, and add new watches to your policy. Some providers even have a mobile app, so you don’t have to rely on an agent to help out. Questions and Answers What Is Watch Insurance? Watch insurance is a stand-alone policy or optional add-on designed to cover the cost of replacing or repairing high-end watches, typically valued at thousands of dollars. This is often referred to as a "personal articles policy" by insurance carriers, which is a scheduled policy that lists high-valued items, such as jewelry, artwork, and other valuables.Basic homeowners or renters insurance policies don’t typically cover valuables like these over a certain dollar amount, generally $1,500. What Does Watch Insurance Cover? Watch insurance companies cover watches against a list of specific perils. This often includes events like theft, loss, disappearance, and damage. Some watch insurance policies cover less than others, so it’s a good idea to check for exclusions on your policy.For example, some policies specifically exclude certain instances where damage or loss could occur, such as rodent infestation, general wear and tear, intentional acts, and fraudulent sales. If you’re not sure what your policy covers, call the company or look through your policy documents. How Much Does Watch Insurance Cost? The cost of watch insurance varies based on a few factors, the biggest one being the value of your watch. For instance, insuring a watch that costs $300 is much less expensive than insuring a watch that costs $10,000. Your location, coverage limit, deductible, and the provider you choose will also determine the price. To give you a sense of what you might pay, Jewelers Mutual says its policies typically cost between 1% and 2% of the watch’s value. That means that a $10,000 watch could cost $100 to $200 to insure, whereas a $4,500 watch might set you back $45 to $90 per year. Is It Worth It To Insure a Watch? Investing in watch insurance makes sense when the cost to replace or repair the watch is greater than the expense of the watch insurance over the course of several years. Take the example of the $5,000 watch above. If it costs $50 to $100 per year to insure it, it would take anywhere from 50 to 100 years before you paid the full value of the watch again. Without insurance, on the other hand, you might have to pay the full value tomorrow, if something were to happen. How We Chose the Best Watch Insurance Providers To find the best watch insurance companies, we started by reviewing 10 different watch insurance providers. We evaluated each company based on factors like price, area of availability, coverage limits, deductibles, appraisal requirements, company reputation, customer reviews, and the claim process. We also looked at factors such as the online presence and functionality of each company, as well as the ease of getting a quote. 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