We would be remiss if we didn't take a moment to talk about protecting your valuable gemstones and precious metals.

• Before you even purchase fine jewelry, always ask your jeweler if the piece comes with a professional written appraisal. If it doesn't, make sure your jeweler writes down everything he claims about the piece on your bill of sale. This would include color enhancements, clarity and strengthening treatments and return guarantees, in case your independent appraisal indicates conflicting information.
• Keep a file of all your jewelry.
• Get your jewelry appraised every few years. With the fluctuating costs of gemstones and metals, it's a good idea to have up-to-date valuations.
• Take pictures of all your jewelry. You don't have to have individual portraits of each piece, unless you want to. But you do want to have some form of visual documentation to keep with your appraisal and insurance papers.
• You may want to have your diamonds laser coded. This is a relatively new process that doesn't harm the quality of diamonds in any way. A tiny identification code is cut into the girdle of the stone with a laser beam. Once coded, you will receive documentation that proves your ownership and makes tracing and locating your diamond in the event of loss or theft much more likely.
• Ask your insurance representative the following questions:
  1. Do they reimburse full cash value, or replace the jewelry?
  2. Do you have approval of replacement jewelry?
  3. How do they replace irreplaceable jewelry, such as heirlooms, one of a kind pieces, etc.?
  4. Is your jewelry covered in all countries?
  5. What is the fine print? Are you covered under all loss circumstances? How does the insurance company define negligence?
  6. Do they require proof of safety-deposit for any jewelry?