Keeping Jewellery Safe at Home and in Lockers

Jewellery is small, valuable and easy to move, so the best protection combines good storage with good habits.

At home

Do not use the obvious places

Bedside drawers, the top of a dresser and the first shelf of a wardrobe are the first places anyone looks. Choose less predictable spots.

Do not keep everything in one place

Spreading your jewellery across two or three secure places limits the loss if one is found.

Consider a home safe

A good safe, fixed to the floor or a wall, is a strong deterrent. Choose one that suits the value of what you keep, and put it somewhere discreet. Keep the key or code private.

Keep daily pieces accessible but discreet

Keep what you wear every day in a small box in a drawer, and the rest locked away.

Keep the documents separate

Do not keep invoices and certificates with the jewellery. If the jewellery is stolen, you still need the documents for a claim. See what to keep with your jewellery.

Habits that protect

• Do not advertise it. Avoid posting photographs of jewellery or of when you travel on social media.
• Be careful about who knows. Domestic help, contractors and visitors should not know where valuables are kept.
• Lock up when you leave. Do not leave jewellery out on a surface.
• Keep a routine for putting it away. A small dish by the door for pieces you remove helps.
• Count at the end of events. See travelling with jewellery tips.

Bank lockers

A bank locker is a good place for pieces you rarely wear, such as a wedding set or heirlooms.

• Understand the terms: banks have rules about what they are liable for. Read the agreement.
• Keep a list of what is inside, with photographs.
• Check access hours and procedure, so you can retrieve items for events.
• Think about insurance. See jewellery insurance in India: what to know.
• Do not keep everything there. Keep what you wear at home.

Make a record

Photograph each piece from several angles, and note weight, purity, stones and where it was bought. Store the records in a different place from the jewellery, such as online, in a secure folder.

Mark your jewellery

A BIS hallmark with HUID identifies a gold piece, and an inscription number identifies many diamonds. Keep those numbers on your list. See what a HUID is and how to verify it.

If something goes missing

1. Search thoroughly.
2. Report to the police and keep a copy.
3. Tell your insurer.
4. Tell your jeweller and give them the details, in case a piece is offered for sale.

For children and elders

Make sure that family members know where heirlooms are kept, and in what circumstances. See passing down jewellery: caring for an heirloom.

Common questions

Is a bank locker safer than a home safe? It offers strong physical security, but with conditions and fees. Many people use both.

Should I insure jewellery in a locker? Check what the bank covers, and what your policy covers.

How often should I review? Once a year, check your list, update photographs and think about changes.

A final tip

Wear the jewellery you love. A safe jewellery box is no good if the pieces never leave it. For pieces that suit daily wear, browse our daily wear collection, or book an appointment.