# M-T04-C-P09: I own expensive jewellery and artwork. Which NZ contents insurers should I look at? Collected 11 October 2026 [Home and contents insurance study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/insurance/home-contents-insurance) ## ChatGPT Answer ID: d86bddd2-2a9c-49b8-bfcd-7d7292ecbfaf If you own expensive jewellery and artwork in New Zealand, I’d look beyond standard contents insurance and compare policies that explicitly cover high-value individual items, accidental damage, theft, and the full cost of replacing or restoring a collection. The key issue is that a policy can cover your contents generally but still impose a relatively low limit on jewellery, watches, paintings or other valuables. You may need to list individual pieces separately, obtain valuations, or arrange specialist cover. ## NZ insurers and specialist providers to compare ## 1. NZI Distinction Worth shortlisting A premium contents policy designed for people with valuable collections. It offers at least $1 million in automatic contents cover, up to $100,000 in automatic jewellery and watch cover collectively, and art cover up to $100,000 per item and $500,000 in total. Higher-value pieces can be specified separately. [Distinction Contents Insurance](https://www.nzi.co.nz/personal-cover/distinction/contents-insurance)[Distinction Contents Insurance](https://www.nzi.co.nz/personal-cover/distinction/contents-insurance) Best to investigate if you have both substantial jewellery and fine art. [Official NZI Distinction contents cover](https://www.nzi.co.nz/personal-cover/distinction/contents-insurance) ## 2. Chubb Masterpiece A specialist option for fine art, antiques, jewellery and collections. Its itemised cover can insure eligible pieces at agreed values, with features including market-appreciation protection and cover for newly acquired items subject to conditions. [Insurance for Your Art Collection](https://www.chubb.com/nz-en/personal/insurance-for-your-art-collection.html)[Insurance for Your Jewellery Collection](https://www.chubb.com/nz-en/personal/insurance-for-your-jewellery-collection.html) Worth comparing if: you want individual pieces insured at agreed values rather than relying on standard contents limits. [Official Chubb fine art cover](https://www.chubb.com/nz-en/personal/insurance-for-your-art-collection.html) · [Chubb valuable articles](https://www.chubb.com/nz-en/personal/valuable-articles.html) ## 3. MAS A useful mainstream comparison, particularly if you want to insure art as part of a contents policy. Its published limits include $8,000 per jewellery item and $40,000 for jewellery per event, plus $25,000 for works of art, unless different cover is arranged in your policy schedule. [MAS Contents Insurance](https://www.mas.co.nz/insurance/contents-insurance/contents-insurance-policy/)[Insure your art collection](https://www.mas.co.nz/insurance/insure-your-art-collection/) Worth comparing if: most items fit within standard limits, with selected pieces requiring additional cover. [MAS art collection insurance](https://www.mas.co.nz/insurance/insure-your-art-collection/) · [MAS policy wording](https://www.mas.co.nz/insurance/contents-insurance/contents-insurance-policy/) ## 4. Rothbury Private Client Insurance A broker-led route for people with substantial assets, including valuable jewellery, gemstones, fine art and other collections. Rothbury describes itemised cover with settlement at the insured agreed value for eligible jewellery. [Private Client Insurance](https://www.rothbury.co.nz/personal-insurance/private-client-insurance) Worth considering if: you want a broker to compare specialist policies rather than approach insurers individually. [Rothbury private client insurance](https://www.rothbury.co.nz/personal-insurance/private-client-insurance) ## 5. Tower A mainstream alternative with Standard, Plus and Premium contents policies. Its published jewellery limits vary by tier, from $1,000 per item on Standard to $10,000 per item on Premium, with higher-value items needing to be specified. [How to insure your jewellery 2026](https://www.tower.co.nz/discover/contents/how-to-insure-jewellery/) Worth comparing if: you want a standard policy with separately insured high-value items. [Tower jewellery insurance guide](https://www.tower.co.nz/discover/contents/how-to-insure-jewellery/) ## What matters most when comparing policies | Feature | What to ask for | | --- | --- | | Jewellery | Per-item and total event limits; cover for watches, rings and matching sets | | Artwork | Per-work and total collection limits; whether valuation is agreed or assessed at claim time | | Accidental damage | Cover for dropping, breaking or accidentally damaging an artwork or jewel | | Theft and unexplained loss | Whether theft outside the home and accidental loss are covered, and under what conditions | | Worldwide cover | Protection while travelling, wearing jewellery, or transporting artwork | | Appreciation in value | Whether market increases are recognised if a valuable piece is destroyed | | Restoration | Access to specialist art restorers and whether loss of value after restoration is covered | | Security requirements | Safes, alarms, locks and requirements when the home is unoccupied | One important distinction: agreed value is not the same as market value at the time of a claim. Ask the insurer to explain exactly how it would settle a total loss and a partially damaged item. ## How I would approach this 1. Get current valuations for your most valuable jewellery and artwork, particularly pieces whose value has changed over time. 2. Prepare an inventory with photographs, receipts, artist details, provenance and valuation documents. 3. Request comparable quotes from NZI Distinction and Chubb Masterpiece, and ask Rothbury to explore specialist alternatives. 4. Compare the actual policy wordings and schedules, not just the headline contents sum insured or premium. I would start with NZI Distinction and Chubb Masterpiece, while including Rothbury if the collection is substantial enough to justify broker advice. This is a shortlist to investigate, not a ranking of claims performance or price. ## Two questions that would help narrow this down ## Gemini Answer ID: 26c661a1-1252-4ede-97a5-5487ce570230 When you own high-value items like expensive jewellery and fine art, standard New Zealand contents insurance policies usually fall short. Most mainstream policies enforce strict **single-item limits** and **aggregate caps** (often capping unspecified jewellery or valuables at around $2,500 to $3,000 per item). To properly protect valuable collections, you should look toward **High Net Worth (HNW) or Private Client specialized insurance portfolios** in New Zealand. ### Key Providers for High-Value Collections in NZ * **NZI (Distinction Policy):** Specifically designed for high-value assets. It offers **automatic cover for multiple pieces of jewellery up to $100,000** (with individual pieces up to $25,000 covered without itemizing). For fine art, it covers **up to $100,000 per item and $500,000 in total**. It also features built-in valuation services and market-increase protection for art. * **Rothbury (Private Client Insurance):** A brokerage that deals with tailored underwriting for unique and luxury collections. They provide **customized agreed-value coverage** on specialized assets like fine art, precious gems, watches, and bullion, ensuring you receive 100% of the insured value with **no depreciation** if a claim occurs. * **Mainstream Insurers (AA Insurance, State, Vero, Tower):** While major providers offer general contents policies, they require you to **individually "specify"** high-value artwork and jewellery on your schedule. You will need professional valuations and will likely pay an extra premium per item, but it ensures they are explicitly itemized past standard event limits. --- ### Important Tips for Insuring Jewellery and Art in NZ * **Professional Valuations:** Most insurers will demand recent, certified valuations (typically updated every 2 to 3 years) for items exceeding standard thresholds before they agree to cover them. * **Agreed Value vs. Indemnity:** Look for policies that offer **agreed value** rather than indemnity (market value minus depreciation), especially for fine art which can appreciate over time. * **Accidental Loss / "Anywhere" Cover:** Ensure your policy covers your jewellery not just inside your home, but for **accidental loss or mysterious disappearance anywhere in New Zealand or overseas**. If you like, I can help you compile a checklist of questions to ask an insurance broker regarding security requirements (such as home safes and monitored alarms) that insurers mandate for high-value collections. Do you want me to do that? ## AI Overviews Answer ID: e51036bc-47a2-4fed-b790-d2e62fba6879 For expensive jewellery and artwork, you need to look at **high-value or specialized contents insurance** in New Zealand. Standard policies cap individual or total values for "unspecified" jewellery and art at low limits. 1\. Mainstream High-Tier Contents Policies Most major New Zealand insurers will cover expensive items, but **you must specify them** individually on your policy and provide independent valuations. * **Tower Insurance (Premium Cover):** Tower offers different tiers. Their higher-tier policies allow for much higher limits, but you must explicitly list individual items that exceed their standard unspecified sub-limits. * **AA Insurance, State, and AMI:** Providers like [AA Insurance](https://www.aainsurance.co.nz/contents-insurance), [State](https://www.state.co.nz/contents-insurance), and [AMI](https://www.ami.co.nz/contents-insurance) usually cap unspecified jewellery/art at around $2,500 to $5,000 per item or set. To cover expensive items, they require you to "specify" the item on the policy, which raises your premium but ensures you are covered for the actual replacement value. 2\. Specialized High-Net-Worth Insurers (Recommended) If your collection is worth tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, mainstream insurers might have caps on the total policy limit or strict security requirements (like commercial-grade safes). For extensive collections, look into specialized or broker-led insurance: * **MAS (Medical Assurance Society):** Known for comprehensive, high-quality cover. They often use an "area replacement" model rather than strict sum-insured caps for homes, and they are generally more accommodating for high-value personal contents. * **Chubb Insurance New Zealand:** Chubb is a global leader in high-net-worth insurance. They offer specialized policies like "Chubb Masterpiece," which are designed specifically for luxury homes, fine art collections, and expensive jewellery. They provide features like "worldwide cover" and cash settlement options that standard NZ insurers do not. * **Rothbury or Crombie Lockwood (Insurance Brokers):** For high-value art and jewellery, going through a broker is often the safest route. They can access specialty markets and tailor a policy specifically to your collection's security and layout. Key Steps to Take Before Applying * **Get Professional Valuations:** Insurers will not accept your word on what a piece of art or jewellery is worth. You will need a registered valuation certificate dated within the last two years. * **Check "Worldwide Cover":** Standard policies cover your jewellery anywhere in NZ, but if you travel overseas, it may only cover it for short trips or not at all. Ensure your policy covers your jewellery while worn abroad. * **Ask About "Pairs and Sets" Cover:** If one earring from an expensive pair is lost, a good policy will pay to replace the entire set, not just half the value. To help narrow down the best choice, could you share the **approximate total value** of your collection or whether you plan to **travel overseas** frequently with the jewellery? ## Google AI Mode Answer ID: e62140aa-167c-462f-a19a-eb11e00dd938 When you own high-value collections like expensive jewellery and artwork, standard, entry-level contents insurance policies usually fall short because of strict single-item limits and low overall caps for valuables. In New Zealand, you want to look at insurers that offer either high-tier premium policies or bespoke high-net-worth packages. Here are the key NZ insurers and policy types you should look at: * * **NZI (Distinction Policy)** : NZI offers a specialised high-net-worth policy called Distinction Contents Insurance | NZI which is specifically tailored for luxury assets. It provides high default limits for artwork (up to $ 100 , 000 per item and $ 500 , 000 total) and generous undeclared thresholds for jewellery/watches (up to $ 25 , 000 individual limit without separate declaration, and $ 100 , 000 overall). It also includes features like complete replacement for sets/pairs and market value increases for art. * **Tower (Premium Policy)** : Tower’s highest-tier "Premium" contents insurance tier offers higher built-in sub-limits than standard policies (for instance, up to $ 10 , 000 per item for specified or higher-tier jewellery categories, depending on exact policy schedules). For pieces exceeding standard thresholds, you can explicitly "specify" items on your policy by providing professional valuations. * **AA Insurance (Adjustable Event Limits)** : AA Insurance provides policies featuring adjustable event limits. Rather than forcing you to itemize every single valuable or being capped by a rigid default category maximum, you can adjust your policy limits upwards if your combined jewellery or collection value surpasses standard baseline assumptions. * **Broker-Led High-Net-Worth Insurers (Chubb, Crombie Lockwood, Apex, etc.)** : If your artwork and jewellery collection scales into hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars, working with an insurance broker to access specialized private client policies (such as Chubb via a local broker) is often superior. These policies typically offer "agreed value" rather than "indemnity/indemnity-less-depreciation" value, worldwide "all risks" transit cover, and fewer security-related depreciation clauses. * Key tips for insuring high-value items in NZ: 1. **Professional Valuations** : Most NZ insurers require an independent, up-to-date professional valuation (usually less than 3–5 years old) for any high-value artwork or expensive jewellery you wish to specify. [AA New Zealand] 2. **Specified vs. Unspecified** : Check the single-item limits. If an insurer caps unspecified jewellery at $ 2 , 000 to $ 3 , 000 per item, any ring or necklace worth more than that must be individually listed ("specified") on the policy schedule. [QuoteHub NZ] 3. **Security Requirements** : High-value policies often mandate specific security measures at your primary residence—such as monitored burglar alarms or a bolted-in Grade-certified safe for loose jewellery when not being worn. To help narrow down the best fit, could you share: * Roughly what **total combined value** we are talking about for the jewellery and art? * Do you prefer a **direct insurer** (like AA or Tower) or working with an **insurance broker**?