Do you sell jewelry online, run an e-commerce jewelry store, or regularly ship high-value items? Jewelry professionals experience a significantly higher loss rate than the average business (Assupro), with constant risks of theft, loss, and damage during transport. A diamond ring that slips out of its packaging, a necklace scratched by unsuitable padding, a luxury watch that disappears in transit: every packaging error puts thousands of dollars and your reputation at risk.
This guide gives you the 9 PRO steps for packaging rings, necklaces, bracelets, and jewelry sets with the exact materials used by professional jewelers. Bonus: you'll discover how to protect your jewelry up to €100,000 with compensation within 72 hours.
The major risks involved in transporting precious jewelry
The delivery of jewelry combines all risk factors: high market value, small size making it easy to lose, attractiveness to thieves, and ease of resale on the black market. Math-Prévaris confirms that jewelry is a "prime target for thieves because it is easy to resell to unscrupulous professionals."
Total loss and disappearance
The small size of jewelry makes it vulnerable to loss during transport. A ring that slips out of poorly sealed packaging, a thin bracelet that falls through a torn cardboard box, earrings forgotten in a bag shredded by the automatic sorting machine: there are many scenarios in which items can be lost. Le Devoir points out that "these are small items, easy to transport" and to make disappear without a trace.
Discreet theft and quick resale
Jewelry has a dramatic characteristic: once stolen, precious stones are quickly removed and recut, and the metal is melted down to erase any traceability (Le Devoir). This rapid transformation makes it nearly impossible to recover stolen items, even after filing a complaint. Thieves favor jewelry because it can be quickly resold on the black market or through unscrupulous secondhand dealers.
Scratches and damage to the crimping
Polished surfaces made of gold, platinum, and sterling silver scratch easily when they come into contact with unsuitable materials. Delicate settings can become loose due to vibrations during transport, causing the loss of diamonds or precious stones that are often worth more than the jewelry itself. A simple sideways impact on a claw setting ring can irreversibly deform the setting.
Home insurance policies unsuitable for the insured transport of jewelry
Most home insurance extensions do NOT cover theft during transport (Seijna), while others exclude theft from certain storage locations. In addition, compensation is often calculated based on the market value at public auction, resulting in losses of 60%: an insured party who provided €2,420 in invoices received only €980 in compensation (CommentCaMarche).
⚠️ Reality on the ground: Perceval-Express confirms that "the transport of jewelry and precious metals generally requires armored vehicles and specialized transporters," which are unsuitable for e-commerce volumes. Insurance costs for dedicated transport remain two to three times lower than for consolidated shipments, but Claisy allows you to benefit from full coverage with any Carrier .
Professional Insurance Including Shipping
Be careful with shipping coverage included in your standard inventory insurance policies. While these policies often offer Limits (up to €30,000), they remain "ancillary" extensions that are not calibrated for the recurrence of e-commerce. The risk? An explosion in your overall annual premium as soon as the first delivery dispute(s) arise. By combining your inventory insurance and shipping insurance, you expose your main policy to a severe penalty for a risk that should be managed separately.
PRO packaging materials for jewelry & fine jewelry
Professional jewelry packaging is based on the principle of separate compartments: each piece must be isolated to prevent scratches, protected by soft, abrasion-resistant materials, and secured in a rigid case that absorbs shocks.
Sources: Fournishop – Jewelry boxes for precious stones, Rouxel – Professional jewelry boxes, Doowie Sourcing – Jewelry travel transport, Gentle Packaging – Jewelry packaging guide
💡 PRO tip: Gemmology boxes (Fournishop) are designed with "sublime coatings and noble materials to protect precious jewelry and gemstones from abrasion and external damage." Their velvet/microfiber interior eliminates the risk of scratches, unlike basic cardboard boxes that abrade polished surfaces.
What should you do if your jewelry arrives damaged or stolen after delivery?
Despite perfect packaging, incidents do happen. Here is the exact protocol to maximize your chances of quick recovery or compensation.
Check BEFORE signing – Specific reservations required
CRITICISM: If the package shows suspicious signs (tape reapplied, cardboard pierced, sealed bag opened), REFUSE delivery OR sign with detailed reservations: "Package damaged – security tape broken – opening subject to content inspection." Take photos with the delivery person present and ask them to countersign the reservations. A signature without reservations = acceptance of the goods in good condition.
Document exhaustively - HD photos required
Open the package while filming: outer packaging, successive layers (cardboard → foam → case → jewelry). Take HD photos of EACH step with automatic time stamping (EXIF metadata). For damaged jewelry, photograph: surface scratches (high-resolution macro), loose setting (compare with photos taken before shipping), missing stone (visible empty space), metal deformation (from several angles).
Case study: Shipping a Cartier ring worth €12,000 that went missing with Mondial Relay
E-commerce jewelry store ships a 1.2-carat Cartier solitaire diamond ring worth €12,000 via Mondial Relay Relais. The recipient receives an empty package: the box has been opened, the ring stolen, and the package resealed with standard tape. Carrier compensation (Point Relais inventory without reservations).
The jewelry store had taken out Claisy Ad Valorem Joaillerie insurance at 0.60% = €72 premium. Claim filed with: photos of package before shipment (seal intact), photos of package received (different tape), Cartier certificate of authenticity, purchase invoice. Compensation of €12,000 paid within 72 hours, allowing the purchase of an equivalent ring for a loyal customer.
Comparison of jewelry transport insurance solutions
Sources: Claisy 2024-2025 claims analysis, Seijna (exclusions: home insurance, transport), CommentCaMarche (60% compensation for loss of value at auction)
💡 Claisy advantage: Unlike specialized carriers that impose their own protocols (scheduled pickup, strict schedules, armored vehicles), Claisy lets you freely choose your Carrier Colissimo registered mail, Chronopost, UPS, DHL, Carrier ) while guaranteeing coverage for theft, loss, and damage up to €100,000. Total e-commerce flexibility.
To Go Further
- Complete guide to packing fragile items – General principles applicable to all sectors
- 2026 E-commerce Insurance Comparison – Jewelry Solutions for Online Sales
- Insure high-value parcels >€10,000 – Watches, diamonds, works of art
- Luxury watch packaging – Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet
- E-commerce delivery dispute management – Carrier complaint procedures
- Claisy Ad Valorem Insurance – €100,000 coverage for all carriers
- Claisy integration with your online store – Automation of jewelry shipping insurance for e-commerce