Lost engagement ring (lots of questions)

cr1mson

I lost my engagement ring no idea where. Looking at my insurance it would be covered however to be honest I am not sure whether I want to make a claim as a replacement will never be my engagement ring.

However in order to decide wondered if anyone could tell me how it would work. For instance I don't have a receipt but still have the original brochure (although wouldn't want to part with that so would just take a cop) we picked it from with the price next to it will they accept that as evidence? I have some pictures (close ups of when husband put wedding ring on) from my wedding day where you can clearly see it would that be okay?

Also how does it work as ring was £250 less 10% discount I managed to negotiate and bought from a High St Jewellers but obviously this was some time ago so would cost a lot more to replace it so how would they work out a replacement cost?

I've heard that they give you vouchers for a particular jewellers rather than cash is that correct?

At the moment I am thinking it is not worth it as reckon will increase premiums next year and at the end of the day it is irreplaceable.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

C

Update - I found it in the Bread Bin! No idea how it got there just glad it is back!

lisyloo

I lost my engagement ring no idea where

I'm sure you've done this, but you really need to think back to all the places it could be, especially if you only remove it in limited places.
Could it be stuck at the bottom of a U bend of any of your sinks?

I am not sure whether I want to make a claim as a replacement will never be my engagement ring.

Totally understand what you mean. I temporarily lost my rings once (on this occassion I had a migraine and was in bed in a hotel).
I was totally distraught in tears. A replacement would never be the ring my husband gave me on our wedding day.
I was ready to empty the vacuum cleaner and laundry sack of the cleaning lady who'd been in the room.
Fortunately they'd fallen on the floor and I must have knocked them off the bedside table when I was unwell, but I only found them after I'd got help to move the king sized bed.
Have you actually moved furniture?
I checked all around but didn't see my rings until the bed was actually moved.

For instance I don't have a receipt

Could you find a credit/debit card receipt?
For future reference you should keep receipts for jewelry or any item you may want to claim off insurance for.

we picked it from with the price next to it will they accept that as evidence? I have some pictures (close ups of when husband put wedding ring on) from my wedding day where you can clearly see it would that be okay?

Brochure doesn't prove you bought it at all, anyone can get a brochure.
Yes pictures of it on your finger on your wedding day are likely to be accepted as evidence that it was yours.
They are basically just ruling out fraud as a standard check else anyone could just say they'd bought anything.

Also how does it work as ring was £250 less 10% discount

They can value a similar product (same size diamond and same carrat value etc.) for a similar replacement.
Work out whether it's worth claiming first.
Your premiums in future will be affected by a claims for serveral years, both in the fact that you've had a claim plus you can't claim no claims discount.
Do some quotes for comparison and check how much your insurance will go up by (but remember it's not just for one year).
You can use false email, false phone number (to avoid calls and spam) and false name (to avoid credit searches).

I damaged a wheel on my motorbike which would cost £700 to replace (on a pothole).
It wasn't worth me claiming because of increased premiums for 3-5 years on 3 motor insurance policieis (potentially 15 loadings in this case).

I've heard that they give you vouchers for a particular jewellers rather than cash is that correct?

Yes, they get big discounts from big chains when they buy the vouchers in bulk.
this can be a problem if you have an anitque or bespoke ring but from what you've said (brochure and high st) I can't see why it would be a problem.
If you don't want to buy a ring then you can ask for cash, but you will get less because of their bug discount (guess 30% less from what I've seen on here).
They are only obliged to replace your ring, so if you don't want jewelry you will probably have to accept a loss here.

At the moment I am thinking it is not worth it as reckon will increase premiums next year and at the end of the day it is irreplaceable.

Do the sums on comparison sites.
Add in the claim and reduce your claim free years. Bear in mind the loading will last several years.
Don't use your real phone nubmer, real email and make up a name (not anyone real), but you need to use the correct address.
Don't use the name of a real person as they might get credit checks, But Mr Donald Duck should be ok.

Finally do not under any circumstance ring your insurer unless you have decided to claim.
Try to find information elsewhere (like your policy docs, their website, here).
If you ring up even to ask a question then your "loss" will be noted and possibly go onto a database.
You will then have to declare this in future.

Now technically you should declare the loss in future anyway and I am not encouraging you not to do so.
However lots of people do not declare loss of cheap earnings, torn or stained clothing etc. and on cars people do not declare every stone chip.
I am not giving you any encouragement either way, but you should be aware that once you make a phone call then your "loss" could then be on an industry wide database.
If you innocently forget to declare it in future which can happen, then you could get a claim turned down and insurance cancelled. You then have to declare you've had insuraance cancelled through non-disclosure forever and that's then gives you a real problem forever.
Whether you choose to decalre this loss in future is up to you, but because there is a chance of forgetting and the consequences are big, then I would not "register" this loss with the insurance, which can happen even if you ask one question on the telephone.

McKneff

Exellent post from Lisyloo there.

OP what is your excess on the policy.

Parking_Trouble

It really is worth turning the house upside down to try and find the ring. My wife lost a pair of diamond earrings about 2 years ago. We did not claim but I eventually found them. They must have slipped off the back of a chest of drawers. One was sitting on top of the skirting board and the other embedded in the carpet. I have of course suggested that she pull the furniture out more often when cleaning :-)

Do a bit of research to work out today's cost of replacing the ring. Is there an excess on the policy?
Getting a voucher is pretty standard these days, if you insist on cash they will offer less.

My wife lost a ring. We put in a claim and wanted a replica or the money to replace it. Pictures of her wearing the ring really did help. We also checked with a couple of independent jewellers to check the replacement cost. The Goldsmiths voucher initially offered was not only less than the value of the ring but the shop had nothing even remotely similar. It took a year to sort out and we eventually had a great replacement made in Hatton Garden. A long drawn out battle though.

Decide if it is financially worth claiming (excess, increased premiums, etc) decide if you want a replacement or the money.

Might be better to get your husband to surprise you with a new ring and regain the sentimental value which almost always outweighs the financial value.

McKneff

I second the turning the house upside down and the car.

I lost a diamond bracelet one time and eventually found it, it was on the bed and the drawer under the bed must have been slightly open
and it had just slid in there when I sat down. Didnt find it for quite a while. So its worth another look.

rs65

cr1mson wrote: »

to be honest I am not sure whether I want to make a claim as a replacement will never be my engagement ring.

Insurance aside for a moment, I think that is the pertinent point.

You could go to a local auction house on their jewellery day and pick up a nice (possibly vintage) ring for not a lot - probably not much more than scrap value.

If you were to claim, you probably would receive vouchers for a high street chain. They would work out a replacement cost based on description, photos, brochure etc. They buy the vouchers for much less than face value so if they were to agree a cash settlement it would be less than voucher value.

Maybe best to take the brochure to any of the high street chains and see what they consider to be a current replacement.

cr1mson

Thanks for everyone's replies.

Have turned the house upside down including literally turning the microwave upside down which yielded a fuse I had lost ages ago! Been through the bin my neighbours must have thought I was mad!

Have bought a cheap replacement £22.99 from Argos firstly as my hand feels bare (which my darling husband got down on one knee to propose to me again with which was lovely!) and secondly thought it might make other one turn up!

Decided will go through bin once more with kids helping and see if I can borrow a metal detector as it was bin night I lost it and then after that will stop looking on grounds it will turn up when least expect it! If it doesn't turn up by 25th wedding anniversary in just over 12.5 years then will get a proper replacement!

Thanks again.

C

cr1mson

Little update.

Lady with a metal detector came and went through my rubbish with me but no luck. Have moved Tumble dryer, Fridge and washing machine and no luck. Also reported to police.

Have checked my excess it is £50 and it will increase premium by about £50 assuming ring worth £500-600. It may be less but that is ballpark value jeweller quoted me after seeing picture. Have also reported it to police as lost just in case.

C

cr1mson

Further update

Found it in Bread Bin - no idea how it got there just glad it is back!

kingstreet

Gave me a wry smile on a dismal Sunday morning there, cr1mson...

Parking_Trouble

I like a happy ending :T