Lost my ring...now what?

beepboes

I lost my engagement ring yesterday. I had it in the morning when i put it on after having a shower and noticed it was missing mid-morning whilst typing at work. I drive to work then walk 10 minutes from the car park to the office. I've retraced my steps about 30 times and i cannot find it. My fiancee works away mid-week and i've not told him yet cause i am terrified to do so. The ring is worth about 3k and i know he added it to our policy with Direct Line after we got engaged on New Years Eve. The main worry is that the ring was his nan's which his mum gave him to give to me, as such there is no receipt, only the valuation that the shop gave him when he had it cleaned before giving it to me. I'm so scared of telling him and what all his family will think of me now for being so careless. All i can think is that as i've been on a post-Christmas diet and lost over a stone maybe the ring became too big for me.

When should i tell the insurance? What will they do? Will they want to speak to my fiancee as well? Will they need to speak to his mum about the ring? Do you think i should carry on looking, although i dont think i will find it, or tell them now?

Thanks very much

newlywed

Have you searched in your car, all under the seats/mats etc?

I would try going to the local Police station and reporting to Lost and Found just in case some kindly soul has handed it in. Have had success with that twice in the past - though don't own any jewelery that expensive.

beepboes

newlywed wrote: »

Have you searched in your car, all under the seats/mats etc?

I would try going to the local Police station and reporting to Lost and Found just in case some kindly soul has handed it in. Have had success with that twice in the past - though don't own any jewelery that expensive.

I've had the car and house upside down, its definitely not there. I've also searched my entire office including under collegues desks, the hallways of the entire building and i've walked up and down the same stretch of road that leads to walk over 20-30 times practically on my hands and knees.

Good advice re the police station i'll do that now, do i actually need a crime number or anything for my claim, even though its not a crime?

prestonlass

hopefully it will turn up, i once lost a ring and it appeared 4 weeks later but I really do feel for you it is a horrible feeling.
Just a word to the wise. My sister lost her engagement ring and had no idea where. It wasn't very expensive but she decided to claim. When she first spoke to the insurance company she explained that she thought she had lost it whilst she was out for a walk with her children. On speaking to them later she explained that she had searched the whole house and it still hadn't turned up. She was accused of lying!! can you believe it, they asked why she would be looking in the house when she originally thought she had lost it whilst out. The lady on the phone seemed to have no comprehension that you will look anywhere when something special to you is lost and said that it seemed suspicious she had 'changed' her story!
If you do need to claim please ensure that you are quite clear about where you may have lost it and include all possibilities ie. home, work, out, the last thing you need is someone questioning your honesty on top of this sad time. write everything down before you call so that any confusion will not be mistaken for dishonesty.

newlywed

beepboes wrote: »

Good advice re the police station i'll do that now, do i actually need a crime number or anything for my claim, even though its not a crime?

Sorry I don't know what the insurance co will want. But if you report it to lost and found, they take your details, item description, phone number etc and log it in a book, then if anyone hands anything similar in, they ring you up to let you know and you go down and say if it's yours.

I've reported a couple of things and a day or two later someone has handed them in.

[Deleted User]

Good lord, this scares me. My OH's ring cost 4 and a half grand but is valued somewhere near 8k... i've not insured it on our home policy as it added 50% to our annual costs and she doesn't wear it at work.

Gulp.

I really really hope you find yours

beepboes

prestonlass wrote: »

hopefully it will turn up, i once lost a ring and it appeared 4 weeks later but I really do feel for you it is a horrible feeling.
Just a word to the wise. My sister lost her engagement ring and had no idea where. It wasn't very expensive but she decided to claim. When she first spoke to the insurance company she explained that she thought she had lost it whilst she was out for a walk with her children. On speaking to them later she explained that she had searched the whole house and it still hadn't turned up. She was accused of lying!! can you believe it, they asked why she would be looking in the house when she originally thought she had lost it whilst out. The lady on the phone seemed to have no comprehension that you will look anywhere when something special to you is lost and said that it seemed suspicious she had 'changed' her story!
If you do need to claim please ensure that you are quite clear about where you may have lost it and include all possibilities ie. home, work, out, the last thing you need is someone questioning your honesty on top of this sad time. write everything down before you call so that any confusion will not be mistaken for dishonesty.

Thanks for your advice. I'm even more terrified now tho, i'm scared about telling my fiancee, his parents, my parents and now the insurance ppl as well! I'm just wondering if we can get away with telling his mum and just buy a similar ring, but if the insurance ppl speak to her obviously not. God i feel so sick i dont know what to do. I think i'm going to have to ring my fiancee *gulp*

beepboes

Just to give you an update, i reported the loss to the police station then to Direct Line, they passed the claim on to a jewellery specialist at the loss management group, has anyone dealth with these and do you have any idea what happens nexy? And typically how long it would take to deal with a claim? Thanks

mattymoo

Loss specialist will ask questions about the ring and look at sourcing a close replacement or, if that is not possible, having one made to same design.

Fortunately, you have the valuation which should carry a description. Do you have any photos of you wearing the ring or the ring itself? Will help them to get the style and setting right.

beepboes

Thanks matty, its a really plain design, just a gold ring with a diamond solitaire and i have tons of pics from our engagement party. Do you know how long the whole process takes? I'm seriously considering not telling anyone other than fiancee, as i cant take the shame!

[Deleted User]

Don't be ashamed about losing the ring. We're all too busy and we make mistakes - it's only human!

A couple of years ago, I lost my wedding ring ... husband was mortified (as was I). I searched for 2 weeks and then claimed on the insurance. I wanted exactly the same ring from the same jeweller. I had to send them the original receipt.

About 10 days later I got a letter saying that i could order a replacement from the original jeweller. All went okay; the ring was ordered specially (as they didn't make that style any more). It cost a bit more than we'd originally paid, which was understandable. BUT when I finally got it - it was MUCH lighter in weight than the original. Unfortunately, I had no way of proving it. The jewellers swore that it was the same and, obviously, the insurance company didn't care as they didn't want to have to pay out for an even more expensive ring.

So - all of you who have valuable pieces of jewellry; (a) make sure they're insured; (b) make sure you have an up-to-date valuation including the WEIGHT!

As for telling your fiance - look, you're going to marry him; you will make mistakes (as will he); of course he's going to be upset (that's natural) because you DID make a mistake (and need to be grown up enough to admit it). BUT you should be able to both work it out, and for him to forgive you - after all, you didn't do it on purpose! Won't it be good practice for your future together?