At a glance
Standard home contents insurance should cover your watch at home.
If your watch is worth more than the single-item limit, it’ll need to be listed separately on your policy.
You could add extra cover for accidental damage and wearing your watch away from home.
An extremely valuable watch may need a specialist standalone policy.
Does my home contents insurance cover my watch?
Contents insurance should cover your watch if it’s stolen from your home or lost or damaged in a fire or flood.
And you can usually add extra cover to protect it when you’re out and about.
Home insurance policies have a limit on the amount they’ll pay out for one item. This is called the single-item limit. If your watch is worth more than this, it’ll need to be listed on your policy separately to be covered.
When you compare policies with Compare the Market, we’ll ask you to list anything worth more than £1,500.
What should I consider when adding a watch to my home insurance?
Think about whether you need:
New for old cover – if your watch needs to be replaced, this should cover the cost of a new one of similar value. Most contents insurance policies include new for older cover as standard. Check your policy details to be sure.
Accidental damage cover – this isn’t typically included in standard home insurance policies, which means you won’t be covered if you accidentally break your watch. You can usually add accidental damage cover to your policy for an extra charge.
Personal possessions cover – this covers your watch if it’s damaged or stolen when you’re out and about. You can add this to your policy for an extra charge.
Is my watch covered outside of the home?
Only if you have personal possessions cover. Most home contents policies don’t cover your belongings when you’re out and about.
So, if you wear your watch a lot you might want to add personal possessions cover to your policy. You can usually do this for an extra charge.
Does my watch insurance cover water damage?
Your home contents policy should cover water damage caused by flooding inside your home, up to the single-item limit.
But if you’re looking for protection in case you drop your watch in the bath, for example, you’ll need accidental damage cover.
If your watch is damaged by water when you’re out, you probably won’t be covered unless you have personal possessions cover.
Before buying a policy, check what water damage it covers.
Am I covered if my watch is stolen?
Yes. Most home insurance policies cover theft from the home as standard. But if there was no sign of a break-in, it’s unlikely you’ll be covered.
If your watch is lost or stolen from you while you’re out, you’ll need personal possessions insurance to claim.
If you have a valuable watch and it’s stolen, you can add it to the Watch Register. This records losses and helps return watches to their rightful owners.
How can I keep my watch safe?
Watches often have sentimental, as well as monetary, value. Here’s how to protect yours:
Never leave it on display near a window
Store it in a fireproof, waterproof safe
Take photos of it – this can help the police identify it
Keep receipts, valuation certificates and anything else that proves how much your watch is worth – you may need these if you make a claim on your insurance.
Find out more ways to keep your home and belongings secure.
How much does it cost to add my watch to my home insurance?
It will depend partly on the value of your watch and whether you want to add optional extras, such as personal possessions cover and accidental damage cover to your policy.
FAQs
What type of watches does my home insurance cover?
Your home insurance can cover luxury or designer watches, including top brands such as Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet, Blancpain, Chopard, Rolex, Omega, Tag Heuer, Cartier and Breitling.
But you must add your watch separately to your policy if it’s worth more than your insurance provider’s single-item limit.
Some home contents policies will pay out a maximum of around £25,000 for a single item, even if it’s listed individually.
So, if you have an extremely valuable watch, you may need to consider specialist, standalone insurance.
Does home insurance cover smartwatches?
You can cover smartwatches like Apple and Garmin under your home contents insurance, although they may be covered as gadgets rather than watches.
Alternatively, you may want to look at standalone gadget insurance.
Do I need to get my watch valued?
Yes, you should have your watch valued regularly.
A simple watch from the 1950s could be a much sought-after item today and the valuation will reflect that. Keep the valuation certificate in a safe place so you can share it with your insurance provider if you need to.
Some providers will want to see proof of purchase before they’ll pay out.
Is my watch covered on holiday abroad?
Some home insurance policies cover you if you lose your watch abroad.
But there can be limitations, and cover may depend on where you travel to and how long you’re away. For details, check with your insurance provider.
You may also want to consider travel insurance with personal possessions cover.
Check there’s enough cover to protect your watch and make sure you understand your responsibilities around keeping your belongings safe.
Looking for something else?
As well as writing for Churchill and Privilege insurance websites, Karen’s CV includes working with M&S, Debenhams, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and John Lewis. With over 20 years of editorial experience for big household names she leads a talented content team with a focus on simplifying personal finance for everybody.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
Helen’s our resident home insurance expert, as the former Head of Home Insurance at Compare the Market. She's also experienced with car insurance and pet insurance from her previous roles across commercial, partnerships and as a freelance consultant, working with more than 100 insurers across a variety of insurance products.
Our content is written by a Compare the Market expert, backed by data and enhanced by technology. Find out how we ensure accuracy and quality in our Editorial Guidelines.
