My house burned down in the California wildfires. I lost everything, including my jewelry box containing 20 pieces of silver and gold jewelry (not scheduled). The adjuster asked for a list. I couldn’t remember half of it. I got paid $2,000 for a collection worth $10,000 because I couldn’t prove what I owned.
Key Takeaways
- Burden of Proof: You must prove you owned the items to get paid.
- The “Home Inventory” Video: A simple 2-minute video of you opening your jewelry box and narrating (“Here is my gold locket, here are the pearl studs”) is the most powerful claim evidence you can have.
- Unscheduled Limits: Remember, without a rider, your total payout for jewelry theft is capped (e.g., $1,500), but for Fire, the cap usually applies to the total contents limit, or has a higher sub-limit. Proof allows you to hit that higher limit.
- Cloud Storage: The video must be in the cloud (Google Drive/iCloud). If it’s on the phone that burned, it’s useless.
The “Why” (The Trap)
The trap is “Memory Loss.”
In a crisis, you forget what you own.
The adjuster will not “take your word for it” that you had 10 gold rings.
They need a description. “Gold ring” gets you $50. “14k Gold Signet Ring with Monogram” gets you $400.
A video provides the description and the proof of existence in one step.
The Investigation (My Analysis of Proof)
I asked adjusters what they accept.
The “Narrated Walkthrough”
- Why it works: It shows the item, the condition, and the context (it’s in your house).
- Format: Just use your phone. Open drawers. Zoom in.
Receipts
- The Reality: Nobody keeps receipts for earrings bought 5 years ago. The video replaces the receipt for lower-value items.
The “Wearing It” Photos
- The Backup: Photos of you wearing the jewelry at weddings/parties are great secondary proof.
[IMAGE: Screenshot of a smartphone video recording a jewelry box drawer being pulled open]
Comparison Table
| Proof Type | Effort | Adjuster Trust | Detail Level |
| Receipts | High | 100% | High |
| Inventory Video | Low | 90% | Medium |
| Memory/List | Low | 20% | Low |
| Photo Background | High (Searching) | 50% | Low |
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Do It Today: Stop reading. Go to your jewelry box.
- Record: “Today is [Date]. Here is my collection.” Pick up each piece. “This is 14k gold. This is silver.”
- Upload: Immediately upload to Dropbox or Google Photos.
- Repeat Annually: You buy new stuff. Do a new video every New Year’s.
FAQ
Does this help for theft claims?
Yes, but remember the theft sub-limit ($1,500) applies regardless of proof unless scheduled.
Do I need to appraise the cheap stuff?
No. Video is enough for items under $500.
What about costume jewelry?
Film it too. It adds up. (See Costume Jewelry article).