Hey there, it’s Pedro here from HODINKEE Insurance. I imagine many of you may have received or gifted some watches over the recent holidays. You may have added new watches to an existing policy, or even just started coverage with us.

Now that the holiday festivities are over and we’ve settled back into our work-from-home routine, it’s a good time to start thinking about how you can protect your watches in the year ahead.

Depending on the size of your collection, its total value, and the rarity of your pieces, it may make sense to invest in a home safe for your timepieces. While our suede valet trays and leather watch rolls make for a great way to store everything, an extra layer of protection is never a bad idea. In fact, the use of a home safe may reduce your premium when other criteria are also met.

If you’re in the market for a home safe, a proper one to store your watches in should be rated TRTL-30 or its equivalent. That designation means it is “Torch- and Tool-Resistant for at least 30 minutes,” protecting the safe’s contents from any hand or power tools. It should also feature a One Hour UL fire rating – which means it’s fire-resistant for at least one hour under flash point (1,700 degrees Fahrenheit), to offer suitable protection in the event of a fire.

Consider placing your home safe in a discreet location; keep in mind that the first place most burglars will look for valuables and jewelry is in the master bedroom or bathroom. If your collection is large, consider having more than one safe so you can spread your collection out.

When having a home safe professionally installed, make sure it is bolted to the structure or foundation. If that’s not an option, you’ll want a safe that is too heavy for someone to move by themselves, usually over 750 pounds.

Here are some other suggestions and best practices for a multi-layered approach to protecting your watch collection:

· Install a centrally monitored home alarm system with a back-up line for signal continuity and include a motion sensor in the area where your safe and collection are stored.
· Alarm the safe separately and in its own zone on your home monitoring burglar alarm system, ensuring it remains active 24/7 – that means even when the perimeter alarm is deactivated.
· Restrict who has knowledge of and access to the location of the safe.
· Update safe access codes on an annual basis.
· And of course, consider a policy with HODINKEE Insurance if you don’t already have one.

If you happen to have any questions or need a recommendation regarding home safes, please do not hesitate to contact us at insurance@hodinkee.com.