The skyrocketing price of gold means your homeowners insurance may not cover the value of your precious metals. Are your investments safe in 2026?

The price of gold, referred to as the “spot price (2),” is the current sale price of a troy ounce (31.1 grams) of 24 karat gold.

Record highs

CNBC reported that the price of gold has climbed by about 1,400% since the year 2000, as compared to a 382% gain in the S&P 500 over the same time frame (3).

The climbing price of gold means that jewelry made of gold, gold coins or bars (or even other precious metals) has also increased in value. CNBC reports that the retail value of gold jewelry is generally higher than the metal used in the jewelry itself, depending on the quality of the piece and gold content (karats).

Because pure gold is quite malleable, it is often combined with other metals to make it more durable for use in jewelry (4).

But when it comes to insurance, the value of the metal will differ from the replacement value, which will typically be closer to the retail value, CNBC says. Their report warns that standard home or rental insurance typically has low coverage for jewelry.

According to insurance provider Policygenius, home insurance coverage for jewelry and for other high-value items is more limited than for other personal belongings.

In the personal property coverage section of your policy, you will find what perils your insurance covers, such as fire, weather-related damage or even theft (5).

However, insurers have a limit to what they will pay in the case of jewelry theft, called a special limit of liability, or sublimit. Standard policies have sublimits for jewelry theft of about $1,500 typically.

Also, check your policy to see whether your coverage has a sublimit per item, with a maximum that you would be paid per piece of jewelry, or a blanket jewelry sublimit, with a limit to how much you’ll receive in the event you lose all pieces of your jewelry collection.

Sarah Cast, with Allstate, told CNBC that sublimits for jewelry are “often around $1,000 to $2,500 total, and don’t cover accidental loss or wear and tear.”

You may be able to add a rider with additional coverage for your jewelry to your existing policy, or you can purchase separate coverage from another insurer, such as one that specifically insures jewelry.

Check your coverage

Because of the climbing price of gold, it may be a good time to not only review your policy, but to update any appraisals you may have for high-value items.

“Many insurers and advisors recommend reappraising jewelry every few years, especially when market conditions (like gold price surges) shift to ensure coverage stays adequate,” Loretta Worters, a spokesperson for the Insurance Information Institute, told CNBC (3).