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What’s the first thing I should do?
You’ve just realised you’ve lost your wedding or engagement ring, what do you do? Firstly it’s important to know that this is a common thing and you are by no means the first or last person this has happened to. Here are some handy steps to help you find your engagement ring or get it replaced with as little stress as possible.
Stay calm – these things can happen to anyone
As stated before, this is not a result of personal recklessness; engagement rings can slide off in rubber gloves, fall under the bed, or get stuck in the pocket of your jeans. So take a deep breath, try to keep a clear head and let’s try and find it.
Work out when it was lost
It can help to determine a rough time period to search for your lost wedding ring; for example, if you had your ring at lunchtime but realised you’d lost it when leaving to pick up the kids from school, that gives you a 3-hour time span to look over. This helps you narrow down to certain locations where the ring could be.
Retrace your steps
Retrace where you were over the narrowed down time period and go through what you were doing to see where your ring could be. Were you out in the garden cutting the grass? Were you at the gym? Revisiting what you were doing can help your search.
Contact the relevant experts
If your ring has fallen down a drain in the shower or sink, calling a plumber is the best cause of action. They can locate the ring and retrieve it quickly, taking the stress off your plate. If you lose your ring in the gym, you can contact the duty manager, which means they can have a look at CCTV to see if anyone has picked it up or help you get it out of the machine if it’s fallen in between the parts.
Call the police and report the loss
Your insurance company will usually expect you to report the loss to the police, and gain a police reference number, as soon as you’re able to.
Log the loss at reportmyloss.com/uk
Report My Loss is an online service allowing the public to report lost property, a step that is often requested by insurers but cannot always be carried out by police forces. You can log your loss by visiting here: https://www.reportmyloss.com/uk
Let your insurance company know
As weddings are usually an expensive and important purchase, it’s likely that you’ve got insurance, so contacting your provider and informing them that your ring is lost can help you begin the process of claiming.
Contact the jeweller you purchased it from
Getting into contact with the jeweller you purchased your ring from originally can help ease the pain of losing a ring, as they are often able to make you another one or offer you a similar design. Which can help to relax your mind as you search for your ring.
Purchase a temporary ring
Finding a less expensive ring to wear temporarily or borrowing a ring from a loved one can help you while you wait to find or replace your old ring.
Searching for your lost ring at home
Finger brush the carpets
If you’ve got long thick carpets it’s very possible that your ring could have fallen off your finger down into the carpet. And you could have just easily stood on it pushing it below the surface, so running your fingers through the carpet in areas you frequent can be the perfect place for you to look after losing your wedding ring.
Use a flashlight
Fortunately, diamond rings provide a great sparkle when exposed to light, so if you suspect your ring has fallen under the sofa or between any other crevices in your car or home, a torch helps you illuminate those hard to see areas and find your engagement ring.
Sweep the floors
Slow sweeping hard floors help you reach areas that you can’t reach with your hands. Places such as under your appliances or drawers are common places for your ring to be lost.
Down the drain
If you suspect you’ve dropped your ring down the drain you may be in luck, as diamonds stick to grease. So although it may need a good clean, it could get caught in the grease and stay within your reach.
Diamonds bounce
Due to diamonds’ unusual shape, they don’t bounce in the way you’d expect, especially since they’re relatively light. It’s likely that it landed in a different place than where you would’ve first thought.
Use a fluorescent light
If you have access to a fluorescent light, they are particularly effective at illuminating diamonds, so they’re perfect if you have one.
Common Places a lost wedding ring could be hiding
- Inside the hoover
- Under the bed
- In your child’s jewellery box
- In your childs play area
- In a handbag
- In a gym bag
- In a coat pocket
- In the finger of a rubber glove
- In the kitchen sink drain pipe
- In the car
Next steps when it’s officially lost
Begin the process of accepting the situation
When you’ve exhausted your options for finding your ring, it can mean you have to arrive at the sad conclusion that it is officially lost. Accepting this conclusion can help your stress, but if you truly believe the ring is lost at home, you could find it even years later so ensure you’ve checked every crevice. As purchasing two rings can be a huge expense, buying a cheaper substitute ring can be useful while you keep searching. However, if you still have your engagement ring, that could work as a suitable replacement.
Replicate your ring
Creating a replica of your ring is a relatively simple process, but it does require you to have a picture of the ring for reference. If you don’t have access to images of your ring, you might have to contact your jeweller to get information about the colour, cut, clarity, and carat of your ring. Further information such as your band size and preferred metal may be required too.
Make a claim with your insurance
When you know your ring is lost for good, filing a claim with your ring insurance provider can be the perfect remedy to the stress of how much your ring costs, and how you’ll afford a replacement for your lost wedding ring. You’ll also want to check what coverage you have in your policy.
Here at Stanhope Insurance, we offer worldwide coverage which is perfect if you lose your ring on your honeymoon. You’ll also have comprehensive coverage available for up to one million pounds, so we can help make you whole in the event of accidental damage, theft and loss. If you don’t currently have insurance for your ring, we offer premiums from just £9.33 per month.
Consequences of making a claim
Like motor vehicle insurance, when making a claim for your jewellery insurance you will lose any accrued no claims bonus discount (usually around 10%). Be aware of making multiple loss claims within a three year period. More than one accidental loss claim might cause your insurance provider to not to offer a renewal option and you might need to look for alternative insurance solutions.
Most stand alone insurance policies are covering the one item only. When you lose this item and the insurers pay out, the policy has fulfilled its purpose and you may need to take out another policy for the ring.