Why Standard Carrier Coverage Is Not Enough for Valuables
Standard carrier liability is designed for ordinary parcels. For high-value items it often falls short: carriers commonly apply special limits or exclusions to jewelry, watches, antiques and artwork, and their basic liability is usually a small fraction of what such a shipment is worth.
Declared value is also not the same as insurance. Declaring a value tells the carrier what you say the shipment is worth, but it does not guarantee that the full amount is paid if something goes wrong. Full-value insurance is a separate layer of protection that covers the declared value of the shipment, up to $150,000 with Unival.
That gap is why Philadelphia dealers, galleries and businesses ship valuables with a provider that treats insurance and secure handling as one service.
Insured Shipping for Philadelphia's High-Value Trades
Philadelphia's Jewelers' Row is often described as the oldest diamond district in the United States. It is concentrated on Sansom Street between 7th and 8th Streets and along 8th Street between Chestnut and Walnut Streets, and it is home to more than 300 jewelry retailers, wholesalers, craftspeople and traders, many of them family businesses that have operated for generations.
Nearby, Antique Row adds an established market in antiques and collectibles. The city's museums and galleries, and its hospitals, universities and research institutions, add art and medical shipments. The table shows what typically matters most for each type of shipment leaving Philadelphia.
| Shipment | Typical Philadelphia sender | What matters most |
|---|---|---|
| Jewelry and diamonds | Dealers, craftspeople, retailers | Accurate declared value, signature at delivery |
| Watches | Dealers, watchmakers, collectors | Serial number records, signed delivery |
| Antiques and collectibles | Antique dealers, collectors | Appraisal, careful packing, condition notes |
| Fine art | Galleries, collectors, dealers | Condition records, careful packing |
| Medical equipment and supplies | Hospitals, labs, device companies | Documented handling, delivery on a set date |
Every shipment is insured for its declared value, up to $150,000. Learn how full-value insurance works before you ship.
Shipping Along the Northeast Corridor and Beyond
Philadelphia sits between New York and Washington on the Northeast Corridor, so many of its shipments travel to buyers and dealers in neighboring cities. From Philadelphia we ship valuables across the United States and internationally, using major carrier networks combined with Unival's own coverage and secure handling.
Unival is headquartered in the Los Angeles Jewelry District and insures and tracks shipments in both directions between Philadelphia and the rest of the country. Read more about our secure transportation, or see our overviews of insured shipping in New York and insured shipping in Los Angeles.
For international shipments, accurate customs paperwork, including a commercial invoice with the correct value and description, prevents delays and supports any later insurance claim.
What Affects the Cost of Insured Shipping From Philadelphia?
The price has two parts: the shipping itself and the insurance on the declared value. The declared value, the destination, the delivery speed and the handling requirements all change the total.
Because every shipment is different, we quote it before it moves. Get a quote with your item type, value and destination.
How to Prepare a High-Value Shipment
Good preparation prevents most disputes. Before you ship, check the following:
- Keep the invoice, appraisal or other proof of value for the item.
- Photograph the item and record serial numbers, certificates or grading reports where they exist.
- Declare the full, accurate value. Under-declaring can reduce what is paid out in a claim.
- Use plain, sealed packaging with no mention of the contents on the outside.
- Make sure the recipient is available to sign for the delivery.
