Northampton revealed as UK's 'bling' capital » Communities » 24dash.com

Britain's "bling" is worth an estimated £8.6 billion, according to a new survey today.

The poll by Halifax Home Insurance shows Britons keep a total of £52 billion worth of jewellery in their homes - with the average house containing gems worth £1,986.

The research found that 34 million of us wear £8.6 billion worth of jewellery every day.

The survey also produced a league table of Britain's "bling" towns - putting Northampton at the top.

The average person in the town wears £469 of jewellery every day, closely followed by Glasgow locals, who adorn themselves with £468 worth, and Wrexham residents, who wear gems valued at £460.

England's capital came 9th in the poll, with Londoners wearing £286 of jewellery. Bottom of the table was Swansea, where the average person wears £282 worth.

The research also showed that in some areas people are more like magpies - collecting and storing high value jewellery inside their homes.

Top magpie town is Milton Keynes where, it is claimed, the average home contains £3,186 worth of gems.

This is followed by Preston, where homeowners boast £3,001 worth, and Northampton with £2,919.

The figures collected by Halifax show that 11% of Britons own more than £5,000 worth of jewellery.

But 35% of these five million people have never had their jewellery valued and another 10% have not had a valuation for at least 10 years.

And 28% of people have had their jewellery valued but forgot to update their insurer.

Martyn Foulds, senior claims manager at Halifax Home Insurance, said: "Our research shows that between us we Brits own a staggering amount of jewellery and enjoy making a statement by wearing valuable items when out and about.

"However, it seems many people with expensive jewellery collections may be selling themselves short by not getting their articles valued fully and insured for the correct amount.

"We would advise anyone wearing particularly valuable items outside the home on a daily basis to make sure that they are fully insured for loss, damage or theft when outside their property."

TOP 10 BLING TOWNS

Town Average value

Northampton £469

Glasgow £468

Wrexham £460

Plymouth £391

Preston £374

Stoke £354

Birmingham £334

Bristol £291

London £286

Swansea £282

TOP 10 MAGPIE TOWNS

Town Average value

Milton Keynes £3,186

Preston £3,001

Stoke £2,919

Aberdeen £2,730

Hull £2,700

Northampton £2,627

London £2,367

Liverpool £2,286

Glasgow £2,272

Leeds £2,124

Source: Halifax Home Insurance 2008