MajorsNov 10, 2025
Jewelers Focus on Love, Joy In 2025 Holiday Campaigns Tiffany & Co., David Yurman, and Pandora have launched holiday campaigns depicting their jewelry as symbols of affection and happiness.
IndependentsOct 06, 2016
7 Shots of a Fla. Jeweler Preparing for Hurricane Matthew
The team at J.R. Dunn Jewelers has taken a number of precautions to secure the store before the storm makes landfall, learning from its past experiences.
J.R. Dunn Jewelers in Lighthouse Point, Fla. prepares for Hurricane Matthew to make landfall.
Lighthouse Point, Fla.--J.R. Dunn Jewelers has weathered a storm before, and it’s learned from its experiences.
In 2005, Hurricane Wilma hit. Though the store only suffered minor structural damage, it was without power for almost 10 days, leading store owner Jim Dunn to sleep there on an air mattress with a shotgun at his side for the duration.
Once the storm was over, the team continued with clean-up and painting, even as the store remained without power.
They even managed to make a sale, showing one of the store’s regular customers a 3-carat, H color, VS2 clarity diamond out in the parking lot. The setting actually ended up providing just the light right for the diamond to sparkle, and sure enough, they sold the stone.
Now, as Hurricane Matthew nears, and is expected to hit Florida Thursday night, J.R. Dunn Jewelers--located in Lighthouse Point in the southern part of the state--is taking the lessons it learned from Wilma as it prepares the store for the storm.
Sales Manager Andrew Lefton is pictured here in his “Team J.R. Dunn Jewelers” shirt as he helps secure the hurricane shutters before Hurricane Matthew makes landfall. As security of the employees and their families also was a top priority, a number of team members arrived early in the morning to secure the store and then were sent home to allow time for their own preparations.
The company said it learned a few lessons from Hurricane Wilma more than a decade ago--it now has a big commercial generator, and battened down the hatches earlier this time around.
Covering the showcases, unplugging the computers and telephones and moving desk and office supplies to higher ground in case of flooding is an important part of storm prep. Storms shutters were also put on the showroom windows.
The store’s jewelers finalize hurricane preparations.
J.R. Dunn is ready to continue to do business online at all times as the hurricane comes through--the retailer has forwarded its main toll-free number to the e-commerce sales teams’ cell phones to maintain the same level of service. Pictured here is the street-side of the J.R. Dunn e-commerce building, with a little graffiti message to show its online ordering systems will be up no matter how big the storm gets.
The team also added a lighter mood to the messages it left on the blank wooden boards on its e-commerce building, with this one reading “#HurricaneMatthew. A Storm So Nice It Might Hit Twice. #BeSafe,” playing off of some forecasts that the storm could loop around and hit Florida a second time.
Store founder Jim Dunn got in on the action of helping prepare the store before the storm.
More on Independents
The Latest
SurveysNov 10, 2025
5 Things Retailers Should Know About Holiday Shoppers This YearThe National Retail Federation is bullish on the holidays, forecasting retail sales to exceed $1 trillion this year.
AuctionsNov 10, 2025
300+ Colored Diamonds Up for Auction at Christie’sLate collector Eddy Elzas assembled “The Rainbow Collection,” which is offered as a single lot and estimated to fetch up to $3 million.
Brought to you by
Roseco Releases New Full-Line CatalogRoseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.
EditorsNov 07, 2025
Piece of the Week: An MVP’s Sapphire Tennis Necklace At the 2025 World Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto sported a custom necklace made by California retailer Happy Jewelers.
Weekly QuizNov 06, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
FinancialsNov 07, 2025
Watches of Switzerland’s H1 Sales Up 8%The retailer also shared an update on the impact of tariffs on watch customers.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
Pink Tourmaline Bracelet, Emerald Suite Take Top Spectrum Honors Pink and purple stones were popular in the AGTA’s design competition this year, as were cameos and ocean themes.
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America Aligns New Mission to Create Meaningful Impact for MembersFrom educational programs, advocacy, and recent MJSA affiliation, Jewelers of America drives progress that elevates businesses of all sizes.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Cornell’s Jewelers Names New PresidentCourtney Cornell is part of the third generation to lead the Rochester, New York-based jeweler.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
De Beers’ Production, Sales Increase in Q3 De Beers also announced more changes in its upper ranks ahead of parent company Anglo American’s pending sale of the company.
WatchesNov 05, 2025
Shinola President Steps Down Just as He Starts Former Signet CEO Mark Light will remain president of Shinola until a replacement for Ulrich Wohn is found.
AuctionsNov 05, 2025
Taylor Swift’s Engagement Ring Designer Makes Her Auction DebutKindred Lubeck of Artifex has three rings she designed with Anup Jogani in Sotheby’s upcoming Gem Drop sale.
FinancialsNov 05, 2025
Pandora Posts Modest Q3 Sales Growth Amid ‘Weak’ Consumer Sentiment The company focused on marketing in the third quarter and introduced two new charm collections, “Pandora Talisman” and “Pandora Minis.”
FinancialsNov 05, 2025
Brilliant Earth’s Q3 Sales Climb 10%The jewelry retailer raised its full-year guidance, with CFO Jeff Kuo describing the company as “very well positioned” for the holidays.
Policies & IssuesNov 04, 2025
Supreme Court to Hear Tariffs Case WednesdayAhead of the hearing, two industry organizations co-signed an amicus brief urging the court to declare Trump’s tariffs unlawful.
MajorsNov 04, 2025
Danny Clark to Become Stuller CEO, Succeeding Matt StullerStuller COO Belit Myers will take on the additional role of president, with all changes effective at the start of 2026.
ColumnistsNov 04, 2025
Peter Smith: What Do Birds Have to Do With the Price of Gold? Smith cautions retailers against expending too much energy on things they can’t control, like the rising price of gold.
TrendsNov 04, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Fall Colors for November BirthdaysCitrine and topaz are birthstones fit for fall as the leaves change color and the holiday season approaches.
IndependentsNov 04, 2025
Weston Jewelers Heads to Fort LauderdaleThe family-owned jeweler will open its fourth store in Florida in late 2027.
CrimeNov 03, 2025
Men Dressed as Construction Workers Burglarize Jeweler’s Home The NYPD is looking for three men who stole a safe and jewelry valued at $3.2 million from the home of a jeweler in Jamaica Hills, Queens.
MajorsNov 03, 2025
Matthew Rosenheim Takes Over as JA Board ChairThe trade organization also announced its executive committee and five new directors.
CollectionsNov 03, 2025
Muse’s ‘Have a Heart’ Collab Returns, Now With DDGThe “Have a Heart x Diamonds Do Good” collection is championed by model and humanitarian Flaviana Matata and will benefit her foundation.
AuctionsNov 03, 2025
Kashmir Sapphire Ring Tops Christie's Online AuctionThe ring, set with a nearly 17-carat Kashmir cabochon sapphire, sold for $1 million.
TrendsOct 31, 2025
Piece of the Week: A Spinner Fit for ‘Frankenstein’This “Mother Father” spinner necklace from Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry draws inspiration from Victorian Era jewelry.
CrimeOct 31, 2025
5 More Arrested in Louvre Heist, Jewelry Still Missing The suspects were rounded up in Paris and its suburbs on Wednesday night, but none of the stolen jewels were recovered with them.
Recorded WebinarsOct 31, 2025
Watch: How to Master Google Reviews for Your BusinessExperts share top tips on how to encourage positive reviews and handle negative feedback.
Supplier BulletinOct 30, 2025
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessSponsored by the Gemological Institute of America
