ColumnistsApr 09, 2026
Jewelry Demand Isn’t Stronger, Prices Are Just Higher Jewelers who misinterpret the state of the jewelry market risk employing the wrong retail strategy, cautions columnist Sherry Smith.
Policies & IssuesNov 03, 2020
10 Safety Tips for Jewelers Ahead of Election Day
As a highly contentious election season comes to a head, Berkley Asset Protection shares tips for securing jewelry stores in the event of civil unrest.
R.F. Moeller Jewelers, which has two stores in the Minneapolis area, boarded up both locations in June after lootings occurred in the city following the death of George Floyd.
New York—As an election season unlike any other nears its close, murmurs of civil unrest on the horizon have retailers nationwide on high alert.
Business owners are wary of a repeat of the events that followed protests organized in response to the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died at the hands of white police officers in Minneapolis in May.
Amid the peaceful protestors who rallied against racism and called for accountability in the face of police violence against Black Americans were pockets of individuals who damaged property and looted stores.
While some said the looting was opportunistic and detracted from the call for justice, others said peaceful protests have been ignored in the past and were angered that some people seemed more upset about the property damage than the loss of human life.
Cities across the U.S. are readying themselves in the event they face a similar situation on Election Day in a tense and deeply divided nation.
In downtown Los Angeles’ jewelry district, the International Jewelry Center and St. Vincent Jewelry Center buildings have both issued “civil disturbance precautions” to tenants.
Tiffany & Co., Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and other high-end retailers have implemented additional security measures ahead of Election Day.
Police departments in New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Houston, Las Vegas and other cities are preparing in the event of any election-related disturbances.
RELATED CONTENT: Jewelers React to Nationwide Protests, Looting
Three out of four voters are concerned about post-election violence, according to a recent USA Today/Suffolk University poll, with only one in four respondents saying they are “very confident” there will be a peaceful transfer of power if Democratic challenger Joe Biden defeats President Donald Trump.
Jewelers’ Security Alliance President John Kennedy said in a statement to National Jeweler that jewelers can remain open, but should continue to take all the usual protections.
Berkley Asset Protection, which specializes in insuring jewelry, fine art, and other high-value items, has compiled a list of tips for jewelers concerned about election-related unrest, some of which are just standard store security measures.
Put all merchandise away in a safe or vault.
“The civil unrest that we saw this summer centered around property damage and commotion. These individuals were not trained burglars,” Berkley Asset Protection noted.
By moving items into the safe or a vault, the building may sustain damage, but the merchandise will be safely tucked away.
Do not cover the showcases, as that may give the impression that valuable items are underneath.
Business owners are wary of a repeat of the events that followed protests organized in response to the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died at the hands of white police officers in Minneapolis in May.
Amid the peaceful protestors who rallied against racism and called for accountability in the face of police violence against Black Americans were pockets of individuals who damaged property and looted stores.
While some said the looting was opportunistic and detracted from the call for justice, others said peaceful protests have been ignored in the past and were angered that some people seemed more upset about the property damage than the loss of human life.
Cities across the U.S. are readying themselves in the event they face a similar situation on Election Day in a tense and deeply divided nation.
In downtown Los Angeles’ jewelry district, the International Jewelry Center and St. Vincent Jewelry Center buildings have both issued “civil disturbance precautions” to tenants.
Tiffany & Co., Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and other high-end retailers have implemented additional security measures ahead of Election Day.
Police departments in New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Houston, Las Vegas and other cities are preparing in the event of any election-related disturbances.
RELATED CONTENT: Jewelers React to Nationwide Protests, Looting
Three out of four voters are concerned about post-election violence, according to a recent USA Today/Suffolk University poll, with only one in four respondents saying they are “very confident” there will be a peaceful transfer of power if Democratic challenger Joe Biden defeats President Donald Trump.
Jewelers’ Security Alliance President John Kennedy said in a statement to National Jeweler that jewelers can remain open, but should continue to take all the usual protections.
Berkley Asset Protection, which specializes in insuring jewelry, fine art, and other high-value items, has compiled a list of tips for jewelers concerned about election-related unrest, some of which are just standard store security measures.
Put all merchandise away in a safe or vault.
“The civil unrest that we saw this summer centered around property damage and commotion. These individuals were not trained burglars,” Berkley Asset Protection noted.
By moving items into the safe or a vault, the building may sustain damage, but the merchandise will be safely tucked away.
Do not cover the showcases, as that may give the impression that valuable items are underneath.
Leave them uncovered to show that the case is empty and encourage robbers to move along, something JSA always advises jewelers to do.
“By having a contingency plan to get all inventory safely secured, the store will be less of a target,” said Berkley Asset Protection.
Don’t forget about inventory records.
Move inventory records offsite or keep a backup in a cloud-based system, as they can be difficult to recreate.
Having the records on-hand also makes it easier to file a claim if there is any loss.
Keep in touch with the local authorities.
The company advised paying close attention to communications from local police departments.
Heed any warnings of a possible event and abide by the advice given. Have a direct line to local law enforcement saved on your phone and your employees’ phones.
“We saw incidents this summer where unrest flared up in the afternoon. Being caught by surprise, some jewelers did not have the proper amount of time to close their store and secure goods,” Berkley said.
Be mindful of local news as well to see if there is unrest in nearby areas.
Make it clear there is no jewelry inside the store.
If a storefront is boarded up, consider writing “No Jewelry Onsite” on the boards.
While jewelry stores are always a target, signage outside may dissuade people from breaking into the store.
Close before the evening comes.
Jewelers should consider operating with reduced hours so the store can be closed before the evening.
“The important thing is having a pulse of the local community and potential triggers to unrest, especially in larger metro areas,” Berkley said.
If the store alarm goes off, wait for the police before visiting the store.
Several instances of video surveillance show that jewelry store break-ins can happen in waves, said the company.
“The last thing you want to face is entering the store, which appears empty, to then be confronted with another wave of rioters.”
Value safety over property.
Do not sleep in your store or attempt to defend it in any way, said Berkeley Asset Protection.
Once the store is boarded up and the merchandise has been moved to a safe place, focus on personal safety.
Be sure security cameras are working properly.
It’s important to have working cameras, but also to have them set up in the right places, like near cash registers, on expensive showcases and at exterior doors.
Be sure they’re at the proper height to capture a person’s face.
Have a system in place that stores the images for at least 30 days that is backed up to the cloud or another system off the premises.
Keep employees in the know.
Jewelers need to have a plan of action for last-minute situations. Staff should be briefed on what to do in case of an emergency.
Go through the store’s security protocol on a regular basis so staff know what to do in the event of a real-life situation.
For more information about store safety, visit Berkley Asset Protection’s website.
More on Policies & Issues
The Latest
MajorsApr 09, 2026
Tiffany & Co. Promotes Nathalie Verdeille to SVP, Chief Artistic OfficerIn her newly expanded role, she will continue to oversee the jewelry category, as well as watches, home, and accessories.
WatchesApr 09, 2026
Jacob & Co. Rolls Out Its Sequel to ‘The Godfather’ Musical Watch“The Godfather II” watch plays two melodies from the mob film’s score, “The Godfather’s Waltz” and “The Godfather Love Theme.”
Brought to you by
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessYou deserve to know what you are selling–to protect your customers as well as your business and your reputation.
Events & AwardsApr 09, 2026
JCK Announces Jesse Itzler as 2026 Keynote SpeakerOrganizers have also introduced the new JCK Talks Signature Series, as well as an offering of watch-focused workshops and lectures.
Weekly QuizApr 02, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
SourcingApr 09, 2026
AGA To Honor ‘Quiet Leadership’ With New AwardThe Alan Hodgkinson Medal recognizes gemologists who are consistently generous with their time and expertise.
WatchesApr 09, 2026
Oris Names New CEO, CFOThe Swiss watchmaker is changing up its executive leadership team as part of a restructuring.
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
CollectionsApr 08, 2026
Hearts On Fire Celebrates 30 Years By Asking a QuestionThe “What’s Your Signature?” campaign invites women to think about how they see themselves.
SourcingApr 08, 2026
Sale of 42-Carat Blue Diamond Gives Petra a Boost in Q3The big diamond’s sale added to the company’s revenue though the market remains “challenging” overall, particularly for smaller goods.
Events & AwardsApr 08, 2026
AGS Confluence Returns with AI, Sustainability SessionsRob Bates of The Jewelry Wire will also moderate a panel on the state of the jewelry industry during the virtual event.
Events & AwardsApr 08, 2026
TJS to Honor 2 Longtime Former Stuller EmployeesThe Jewelry Symposium will honor two industry veterans with lifetime achievement awards at its upcoming May event.
TrendsApr 08, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: April’s Brilliant Birthstone With their durability, brilliance, and beauty, diamonds are the perfect stone for everyday birthstone jewelry.
MajorsApr 07, 2026
QVC Group’s Latest Filing Calls Its Future Into QuestionThe retailer failed to file its annual report on time and said it may issue a going concern warning.
ColumnistsApr 07, 2026
Peter Smith: A Tip to the Post Office on Workplace CultureSmith recounts a recent trip to the post office that included an uncomfortable, embarrassing, and public exchange between two employees.
GradingApr 07, 2026
GIA CFO David Tearle to Retire in June John Cowley, who has more than 30 years of experience, is succeeding Tearle as the lab’s chief financial officer.
CollectionsApr 07, 2026
Nerd Out Over Gemology Geek’s First Jewelry CollectionFounder Erica Silverglide has designed 35 colorful pieces set with fluorescing gemstones for the brand's first finished jewelry offering.
CollectionsApr 07, 2026
Ukrainian Jewelers Highlighted In New Book“Ukrainian Jewelry | Contemporary Jewelry and Art Jewelry from Ukraine” features 33 contemporary Ukrainian designers and studios.
CollectionsApr 06, 2026
Fope’s New Jewelry Debuts Are Golden“The Golden Now” campaign celebrates the here and now with the brand’s signature styles and a selection of its new pieces.
MajorsApr 06, 2026
Kecia Caffie, Corinne Bentzen No Longer With Signet JewelersSignet confirmed that Caffie, president of Zales and Banter, and Bentzen, who headed Blue Nile, have left the company.
CollectionsApr 06, 2026
Historian Tanzy Ward Pens Book on Black Victorians’ JewelryThe antique jewelry dealer talks about the importance of including Black Americans in jewelry history and preserving their stories.
SourcingApr 06, 2026
Gemfields Reports $51M Loss in 2025Both its mines faced challenges last year, from operational issues to disruptions in the market.
CollectionsApr 03, 2026
Taylor Swift’s ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ Video Puts Jewelry Front and CenterIconic pieces, like the Mike Todd Diamond Tiara, appear in the superstar’s new music video for her song inspired by the actress.
MajorsApr 03, 2026
Saks Global Says It Will Emerge From Bankruptcy This SummerThe luxury retailer, which went Chapter 11 in January, announced Thursday that it has secured $500 million in exit financing.
Events & AwardsApr 03, 2026
JCK Luxury, NouvelleBox Partner on New Designer BallroomThe NouvelleBox ballroom will feature independent jewelry designers, including Lene Vibe, Wyld Box Jewelry, and Kiaia Limited.
CollectionsApr 03, 2026
Buddha Mama Brings Its ‘Moon’ Locket To DallasThe one-of-a-kind locket, our Piece of the Week, opens to reveal three hidden images to keep close to your heart.
MajorsApr 02, 2026
Pandora Opens New Canadian Distribution Center Amid Tariff ConcernsThe new facility was also designed to better serve its growing customer base in Canada.
