Events & AwardsApr 18, 2025
Daymond John to Give Keynote at JCK Las VegasThe entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.
TrendsMar 03, 2016
A Century of Assurance
Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company got its start when a group of retailers bonded over a common problem: no companies wanted to insure their businesses.
PHOTO The Wisconsin Insurance Department granted the charter for what then was called the Jewelers Mutual Limited Fire Insurance Company of Wisconsin in 1913. In 1918, the company changed its name to the National Jewelers Mutual Fire Insurance Company to reflect its growth.
PHOTO The Wisconsin Insurance Department granted the charter for what then was called the Jewelers Mutual Limited Fire Insurance Company of Wisconsin in 1913. In 1918, the company changed its name to the National Jewelers Mutual Fire Insurance Company to reflect its growth.
PHOTO Jewelers attend the 8th annual Wisconsin Retail Jewelers Association Convention in Milwaukee in 1913. It was around this time the retailers hatched the idea of starting their own mutual insurance company.
PHOTO Jewelers Mutual first operated out of the back of the Nelson-Anderson Jewelry Store.
Anderson was the secretary of both the Wisconsin Retail Jewelers Association and the American National Retail Jewelers Association (ANRJA.) The ANRJA eventually merged with National Credit Jewelers of America to form Retail Jewelers of America, which changed its name to Jewelers of America in 1980.
PHOTO After surviving the stock market crash of Oct. 29, 1929, Jewelers Mutual experienced two firsts in 1934, amid the Great Depression. The company hired its first agent and purchased its first office, which was in the historic downtown section of Neenah. Today, Jewelers Mutual has more than 200 independent agents and brokers in the U.S. and Canada.
PHOTO Now a staple at industry tradeshows nationwide, Jewelers Mutual employees attended their first trade show in 1945. This photo was taken during the company’s early years of trade show attendance.
PHOTO This photo from the 1950s shows the Jewelers Mutual staff at work.
PHOTO The company adopted its current name, Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company, in 1952, the same year this photo was taken.
PHOTO The following year, the company introduced personal jewelry insurance for customers. Today, it is called Perfect Circle Jewelry Insurance.
PHOTO Jewelers Mutual moved into its current office space, located at 24 Jewelers Park Drive in Neenah, in 1980, later expanding the facility by 18,900 square feet.
PHOTO This photo provides a glimpse into the offices, and at the technology, of Jewelers Mutual in the 1980s.
PHOTO This 1980s-era advertisement for loss prevention materials from Jewelers Mutual shows the industry’s concerns haven’t changed that much over the years. The ad lists some familiar names as contributing to the film’s production: the now-defunct Diamond Promotion Services, which once functioned as the advertising arm of De Beers in the U.S., and the Jewelers’ Security Alliance.
PHOTO Former President and CEO Ron Harder, who helmed the company for 25 years, credits consistent attendance at trade shows with helping to turn the tide when it came to jewelers’ attitudes about insurance.
PHOTO Harder retired in 2007, 34 years after first joined Jewelers Mutual. The company’s public gallery, located at its Neenah headquarters, is named the R. Harder Gallery of Gems and Minerals in his honor.
PHOTO This aquamarine is one of the many gems and minerals on display in the Harder gallery. Retailer and Jewelers Mutual board member Cathy Calhoun likens visiting the gallery to being in the Smithsonian.“I am not kidding,” she says. “All the employees work around these gems so they are constantly reminded they are in the jewelry industry.”
PHOTO Jewelers Mutual hired its current CEO Copeman in 2009. At this year’s Women Jewelry Association Awards for Excellence gala, Copeman received the Ben Kaiser Award, which goes to a male member of the jewelry industry who shows extraordinary support for women.
Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company got its start when a group of retailers bonded over a common problem: no companies wanted to insure their businesses.
One hundred years later, the company has expanded to provide coverage for thousands of jewelers and individuals across the United States and Canada.
Click through this slideshow to see 100 years of history in photos, beginning with the very meeting around which the organization formed in 1913.
The Wisconsin Insurance Department granted the charter for what then was called the Jewelers Mutual Limited Fire Insurance Company of Wisconsin in 1913. In 1918, the company changed its name to the National Jewelers Mutual Fire Insurance Company to reflect its growth.
Jewelers attend the 8th annual Wisconsin Retail Jewelers Association Convention in Milwaukee in 1913. It was around this time the retailers hatched the idea of starting their own mutual insurance company.
Jewelers Mutual first operated out of the back of the Nelson-Anderson Jewelry Store.
Anderson was the secretary of both the Wisconsin Retail Jewelers Association and the American National Retail Jewelers Association (ANRJA.) The ANRJA eventually merged with National Credit Jewelers of America to form Retail Jewelers of America, which changed its name to Jewelers of America in 1980.
After surviving the stock market crash of Oct. 29, 1929, Jewelers Mutual experienced two firsts in 1934, amid the Great Depression. The company hired its first agent and purchased its first office, which was in the historic downtown section of Neenah. Today, Jewelers Mutual has more than 200 independent agents and brokers in the U.S. and Canada.
Now a staple at industry tradeshows nationwide, Jewelers Mutual employees attended their first trade show in 1945. This photo was taken during the company’s early years of trade show attendance.
This photo from the 1950s shows the Jewelers Mutual staff at work.
The company adopted its current name, Jewelers Mutual Insurance Company, in 1952, the same year this photo was taken.
The following year, the company introduced personal jewelry insurance for customers. Today, it is called Perfect Circle Jewelry Insurance.
Jewelers Mutual moved into its current office space, located at 24 Jewelers Park Drive in Neenah, in 1980, later expanding the facility by 18,900 square feet.
This photo provides a glimpse into the offices, and at the technology, of Jewelers Mutual in the 1980s.
This 1980s-era advertisement for loss prevention materials from Jewelers Mutual shows the industry’s concerns haven’t changed that much over the years. The ad lists some familiar names as contributing to the film’s production: the now-defunct Diamond Promotion Services, which once functioned as the advertising arm of De Beers in the U.S., and the Jewelers’ Security Alliance.
Former President and CEO Ron Harder, who helmed the company for 25 years, credits consistent attendance at trade shows with helping to turn the tide when it came to jewelers’ attitudes about insurance.
Harder retired in 2007, 34 years after first joined Jewelers Mutual. The company’s public gallery, located at its Neenah headquarters, is named the R. Harder Gallery of Gems and Minerals in his honor.
This aquamarine is one of the many gems and minerals on display in the Harder gallery. Retailer and Jewelers Mutual board member Cathy Calhoun likens visiting the gallery to being in the Smithsonian.“I am not kidding,” she says. “All the employees work around these gems so they are constantly reminded they are in the jewelry industry.”
Jewelers Mutual hired its current CEO Copeman in 2009. At this year’s Women Jewelry Association Awards for Excellence gala, Copeman received the Ben Kaiser Award, which goes to a male member of the jewelry industry who shows extraordinary support for women.
More on Trends
The Latest
CollectionsApr 18, 2025
Piece of the Week: Dukachi’s ‘Easter Bread’ PendantThe Ukrainian brand’s new pendant is modeled after a traditional paska, a pastry often baked for Easter in Eastern European cultures.
IndependentsApr 18, 2025
Bremer Jewelry to Reveal Renovated StoreThe jeweler has announced a grand reopening for its recently remodeled location in Peoria, Illinois.
MajorsApr 18, 2025
Tiffany & Co. Employees Star in Mother’s Day CampaignThe “Strong Like Mom” campaign features moms who work at Tiffany & Co. and their children.
Weekly QuizApr 18, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
CollectionsApr 17, 2025
John Hardy, Athena Calderone Partner on Art Deco Decor-Inspired CollectionInterior designer Athena Calderone looked to decor from the 1920s and 1930s when crafting her first fine jewelry collection.
FinancialsApr 17, 2025
Movado Group to Increase Prices to Offset Tariffs ImpactDuring a call about its full-year results, CEO Efraim Grinberg discussed how the company is approaching the uncertainty surrounding tariffs.
Brought to you by
The Heart of the Industry: Giving Bench Jewelers the Recognition They DeserveBench jewelers spend years honing their skills, Jewelers of America’s Certification validates their talents.
Lab-GrownApr 17, 2025
NDC Launches Its Diamond Learning CenterThe free program provides educational content for jewelry salespeople and enthusiasts to learn or refresh their diamond knowledge.
Policies & IssuesApr 17, 2025
Jewelers of America Requests Tariffs Testimonials from MembersThe feedback will be used to prepare other jewelers for the challenges ahead, the organization said.
TechnologyApr 17, 2025
Technology Therapy Group Expands AI Training for Jewelry RetailersThe online sessions are designed to teach jewelers to use AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude to grow their business.
IndependentsApr 16, 2025
Catbird Expands to ChicagoThe opening marks the jewelry retailer’s first location in the Midwest.
CollectionsApr 16, 2025
Foundrae’s First Commitment Jewelry Collection Unites Through LoveThe “United in Love” collection offers tangible mementos of hearts entwined with traditional and non-traditional commitment heirlooms.
IndependentsApr 16, 2025
Indiana Jeweler to Host Black Jewelry Designer Pop-UpRobert Goodman Jewelers will hold a “Black Jewelry Designers and Makers” event on April 27.
MajorsApr 16, 2025
WJA Announces Board Members, New Chicago Chapter PresidentThe announcements follow a tumultuous start to 2025 for WJA, which saw a wave of resignations following controversial statements about DEI.
EditorsApr 15, 2025
Tariffs: What We Know Right Now Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff answers questions about how the new taxes levied on countries like India and China will impact the industry.
EditorsApr 15, 2025
Q&A: Bogolo Joy Kenewendo on Making Deals, Marketing DiamondsKenewendo, Botswana’s minster of minerals and energy, discusses closing the deal with De Beers and the work that was missed along the way.
AuctionsApr 15, 2025
23-Carat ‘Golconda Blue’ Heads to AuctionThe historic fancy vivid blue diamond set to headline Christie’s Geneva sale next month could sell for up to $50 million.
FinancialsApr 15, 2025
LVMH’s Q1 Sales Slip 2 PercentLVMH CFO Cécile Cabanis also discussed the effects of tariffs so far.
CrimeApr 15, 2025
Jon Hamm Plays a Jewel Thief on Apple TV+The “Mad Men” and “The Morning Show” star steals jewelry, art, and handbags from his wealthy neighbors in “Your Friends & Neighbors.”
SourcingApr 15, 2025
Diamond Club West Coast Names 2025 BoardThe organization has reelected Kalpesh Jhaveri as president.
FinancialsApr 14, 2025
Movado to Restate Years of Financials Due to ‘Misconduct’ in Dubai An investigation found that the former managing director of Movado’s Dubai branch overstated and prematurely recorded sales.
CollectionsApr 14, 2025
Sauer Embraces Emptiness Through ‘Ma’ CollectionThe collection pays tribute to the Japanese philosophy of Ma, studying balance, stillness, and the interplay between presence and absence.
IndependentsApr 14, 2025
Illinois Jeweler Closing After 45 YearsMari Lou’s Fine Jewelry in Orland Park, a suburb of Chicago, is closing its doors.
GradingApr 14, 2025
GIA Expands Overseas Services as Tariffs Kick InGIA’s labs in Dubai and Hong Kong are now accepting larger diamonds in light of the “logistical challenges” presented by the new tariffs.
AuctionsApr 11, 2025
Piece of the Week: A Replica of Princess Grace’s Wedding EarringsThese earrings by Van Cleef & Arpels, featuring the same design as a pair worn by Princess Grace, are up for auction at Woolley & Wallis.
Recorded WebinarsApr 11, 2025
Watch: Top Tips for Saving Time With AITwo experts share how artificial intelligence tools can help retailers run a more efficient business.
