How do I assess a jeweller’s insurance claims history and security setup?

Begin with the paperwork. Request the policy, the schedule of what is covered and every claim the shop has made, including those that were denied. A single loss from a break-in tells you less than a pattern. Ask what changed afterward: locks, lighting, staffing, opening routines.

Then check the policy against reality. Does the cover match the stock held in the vault, the pieces out for repair and the goods on consignment? Gaps matter, and so do conditions the insurer attached, such as required alarm monitoring. If the shop has not met them, a claim could be refused. Your broker can explain how the insurer might view a change of owner.

Finally, look at the security yourself. Test the alarm, watch how cameras are placed and how long footage is kept, and ask who holds keys and codes. Observe how staff handle high-value items at the counter. Digital security counts too: ask who can reach the point-of-sale system and the shop’s accounts, and compare it with the baseline controls published for small organizations. Weak access there can expose customer records and sales history to people who should not see them.

Key takeaways

• Get the complete claims history, including declined and withdrawn claims.
• Compare the coverage schedule to stock, repairs and consigned pieces.
• Test the alarm and cameras, and ask who holds keys and codes.
• Check that policy conditions on security were actually being met.