High Value in Motion. Covered Every Mile.
Protecting the wholesalers that move high-value jewelry and watches
Jewelry and watch distribution is a high-value, high-theft business where the inventory is small, portable, and worth a fortune — and it rarely sits still. Stock moves between vaults, trade shows, and customers; large amounts go out on memo or consignment to retailers; and shipments cross the country by insured carrier. The signature coverage for the class is jewelers block, a specialized inland-marine form built to follow valuable merchandise wherever it goes, including the goods-in-transit and out-on-memo exposures that an ordinary property policy excludes or caps. Theft and robbery are not remote possibilities in this trade; they are the exposure the entire program is designed around.
Insuring a jewelry and watch distributor is about protecting concentrated value that is almost always in motion or in someone else's hands.
Key Risks in Operations
Theft, robbery, and burglary of high-value, portable stock
Loss of goods in transit between vaults, shows, and customers
Merchandise out on memo or consignment with retailers
Mysterious disappearance and employee theft of valuable inventory
Importer and customs exposure on overseas-sourced goods
Property and vault exposure at the business location
Contractual obligations with retailers and carriers
The value is concentrated, portable, and constantly exposed.
Core Coverages
Jewelers Block Insurance — The defining coverage — a specialized inland-marine form covering stock on premises, in transit, in the mail, and out on memo or consignment against theft, loss, and damage.
Commercial Crime / Fidelity Coverage — Responds to employee theft and dishonesty involving high-value inventory.
Property & Vault Coverage — Covers the premises and the physical security infrastructure protecting the stock.
General Liability — Protects against third-party injury and property damage in operations.
Transit & Shipment Coverage — Protects goods shipped by insured carrier and hand-carried to shows and customers.
Consignment / Memo Coverage — Addresses merchandise placed with retailers on memo or consignment.
Cyber & Privacy Liability — Covers breaches of customer and transaction data.
Workers' Compensation, Umbrella / Excess Liability — Round out the program for staff and larger limits.
What's Commonly Overlooked
Jewelry and watch distribution programs are often weakened by:
Relying on a standard property policy that caps or excludes jewelry and transit
No coverage for goods out on memo or consignment with retailers
Transit limits set below the value of actual shipments
Weak protective-safeguard compliance that voids theft coverage
Mysterious-disappearance and employee-theft gaps
These gaps typically surface at claim time — not before.
Stock is stolen in a robbery or burglary at the premises
A shipment is lost or stolen in transit between vaults or shows
Merchandise out on memo disappears from a retailer
An employee diverts high-value inventory over time
A protective-safeguard lapse jeopardizes a theft claim
A single transit or robbery loss can run into the millions.
Why Proper Placement Matters
Coverage varies significantly based on:
Stock values on premises, in transit, and out on memo
Protective safeguards — vaults, alarms, and procedures — and compliance with them
Shipping methods and carrier requirements
Trade-show and travel exposure
Imported versus domestically sourced goods
Improper placement can leave high-value stock exposed exactly where it spends most of its time — in motion or out on memo.
Our Approach
At Cory Washington & Co., we build jewelry and watch distribution programs around jewelers block coverage first — following the value on premises, in transit, and out on memo — then layer crime, property, and transit coverage so a loss is answered wherever it happens. For storefront jewelers, see our jewelry store page; for designers and makers, our jewelry maker and designer page.
Concentrated value, constant motion, continuous coverage.
All insurance descriptions on this website are provided by Cory Washington & Co. LLC strictly for general informational purposes. They are not intended to be, and should not be relied upon as, legal, financial, or insurance advice. The information presented is general in nature and does not guarantee the availability, terms, conditions, or scope of any insurance coverage. Actual coverage is determined solely by the specific policy language issued by the insurer and remains subject to underwriting approval. Nothing on this website creates or implies an agent-client relationship, binds coverage, or alters any existing policy. Cory Washington & Co. LLC expressly disclaims any liability for actions taken, or not taken, based on the content provided here. For advice regarding your particular situation, please consult directly with a licensed insurance professional at Cory Washington & Co. LLC or another qualified insurance professional, and always review your policy documents in full.
See the coverages a jewelry & watch distributor business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — plus the gap most often missed, in the Jewelry & Watch Distributor Coverage Checklist.
Complete the Jewelry & Watch Distributor Supplemental online in a few guided steps, download the fillable PDF, or browse all applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get jewelry & watch distributor & wholesaler insurance through Cory Washington & Co.?
Request a quote or contact our team. We start with a short conversation about your operations, analyze your exposures, then negotiate jewelry & watch distributor & wholesaler insurance across multiple carriers that compete for your account and present options with the trade-offs explained. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
How are jewelry & watch distributor & wholesaler insurance premiums priced?
There is no flat rate. The cost of jewelry & watch distributor & wholesaler insurance reflects your industry, your size (payroll and revenue), your claims history, and the limits and deductibles you choose. We market your account to multiple carriers, compare the real quotes side by side, and explain what is driving each number so you can weigh coverage against price with confidence.
Is jewelry & watch distributor & wholesaler insurance mandatory?
It depends on your situation. Some coverage is required by law; more often, jewelry & watch distributor & wholesaler insurance is required by a contract, lease, lender, or client before they will do business with you — and even when it is not mandated, it guards against exposures that can be severe. We review your operations and obligations and tell you plainly what you need and why.
What if another agency has already declined or non-renewed my coverage?
Difficult, specialty, and previously-declined placements are a core part of our work. We access excess & surplus (E&S) and specialty markets that many generalist agencies cannot, and we explain the trade-offs clearly so you can decide with confidence.
Available in all 50 states. See how requirements differ in California, Texas, Florida, New York, or choose your state.