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Jewellers block insurance in Germany: stock, safe and transit

A jewellery or watch shop keeps more value in a few square metres than many retailers hold in a warehouse. Standard German business contents policies are not designed for that: jewellery and watches are usually capped at small amounts or excluded. Jewellers block insurance, known in Germany as Valorenversicherung, covers stock in the shop, in the safe, on errands and in the post, often on an all risks basis. The limits per storage location decide what you actually get paid.

The question almost everyone asks first

Is my business contents policy enough for jewellery and watches?

Usually not. Ordinary German contents policies cap jewellery, precious metals and watches at low sums, and some insurers do not accept jewellers at all under them. They also cover only named perils such as burglary and robbery and nothing outside the premises. A jewellers block policy is built for high value in little space: it sets limits by storage location and security and can include customer goods, consignment stock and transit.

Your safe sets the sum insured

A jewellers block policy does not insure all stock the same way everywhere. It sets maximum amounts per location: in the locked safe, on the sales floor during opening hours, in display cabinets and in the window after closing. The limit for the safe depends on its resistance grade under EN 1143-1 and on whether an intruder alarm is connected to a monitoring centre.

In practice this means that stock left outside the safe overnight is covered only up to the much lower display limit if there is a break in. If you plan to expand stock, for example before Christmas, check first whether safe and limits still fit.

Robbery, sleight of hand and the sales counter

Armed robbery is the scenario everybody fears, and every jewellers policy covers it. More frequent are quiet losses: a tray of rings switched while being shown, a watch that leaves the shop on a customer's wrist. Whether such simple theft is covered depends on the type of cover. Named perils policies usually leave it out, all risks policies often include it.

Many insurers attach conditions to showing goods, such as a maximum number of pieces on the counter at once. Make sure every member of sales staff knows them.

Customer goods, consignment and repairs

Watches in for service, rings being reworked, stock held on consignment from manufacturers: much of what sits in the safe often belongs to someone else. You are liable to the owner, but your own policy pays only if it expressly covers third party property. Some German insurers offer goods in repair as a separate module.

Consignment agreements frequently specify how the supplier's goods must be insured. Comparing those clauses with your policy avoids having to pay the supplier out of your own pocket after a loss.

In transit: errands, shipping and trade fairs

Once goods leave the shop, separate rules apply. Errands with goods carried on the person, shipments by post or secure courier and trade fair stands come with their own limits and conditions, often including permitted shipping methods and a maximum value per parcel. Goods left in a parked, unattended vehicle are excluded under many policies.

What is covered

  • Robbery and extortion on the premises
  • Burglary, including from the safe up to the agreed limit
  • Fire, escape of water and storm damage to stock
  • Simple theft and sleight of hand, under all risks cover
  • Customer goods in repair and consignment stock, if included
  • Errands with goods carried on the person
  • Shipments and secure transport under the policy's carriage rules
  • Trade fairs and exhibitions, as an add on

What is not covered

  • Stock above the limit for the relevant storage location
  • Goods in a parked, unattended vehicle, under many policies
  • Theft by your own employees, which needs fidelity insurance
  • Stock discrepancies that cannot be traced to a specific event
  • Wear, damage during processing and errors in your own repair work
  • Loss of income after a claim, which needs business interruption cover

Who needs it

  • Jewellers and watch retailers with a shop
  • Goldsmiths and watchmakers holding customer pieces
  • Bullion and coin dealers
  • Wholesalers and agents travelling with sample collections
  • Online sellers of jewellery and watches with their own stock and shipping

Who does not need it

  • Costume jewellery sellers with low stock value, for whom contents cover is enough
  • Private owners of jewellery and watches, who need valuables insurance instead

Wheel of misfortune

Spin the wheel of bad luck

Six things that really happen. The wheel picks yours and shows who pays.

See all six cases
  1. Armed robbery in the shop, the stolen stock, often six figures. Budget policy: pays, Strong policy: pays. Robbery is core cover in every jewellers policy, paid up to the limit for the sales floor.
  2. Night burglary, safe opened, the overnight stock in the safe. Budget policy: pays, Strong policy: pays. Covered up to the safe limit. Anything above it stays with you.
  3. Sleight of hand at the counter, one or several pieces. Budget policy: does not pay, Strong policy: pays. Simple theft without force is not a named peril. All risks policies often include it, with a deductible.
  4. Customer's watch stolen in repair, the value of someone else's watch. Budget policy: does not pay, Strong policy: pays. Third party property is paid only if the policy expressly includes customer goods.
  5. Sample case taken from the car, the whole collection. Budget policy: does not pay, Strong policy: does not pay. Goods in a parked, unattended vehicle are excluded under many policies, even good ones.
  6. Fair stand emptied when packing up, the goods on display. Budget policy: does not pay, Strong policy: pays in part. Only with a trade fair add on and only if the supervision rules for setting up and dismantling were met.

What it costs

Premiums are usually a rate per mille of the insured stock value and depend heavily on security, location and claims history. There are no independently published price comparisons for this class, so we do not quote example premiums.

What drives the premium

  • Stock value and seasonal peaks
  • Resistance grade of the safe and intruder alarm
  • Shop location and protection of doors and windows
  • All risks or named perils
  • Extent of customer goods, shipping and trade fairs
  • Claims history and deductible

A binding premium is only available once the insurer knows the security on site, often after a survey.

The policy levels on the market

01

Burglary and robbery in a business package

For small stock: jewellers clause in a commercial property policy, named perils, low limits for jewellery and watches.

02

Jewellers block policy for the shop

Dedicated policy for stock with limits per location, customer goods, errands and shipping, often on an all risks basis.

03

Large risks and wholesale

For high stock values, several branches or wholesale: tailored wording, trade fairs and travelling stock, often shared between insurers.

How to recognise a good policy

CriterionMinimum standardStrong policyWhy it matters
Type of cover named perils all risks with clear exclusions Otherwise sleight of hand at the counter is not covered.
Safe limit flat amount unrelated to the safe matched to resistance grade and actual overnight stock A night time burglary is the largest loss you can expect.
Customer and consignment goods not covered included with their own sum You are liable to the owner for third party goods.
Errands and shipping excluded included with workable carriage rules Many losses happen between shop, workshop and customer.
Trade fairs not covered add on with its own limit Setting up and dismantling are the riskiest hours.
Underinsurance reduction under § 75 VVG periodic stock declarations or waiver Stock levels vary a lot over the year.
Deductible high, per claim reasonable, with separate rules for robbery Small thefts add up.

Insurers on the German market

Only a few insurers in Germany write jewellers block cover, often through specialist art and valuables departments. Allianz, Mannheimer, Württembergische and ERGO publish product documents for jewellers; Generali is active in art insurance. The list shows insurers under German federal supervision and is a market overview, not a statement about who we work with.

InsurerBackground
Allianzjewellery stock and valuables insurance sold as Allianz Esa
MannheimerVALORIMA brand for jewellers, watchmakers and gold and silversmiths, Continentale group
Württembergischevaluables insurance for jewellers and watchmakers, W&W group
ERGOtravel and stock insurance for jewellers, goldsmiths and jewellery traders
Generaliart insurance under the ARTE Generali brand, jewellers risks on request

Compare the wordings of all tariffs Jewellers block 2 tariffs from 2 providers, as of 24 October 2026

From the BaFin register

155

155 insurers supervised by BaFin, the German regulator, are licensed for this class of insurance.

(Feuer, Hagel-, Frost- und sonstige Sachschäden)

Show all 155 names from the register
  • ACM Versicherung AG
  • ADAC Autoversicherung AG
  • ADAC Versicherung AG
  • ADAC Zuhause Versicherung AG
  • ADLER Versicherung AG
  • Allianz Direct Versicherungs-AG
  • Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE
  • Allianz Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Alte Leipziger Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Ambra Versicherung AG
  • AMMERLÄNDER VERSICHERUNG Versicherungsverein a.G. (VVaG)
  • andsafe Aktiengesellschaft
  • ARAG Allgemeine Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Astra Versicherung AG
  • AXA Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • BA die Bayerische Allgemeine Versicherung AG
  • Badischer Gemeinde-Versicherungs-Verband
  • Baloise Sachversicherung Aktiengesellschaft Deutschland
  • Barmenia Allgemeine Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • BavariaDirekt Versicherung AG
  • Bayerische Hausbesitzer-Versicherungs-Gesellschaft a.G.
  • Bayerische Landesbrandversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Bayerischer Versicherungsverband Versicherungsaktiengesellschaft
  • BD24 Berlin Direkt Versicherung AG
  • Bergische Brandversicherung Allgemeine Feuerversicherung V.a.G.
  • BGV-Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • CG Car-Garantie Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Concordia Versicherungs-Gesellschaft auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • CONSTANTIA Versicherungen a.G.
  • Continentale Sachversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Cosmos Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • DA Deutsche Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • DARAG Deutschland AG
  • Debeka Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft Sitz Koblenz am Rhein
  • Delvag Versicherungs-AG
  • DEVK Allgemeine Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • DEVK Deutsche Eisenbahn Versicherung Sach- und HUK-Versicherungsverein a.G. Betriebliche…
  • DFV Deutsche Familienversicherung AG
  • Dialog Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Die Haftpflichtkasse VVaG
  • DOCURA VVaG
  • Dolleruper Freie Brandgilde
  • Domestic & General Insurance Europe AG
  • ERGO Direkt Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • ERGO Reiseversicherung AG
  • ERGO Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • EUROPA Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • EXTREMUS Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Fahrlehrerversicherung Verein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Feuer- und Einbruchschadenkasse der BBBank in Karlsruhe, Versicherungsverein auf…
  • Feuersozietät Berlin Brandenburg Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • GARANTA Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Gartenbau-Versicherung VVaG
  • Gebäudeversicherungsgilde für Föhr,Amrum und Halligen
  • Generali Deutschland Versicherung AG
  • GGG Kraftfahrzeug-Reparaturkosten-Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Gothaer Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Gothaer Versicherungsbank VVaG
  • Great Lakes Insurance SE
  • GRUNDEIGENTÜMER-VERSICHERUNG Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • GVO Gegenseitigkeit Versicherung Oldenburg VVaG
  • GVV Direktversicherung AG
  • GVV-Kommunalversicherung, Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Hagelgilde Versicherungsverein a.G., gegründet 1811
  • Hamburger Beamten-Feuer-und Einbruchskasse
  • Hamburger Feuerkasse Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Hamburger Lehrer-Feuerkasse
  • HanseMerkur Allgemeine Versicherung AG
  • HanseMerkur Reiseversicherung AG
  • Harsewinkeler Versicherung VaG
  • HDI Global SE
  • HDI Global Specialty SE
  • HDI Haftpflichtverband der Deutschen Industrie Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • HDI Versicherung AG
  • Helvetia Schweizerische Versicherungsgesellschaft AG Direktion für Deutschland
  • Helvetia Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • HUK-COBURG Haftpflicht-Unterstützungs-Kasse kraftfahrender Beamter Deutschlands a.G. in Coburg
  • HUK-COBURG-Allgemeine Versicherung AG
  • HUK24 AG
  • Häger Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Hübener Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • IDEAL Versicherung AG
  • INTER Allgemeine Versicherung AG
  • Interlloyd Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • InterRisk Versicherungs-AG Vienna Insurance Group.
  • ISSELHORSTER Versicherung V.a.G.
  • Itzehoer Versicherung/Brandgilde von 1691 Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Janitos Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • KRAVAG-ALLGEMEINE Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • KRAVAG-LOGISTIC Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • Landschaftliche Brandkasse Hannover
  • LBN Versicherungsverein a.G. (VVaG)
  • Lehrer-Feuerversicherungsverein a.G. für Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg und Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
  • Lifestyle Protection AG
  • Lippische Landesbrandversicherung AG
  • Lucura Versicherungs AG
  • LVM Landwirtschaftlicher Versicherungsverein Münster a.G.
  • Mannheimer Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Markel Insurance SE
  • Mecklenburgische Versicherungs-Gesellschaft auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Mercedes-Benz Versicherung AG
  • MVK Versicherung VVaG
  • MÜNCHENER VEREIN Allgemeine Versicherungs-AG
  • NEH Neue Hildener Versicherung AG
  • Neodigital Versicherung AG
  • Neuendorfer Brand-Bau-Gilde
  • Newline Europe Versicherung AG
  • nexible Versicherung AG
  • Nordhemmer Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • NV-Versicherungen VVaG
  • NÜRNBERGER Allgemeine Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • NÜRNBERGER BEAMTEN ALLGEMEINE VERSICHERUNG AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
  • OKV - Ostdeutsche Kommunalversicherung auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Ostangler Brandgilde, Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit (VVaG)
  • OSTBEVERNER Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit (VVaG)
  • Pallas Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • ProTect Versicherung AG
  • Provinzial Nord Brandkasse Aktiengesellschaft
  • Provinzial Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • PVAG Polizeiversicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
  • R+V Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Real Garant Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • RheinLand Versicherungs Aktiengesellschaft
  • Rhion Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • S DirektVersicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • SAARLAND Feuerversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Schleswiger Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • SCHNEVERDINGER Versicherungsverein a.G.
  • SHB Allgemeine Versicherung VVaG
  • SIGNAL IDUNA Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • SIGNAL IDUNA Unfallversicherung a. G.
  • Sparkassen-Versicherung Sachsen Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Stuttgarter Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • SV SparkassenVersicherung Gebäudeversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • TRIAS Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Uelzener Allgemeine Versicherungs-Gesellschaft a.G.
  • Union Reiseversicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • uniVersa Allgemeine Versicherung AG
  • Vereinigte Hagelversicherung VVaG
  • Vereinigte Tierversicherung, Gesellschaft auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Versicherer im Raum der Kirchen Sachversicherung AG
  • Versicherungsverband Deutscher Eisenbahnen-Versicherungsverein auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • VHV Allgemeine Versicherung AG
  • Volkswagen Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • VOLKSWOHL-BUND SACHVERSICHERUNG AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
  • VPV Allgemeine Versicherungs-AG
  • Waldenburger Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • WERTGARANTIE SE
  • WGV-Versicherung AG
  • WWK Allgemeine Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Württembergische Gemeinde-Versicherung auf Gegenseitigkeit
  • Württembergische Versicherung Aktiengesellschaft
  • Würzburger Versicherungs-AG
  • Zurich Insurance Europe AG
  • Öffentliche Feuerversicherung Sachsen-Anhalt

Source: BaFin company database, 18 September 2026; EU insurers without a German office excluded.

Legal basis and sources

Products and add-ons

Jewellers block (shop policy)

Stock on the sales floor, in the safe and in the window under one policy, with limits per location.

Valuables transit insurance

Shipping, secure transport and errands under fixed carriage rules.

Travelling stock insurance

For agents and wholesalers on the road with samples and collections.

Customer goods in repair

Separate cover for watches and jewellery in the workshop for service or alteration.

Fidelity insurance

Related class covering losses caused by your own staff, which the jewellers policy excludes.

Myth or truth

True or false?

Five things people say about this insurance. Guess first, then see the answer.

My shop contents policy covers my jewellery stock well enough.

This is false.

Wrong. Ordinary contents policies cap jewellery and watches at low amounts or do not accept jewellers at all. Real stock needs a dedicated jewellers block policy.

Pieces brought in for repair are covered automatically.

This is false.

No. Customer goods are third party property and covered only if the policy includes them. Some insurers offer a separate module.

The policy limits how much may stay in the window overnight.

This is true.

Yes. Jewellers policies set limits per storage location, and those for windows and cabinets outside opening hours are usually low.

With a jewellers policy every parcel of valuables is insured.

This is false.

Only if it is sent under the policy's carriage rules, which set shipping methods and maximum values per parcel. Deviating from them can cost you the cover.

If the sum insured is too low, the insurer may reduce payment.

This is true.

True. Under § 75 VVG underinsurance leads to proportional payment unless the policy waives it. Stock declarations help when values fluctuate.

Common mistakes

  • Not declaring higher Christmas stock and being underinsured when a loss occurs
  • Leaving pieces in the window or cabinets overnight instead of the safe
  • Accepting consignment goods without checking that your policy covers third party property
  • Leaving goods in the car, even briefly
  • Not knowing the policy's shipping rules and sending valuables the wrong way

Frequently asked questions

Questions and answers

Frequently asked

What does jewellers block mean?

The term comes from the London market and describes a policy that insures a jeweller's entire

stock in many places as one block: in the shop, in the safe, in transit and often in the post.

In Germany it is usually called Valoren or Juwelierversicherung.

What is all risks cover?

Every loss or damage is covered unless the policy expressly excludes the cause.

The alternative is named perils cover, which pays only for listed events such as fire,

burglary and robbery.

Do I need a particular safe?

Not by law,

but insurers set the limit for goods in the safe by its resistance grade under EN 1143-1 and the

intruder alarm.

A weak safe means a low limit.

Are customers' pieces covered automatically?

No.

Watches and jewellery brought in for repair belong to the customer and are covered only if your

policy includes third party property, often with a separate sum.

What if my stock changes during the year?

If the actual value at the time of a loss exceeds the sum insured,

the insurer may reduce payment proportionally under § 75 VVG.

Seasonal increases, stock declarations or a waiver of underinsurance prevent that.

Is theft by staff covered?

Not under the jewellers policy as a rule.

That risk is covered by fidelity insurance.

Are trade fairs included?

Only if the policy says so.

Fairs are usually an add on with their own limit and supervision rules,

with stricter rules for setting up and dismantling.

Why use a broker?

Few insurers write this class and limits, carriage rules and exclusions differ widely.

We obtain quotes, compare the wording with your stock and security and support you with claims.

Our fee is paid by the insurer.

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