What to Look For in a Jewelry Safe: A Jewelry Safe Buying Guide
More and more people today are choosing to invest their wealth in gold and other precious metals. As expensive as they are, it’s imperative that jewelry is properly stored in a high-security safe to prevent them from being stolen. Don’t become a victim of petty theft – Protect your valuables with high-security jewelry safe today!
Lock Types – Mechanical vs Keypad
One of the many different factors to consider when purchasing a jewelry safe is the type of lock. There are two primary locks that you can choose from – an electronic keypad lock, or a mechanical combination dial. The electronic keypad lock has a number of benefits including ease of access. On average, a user can expect to save 30 to 60 seconds of time opening a keypad lock as compared to a mechanical combination lock. Another benefit of keypad locks is that the owner of the safe has the ability to change the combination as often as they would like.
While mechanical combination dial locks may take slightly longer to access than keypad locks, they are considered to be more reliable. Combination dial locks rarely, if ever, fail. The fact that keypad locks are electric does mean that they have a small chance of failing. If the keypad is working, but the safe isn’t opening, a safe technician will have to drill into the safe in order to access the safe’s circuit board, costing anywhere from $350 – $500.
Fire Rating
Another important feature of high-security safes is their fire rating. Many safes come standard with an ETL fire rating from 30 minutes up to 120 minutes. These ETL ratings state how long a safe can keep its internal temperature below 350 degrees while being exposed to fire. For example, if the safe’s fire rating was 90 minutes at 1,600 degrees, the interior of the safe will remain at or below 350 degrees for 90 minutes in a fire that is 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit. In 2016, over 352,000 house fires caused over 5.6 billion dollars worth of damage. Some of these losses could have been mitigated had the owner stored their valuables in an ETL-certified fire-rated safe.
Tool Resistance (Burglary Rating)
Many high-security safes are labeled for the protection they provide against theft and fire. A UL-rated safe is one that has been tested by Underwriters Laboratories to see how long each safe can withstand common attacks from thieves. UL-rated safes are some most secure safes on the market. Here are the different TL ratings and what they mean when it comes to the security of the safe.
RSC (Residential Security Container) – The door of the safe successfully resisted entry for 5 minutes when attacked against rigorous prying, drilling, punching, chiseling, and tampering attacks by UL technicians.
TL-15 (Tool Resistant for 15 Minutes) – The door of the safe successfully resisted entry for 15 minutes when attacked with common hand tools, picking tools, electric tools, grinding points, carbide drills, or pressure-applying devices.
TL-30 (Tool Resistant for 30 minutes) – The door of the safe successfully resisted entry for 30 minutes when attacked with common hand tools, picking tools, electric tools, grinding points, carbide drills, pressure applying devices, abrasive cutting wheels, and power saws.
TL-30×6 (Tool Resistant for 30 minutes, all 6 sides) – All six sides of the safe successfully resisted entry for 30 minutes when attacked with common hand tools, picking tools, electric tools, grinding points, carbide drills, pressure applying devices, abrasive cutting wheels, and power saws.
Size
Picking the right-sized safe is important when deciding on purchasing a jewelry safe. A locker-sized safe is going to provide the owner with extra security as well as the ability to store more than just their jewelry. Make sure that there’s enough space to not only store the safe but enough space for the safe to travel through any small hallways or stairways before it reaches its final destination. For those who wish to travel with their jewelry, it’s also recommended that he/she invests in a portable jewelry safe that they can take on the go.
Theft Statistics
According to the FBI, a home is broken into every 13 seconds. These criminals are looking for small and expensive items such as jewelry that can easily be converted into cash. Based on the most recently available data, the average reported loss for a break-in was $2,230. Although owning a safe won’t prevent homes from being burglarized, it’s recommended that the owner store their valuables in a safe in order to deter the thief from accessing their most valuable assets.
Interior Design
There are many different ways to customize the interior of a jewelry safe. Adding wooden pull out drawers is perfect for storing jewelry. Installing LED lights in the safe can really make the jewelry shine. The owner of the safe should design the interior in a way that makes them happy.
Trusted Providers
How do you know which company to purchase your jewelry safe from? You want to choose a company that’s going to be with you every step of the way. Our knowledgeable and friendly staff here at Houston Safe and Lock can help you select a jewelry safe that fits both your security needs and your budget. We can deliver and mount your new safe, as well as any future servicing that may need to be done. Give us a call or stop by our showroom today to see our large selection of jewelry safes.
