Perth jeweller bounces back from smash-and-grab to become national awards finalist

Story By Sophie Gannon, PerthNow 24/09/2026 

A third-generation Perth jeweller is celebrating national recognition after a difficult year during which his family business was left without a proper shopfront for six months after a break-in.

Brendan Gryg, 28, of Allgem Jewellers in London Court, has been named a national finalist in the 2026 Jewellery Industry Awards in the customer service excellence category.

The recognition comes after the family business was targeted in a smash-and-grab earlier this year, causing more than $30,000 in damage to its historic London Court premises.

Mr Gryg told the Western Suburbs Weekly while the thieves stole less than $1000 worth of stock, the damage to the front of the store meant the business operated for six months behind boarded-up timber, with only a small opening in the door for customers.

Despite the disruption, the family-run jeweller kept on running, with Mr Gryg saying loyal customers continued to visit while the new shopfront was built.

“We still had a lot of loyal customers who still came in and the showroom still operated like standard,” he said.

“We just made sure that we tried to sort of keep things running as smoothly as possible, whilst trying to get a shopfront organised.”

The financial burden extended well beyond the cost of rebuilding the shopfront, with the business continuing to pay rent through the major disruption.

“The rent was the same cost, so it just hit us a little bit,” he said.

“But we kept going.”

The business is looking ahead after Mr Gryg was recognised among finalists from across the country for customer service.

The Jewellery Industry Awards are organised by the Jewellery Industry Network and recognise achievements across the Australian jewellery industry, which also considers other categories such as craftmanship, innovation, business excellence and customer service.

Mr Gryg said the nomination was an industry recognition, with nominees put forward by people in the jewellery industry, including customers, before the judges select the finalists.

He said being recognised as a finalist in the customer service excellence category reflected the effort the family put into providing a personalised experience while also competing against larger companies and chain stores.

“I think it’s probably because of the extra mile that we go,” he said.

“As a small business, we are competing with a lot of larger enterprises and chain stores. So you do have to put in a lot of extra hours and effort to try and match the amenities that these other places have access to.”

He said it went beyond just simply repairing a piece of jewellery.

“Putting in the extra hours and going the extra step with people, I think that makes all the difference, whether it’s taking on a repair and then giving it a full polish and restoration, things like that,” he said.

“So when they pick up the piece, they’re gobsmacked about how good it looks.”

Mr Gryg has spent a decade working at the jeweller’s bench and learned the trade from his father Alfie and his late grandfather Joseph.

The family business was established in 1978 by Joseph and wife Bessie Gryg. Mr Gryg now works with his father, brother Jason, sister Sarah and wife Rebecca.

The family has been based in Perth since opening the business, initially operating on William Street before moving to London Court.

Mr Gryg said his father was “immensely proud” of the national recognition, with other members of the industry contacting him to express their excitement about seeing the family business among the finalists.

“He keeps getting phone calls from other people in the industry about sort of how excited they are to see our name represented,” he said.

“It really is a big achievement to actually make it as a finalist as it is.

“We’ve been incredibly fortunate to have generations of Perth families support our business.

“To represent WA on a national stage means a great deal to us.”

Winners will be announced at the Jewellery Industry Awards in Sydney on October 10.