How do I properly store my jewelry?
Having a collection of beautiful high quality jewelry is a point of pride and joy. Your jewelry will have wonderful sentimental meaning to you as well as exquisite beauty. Your engagement ring, your grandmother’s bracelet, and the necklace your husband gave you for Christmas; they all have a lot of personal significance behind them.
If you want your precious jewelry to stay safe and in good condition for many years, it is very important to make sure that it is stored properly. Jewelry that is not stored well can become damaged over time or lost. It is also important to ensure the security of your jewelry as they can be targets for thieves.
The follow guide outlines the information that you need to know to keep your jewelry safe and secure so that it will bring you and your family joy for many generations.
Where should you keep your Jewelry?
Your jewelry should be kept in a clean and dry place, such as a jewelry box or case that is fabric lined. It is also possible to use an ordinary box, as long as you wrap each piece individually in soft tissue paper.[1]
Usually when you purchase a piece of jewelry, you will be given a special pouch or case that is designed with the right finish to protect that particular piece of jewelry. Some will have ultra-soft fabric while others will have anti-tarnish properties that help to keep the piece looking new for longer. These pouches are the best thing to store your jewelry in, as they have been designed with that particular piece in mind.[2]
How can I keep my jewelry organized?
It is a good idea to keep your jewelry box tidy and organized, as this will have many benefits. If your jewelry pieces are not jumbled together you will not risk one piece getting tangled in or scratching another piece. You will also be able to find the piece of jewelry that you are looking for right away.
To make it easier to keep your jewelry organized, choose a style of jewelry box that has many small compartments to separate items. This will allow you to keep your jewelry pieces away from each other so that they don’t touch or become tangled.[3]
How Should Gold jewelry be Stored?
Gold is a relatively malleable metal and can be damaged by scratches from hard gemstones. To avoid this, you should keep your gold pieces stored by themselves in soft cloth bags or the original box that you bought them in.[4]
How should Silver jewelry be stored?
If you have silver jewelry, it should always be kept absolutely dry. Your silver pieces should be stored in a tarnish-proof cloth away from exposure to the air. You can even buy special silver storage boxes that are lined with this type of tarnish-proof fabric so that they will keep your silver jewelry safe. Also, you should never let your silver jewelry touch rubber items such as rubber bands, as the sulphur within the rubber will cause the silver to tarnish.[5]
How should Diamonds be stored?
A diamond is the hardest substance on earth and when it is improperly stored it can scratch your other gemstones such as rubies, emeralds and sapphires. Diamonds can also scratch silver, gold and platinum. In order to prevent this, you should keep it in a soft cloth pouch.[6]
How should I store the pieces I wear daily?
It can be helpful to separate the jewelry that you wear frequently and place it in a smaller jewelry box or a tray. This will help you to find what you need right away and remind you of your jewelry choices. Another great way to store your jewelry is to use a hanging organizer with a number of clear pouches. These organizers will keep all of your jewelry pieces separate and visible.[7]
Jewelry Security
If you have jewelry pieces that are particularly valuable, you might be concerned with their security. Not only would that prized pair of earrings or that heirloom necklace signify a sentimental loss, it could also be a major financial blow. You would be devastated if your gorgeous jewelry was stolen, so what can you do to keep them safe within your home?
Insurers say that personal jewelry is most commonly stolen from the home. There are many ways you can improve the security of your jewelry at home if you're diligent about safeguarding. We highly recommend storing your higher value pieces of jewelry in a safety deposit box at your local bank.
How should I keep track of what jewelry I own?
Get in the habit of taking a regular inventory of your jewelry, which can be very useful if you need to make an insurance claim or file a police report. You can take photographs of each piece of jewelry, create a written description of the piece and note the cost. Of course, you should store this information in a separate location from your jewelry so that it is not taken as well.[8]
It might even be a good idea to keep this information in electronic form, on an online backup so that you access the files if the hardcopy in stolen. However, the most important protection is to obtain proper Valuables insurance from your Insurance Broker.
How should you keep your jewelry secure in your home?
You might want to keep precious jewelry in your home locked up in a safe, especially if you entertain often or it is the holidays and many guests are visiting your home.[9] Leaving jewelry lying around on tables and dressers is something to avoid.
Your house should also have alarm systems, especially if you have other high value possessions. Make sure that you test your alarm system frequently and always get in the habit of setting it before you leave the house.
In order to make your home more secure, enlist the help of your trusted neighbors. They are able to keep an eye on your house so that they can spot suspicious behavior such as a burglar casing your home.[10]
These are a few very important things that you should know so that you can store your jewelry properly. If you have any other questions about jewelry care, feel free to contact us at KC Designs.