Because Jewellery is often one of the most expensive personal items we keep, it’s important to have a good storage system – one that helps keep your collection organised as well as protected. If you opt to store your jewellery in an ordinary drawer, you can end up with a collection that is stained, tarnished and damaged by the elements.
Traditionally, jewellery boxes have been made from a number of materials, and constructed in a good variety of shapes and sizes to house different types of jewellery collections. Most jewellery boxes have two things in common. The first is a series of compartments for securely storing different pieces of jewellery. The second is a protective felt lining, designed to keep your collection free from lint, dust, scratches and even tarnish. Also, many jewellery boxes come with a matching roll or travel organiser that can be used to easily take a few things away on holidays or short breaks.
There are a variety of jewellery box styles that have been popular throughout history and are still used today. The largest is a jewellery armoire. Generally a jewellery armoire is a free-standing piece of furniture which can house hundreds of items of jewellery or small collectible items. Armoires can offer an excellent showcase for a larger jewellery collection – they are often designed with long, glass-fronted compartments for pendants, necklaces and have other display-like areas for rings, watches and bracelets. Jewellery armoires are often considered heirloom pieces of furniture, and can be found in antique stores as well as normal high street shops. Standard jewellery boxes will hold a number of pieces, but are smaller and designed to be kept on a dressing table. Some have pop-up mirrors you can use to finish your look, others have changeable inserts that can customise the storage space to suit your evolving collection of jewellery. Though not all jewellery boxes can guarantee your precious possessions, many will include some sort of locking mechanism to keep curious fingers from spoiling your curios. Some safe-makers include special inserts designed for storing jewellery and other precious, but small, collectables.
Some people find it easier to store their more frequently-worn pieces of jewellery in a jewellery roll and use the larger jewellery box purely for storage. Other people choose to use their jewellery cases as a display to showcase their collection. Depending on your preference, you may choose a jewellery box with glass sides or doors rather than one made from solid wood or metal.
When shopping for a jewellery box, particularly if it is a gift for someone else, it is vital to consider the number and variety of pieces likely to be stored. For those with a number of necklaces but few rings, it is better to buy a vertical jewellery box with a designated necklace storage area – sometimes these are vertical drawers with a series of hooks, and sometimes necklaces are stored in drawers with special dividers. Often, the biggest area of concern when shopping for a jewellery box online is the postage – as jewellery boxes are made from wood, they can be heavy. Bear in mind that the £25 savings off the high street price on that jewellery box you adore might be negated by a £40 shipping charge, and shop around because many retailers will match prices or reduce postage costs to win your business.
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