How To Store and Display Your Jewelry
In This Blog
Whether it’s on your neck or your nightstand, fine jewelry should be enjoyed and cherished. Your collection holds precious memories—from engagement rings to anniversary gifts and milestone birthdays, your jewelry has been with you for many significant moments in your life. Storing and displaying your pieces properly will ensure that they stay in beautiful condition.
There are many different types of jewelry storage, with each having its own features and considerations. If you’re wondering how to store jewelry, you’ve come to the right place! We’re sharing expert tips for jewelry storage, organization and display. These tips are helpful for collections of all sizes.
The Importance of Jewelry Storage
While many jewelry pieces come with boxes, having your own storage setup will help keep women’s and men’s jewelry organized. It is much easier to find your favorite ring when it’s easily accessible. You can keep your earrings paired up easily with specialized storage setups. Slinkier bracelets and necklaces will be less prone to tangling if they’re stored properly.
Types of Jewelry Storage
Armoires, trays, vintage boxes, repurposed décor—there are many ways to store your jewelry. The best jewelry storage is the option that works for you and your collection. Some people prefer to see all their pieces on display, while others prefer having items secured in closed storage. It’s about choosing the storage that will help organize your collection while keeping your pieces secure.
Popular jewelry storage options include:
- Jewelry Boxes
- Divided Trays
- Mirror Armoires
- Watch Boxes
- Jewelry Dishes
- Hanging Organizers
- Felt-Lined Drawers
- Foldable or Rolled Cases
- Unique Display Fixtures
- Vintage Jewelry Storage
From modern mirrors with jewelry storage to antique ormolu boxes, jewelry storage ranges from functional to aesthetic. It’s best to focus on a storage solution that keeps your jewelry safe and organized. This can look different for everyone, with some people needing the security of a locked jewelry box to keep pieces out of reach from young children and other people preferring hanging organizers that keep everything on display.
Expert Jewelry Storage Tips
We’ve enlisted the expertise of Noel Fahden, VP of Merchandising at Chairish, the curated online marketplace for vintage and contemporary homewares, to share her best tips for storing and displaying your jewelry.
Keep Similar Jewels Together
“We recommend storing like with like, whenever possible,” says Fahden. “Have a specific box or storage space for similar types of pieces to stay organized. Or, if you find yourself going to the same combinations again and again, keep those pieces together so you can find them more easily.”
For you, this might look like a combination of storage solutions like a jewelry organizer in a drawer for statement pieces and a small tray on your dressing table for your wedding band, and a couple of basic earring options.
Making Frequent Wears Easy to Find
Fahden emphasizes the importance of how often you wear a piece in deciding on how to display your collection. “Is it part of your day-to-day collection that you toss on to wear with everything, or is it an heirloom that you only bring out on special occasions? That will determine how accessible you need it to be, and probably how you plan on storing it,” she says.
Jewelry Storage Tips for Different Materials
It’s vital to store precious metals, diamonds, pearls and gemstones correctly to maintain their natural beauty. Different materials have their own storage best practices, which should always be considered when displaying or storing your jewelry.
Whether it’s yellow, white, or rose gold, these precious metals come in varying karats (from 9 to 24), affecting softness and durability. Store gold jewelry in a cool dry place where there are no extreme temperature fluctuations or humidity. Keep fine chains and bracelets apart to avoid tangling and knots.
Silver jewelry does best when it’s stored in a felt-lined jewelry box or roll. The felt not only helps to keep items separated, but also absorbs moisture that helps prevent excess tarnishing. A larger silver jewelry piece may be sold in a felt pouch to help limit the damage that can occur when it is exposed to harder metals and stones in a jewelry dish or drawer.
Some gemstones are softer than others. For example, rubies and sapphires are relatively hard, ranking 9 on the Mohs Hardness scale, whereas opals are much softer at only 6. Where possible, store like with like and separate stones into compartments or pouches so they can’t scratch each other. Protect your gems from moisture — this is especially important for opals, and avoid displaying these gemstone jewelry items in locations in your home that receive direct sunlight, as the UV rays can fade and damage your precious stones.
Diamonds are one of the hardest substances on earth, but they are not indestructible. Fine jewelry, such as diamond engagement rings are relatively protected from damage, but it’s still wise to store them carefully. When it’s not on your finger, the best place for a diamond ring is in its storage spot. Popular options include the ring’s original box, a ring storage tray, a special dish or a ring cone.
Other types of diamond jewelry, such as necklaces and bracelets, should be stored in a manner that discourages tangling.
Pearl jewelry should be stored on its own to prevent damage to these soft gems. This is especially important for pearl strands. The jewelry’s original packaging, silk pouches or soft velvet-lined storage cases are the best options for keeping pearls safe.
Jewelry Storage Ideas
When it comes to displaying your jewelry, the world is your oyster. Timeless classics such as jewelry boxes and stands are wonderful options for your collection, but they’re not the only possibilities. These are some of our favorite picks for keeping your accessories in order.
Jewelry Boxes and Chests
Image Credit: Chairish
“Jewelry boxes are of course a time-honored way of storing your possessions, and they can be just as beautiful as the pieces themselves,” says Fahden. Jewelry boxes can be ornate, or simpler. They often have locks, which can be ideal for those looking to keep their collection safe.
This storage option usually features drawers or tiers, with individual compartments for anything from statement necklaces to dainty chain bracelets.
Dishes, Catchalls and Trinket Trays
Image Credit: Chairish
There’s nothing that adds a bit of glamour to your boudoir quite like a tray of sparkling jewelry set on a dresser. Whatever you want to call it, these jewelry displays come in plenty of different styles to match any esthetic.
Given it’s unlikely that all of your pieces will fit on one tray, reserve space for a few items that you wear every day. Perhaps you have a favorite pair of diamond earrings or a ring that you often accessorize with — it’s these essentials that should have a place on your jewelry dish.
Our secret tip for finding the perfect catchall for your pieces is to not limit yourself to the realm of jewelry. A tea saucer, large ceramic coaster or even crystal ashtray can look stunning.
Jewelry Stands
Image Credit: Chairish
For those that can’t seem to keep necklaces and other chains from getting tangled, jewelry stands may be just the thing. On the more lavish end, marble bases and precious metal prongs are leading choices, but this look can also be easily recreated with more affordable materials.
This display option can make any jewelry collection look upscale, and isn’t exclusive to just necklace storage. For lovers of earrings, jewelry stands with small holes are an interesting way to show off your collection. If you’ve accumulated some tennis bracelets over the years, look for a stand with wider arms.
Jewelry Organizers and Trays
Image Credit: Chairish
For those who aren’t fond of keeping their jewelry out on display, in-drawer or closet jewelry organizers are an elegant option reminiscent of a boutique. These inserts are designed to keep your jewelry safe, separated, and tidy with many small compartments.
Fahden recommends looking into custom organization builds for your current furniture or a new piece if you need to store a large collection.
Removable jewelry trays are another in-furniture storage option that allows you to keep your pieces organized and accessible.
Travel Cases and Jewelry Rolls
Image Credit: Minichiello Jewellers
From travel cases to jewelry rolls, there are many ways to keep your pieces secure, organized, and in good condition while you’re away from home. Cases offer a hard shell that may help keep things from getting damaged on the road, while rolls are space-efficient and stylish.
The good news is that you don’t have to be going on vacation to enjoy jewelry cases and rolls. If you have a smaller collection, a case may be just the thing you need to organize your pieces.
Bonus Tips and Jewelry Storage Ideas
Whether you need to organize a few key pieces or you’re wondering how to store jewelry when you have a lot of styles, there are extra tips to keep in mind for making the most of your storage.
Suit Your Space
According to Fahden, the most important thing is making sure you pick the right type of storage for your space.
“You don’t want to select something too grand for your space, or something too big. Make sure to match the rest of your decor so it’s not ostentatious — your storage pieces should fit in with the rest of the home, not overtake it,” she says.
Protect Fragile Pieces
No matter which jewelry storage ideas you’re incorporating, it’s important to take extra steps to protect your pieces. Keep your jewelry out of direct sunlight and avoid hanging strings of pearl necklaces. Metals such as silver should be stored securely to prevent tarnish.
It’s best to keep similar materials together, such as storing all of your gold pieces in one space and all of your platinum jewelry in another section.
To prevent tangling of chains and other styles, store them with plenty of space between one another. Another tangle prevention tip is to hang each necklace or bracelet on its own storage hook if you’re using a larger storage setup.
Avoid Overcrowding
When considering how to store or display your jewelry, consider which pieces of jewelry should be stored together, and which should be separated. Pavé engagement rings, for example, may not fare so well when crowded in a pouch with statement earrings.
Showcasing Your Style
Your jewelry collection is as unique as you are. For many people, their jewelry is like a collection of art—it is there to be displayed and enjoyed every day. While there are some best practices for keeping your cherished pieces beautifully maintained, you can get incredibly creative with how you showcase them in your home.
Think about your jewelry collection the way you might home furnishings. Explore how your display piece suits the rest of your décor, or how your storage box looks on your dresser. As long as you’re careful not to damage your jewelry, allow yourself to explore a range of possibilities and have fun with it.
