A common, and sure, way to ruin the value of your collection of jewels is to store them improperly. Jewelry is made up of stones and metals of various hardnesses. When thrown together, they will easily scratch, abrade and crack each other.
Perfection is highly valued in gemstones, and a valuable, perfect stone can quickly become worthless, ruining the investment, security, and heirloom values your jewelry represents. Scratches on a stone can be expensive, often impossible, to repair - and can result from a mere touch (e.g., a diamond sliding past another stone can instantly result in a deep gouge or nick). Casually rumaging through a bin of jewels can literally cost you many thousands of dollars, and the damage only gets worse each time the pieces get tumbled around.
Unfortunately, while many people appreciate that jewelry is valuable, their attitude towards its care can be woefully lacking. Instead, the common idea of proper care too often seems to reflect popular images of treasure chests heaped with jewels, movie stars casually tossing bracelets and cufflinks into drawers, or the thief clutching a fistful of jewelry. These same people are often far more careful with other, less valuable possessions (fine china, crystal, furniture, car, even DVD's). I'll admit to having been one of the guilty. Part of the problem is that too few parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles bother to pass on information regarding how to treat jewelry to children -- and this is one (of many) subjects they are unlikely to encounter in school or learn from their friends. If you value your jewelry, then do your children and grandchildren (who may inherit them one day) the courtesy of explaining its worth and care.
Imagine going to sell an investment quality piece, only to find out that the stone is nicked and worthless, and the artistic value of the setting has been trashed by scratching. What you bought for $50,000 is now worth $80 as scrap.
So, how are jewelry and gemstones stored?
The most important, basic rule: Each item of jewelry should be isolated from others. If it is not possible to isolate each jewel (e.g., pendants hanging from a bracelet or necklace), then the items should be immobilized so that they do not rub past each other.
Simple Solutions...
Properly storing jewelry does not need to be expensive. Some jewelry comes in boxes or pouches which you can continue to use. You can find other reasonable solutions with a little creativity.
- Since the idea is to isolate each jewel from one another, an easy and effective solution is to wrap each piece in layers of acid-free tissue paper, untreated cotton, or raw silk. If you sew, you might try creating individual, acid-free bags for this purpose. If sewing isn't one of your talents, then several ebay sellers regularly list pre-made drawstring bags which will work.
- Brooches, earrings and stickpins can be stuck onto a board or cushion. The board or cushion may then be placed into a soft, padded bag for storage.
- Neckchains may be stored on wooden or fabric-covered hooks, or draped across cushions and stored covered in a drawer. You can also use the long box or folder in which the neckchain or necklace was delivered by the jeweler. Bracelets and knotted (on string or silk thread) necklaces are best stored laid flat.
The disadvantage of storing in wraps or bags, is that the jewels are hidden from view. This isn't always a bad thing (some stones and materials can fade with prolonged exposure to light). But as your collection grows larger, it is more convenient to locate items by sight. Some people also take great pleasure in arranging their gems, and even a small, neatly arranged, jewelry collection can be an impressive sight.
Storage Cases...
There are several types of storage cases which you can also purchase for your collection, or for an individual item.
Jewelry Boxes:
The traditional jewelry box can be suitable for a collection. However, some jewelry boxes are collectable on their own, and not really designed to hold more than a very few pieces. When looking at a box for storage purposes, make sure that the materials used to construct and line the box are suitable for jewelry (see below). Examine the box for projecting screws, nails, locks or other objects which might scratch.
Count your pieces of jewelry, making sure that the box contains enough compartments to isolate the pieces from each other. If the box features a ring holder or insert, is it large enough to hold the number of rings you need to store? Some boxes also contain necklace hooks, pockets, earring holders, and other features which you may find worthwhile.
A larger compartment can be useful for holding individually wrapped items that won't fit elsewhere.
You should probably also allow for extra compartments. Your collection may expand through future acquisitions, gifts, etc. And in the meantime, you will probably find uses for the additional space.
Travel Cases:
These are usually jewelry boxes contained in hard-sided cases. They often sport handles and a lock, though neither is usually necessary or effective. For a travel case, it is more important that the compartments have pads to keep the contents from shifting about as the case is jostled about. If the case does not come with fitted pads, then you can substitute rolled up cotton wool or fabric. And, since most people do not travel with extensive collections, these are usually best when smaller, and designed to fit into a handbag or carry-on luggage.
An alternative travel solution are roll-ups. These are leather or cloth strips which contain pouches for individual pieces. The strip is rolled and either snapped or tied to secure it closed. A variation would be the folding or hanging soft-sided organizers. Roll-ups should be made of material which is heavy enough so that there is no chance that a piece would pierce a pouch and scratch other items being stored in adjacent pouches. For some jewelry, a hard-sided case usually offers more protection than a roll-up. However, the roll-up has the benefit of being easier to pack. With either type, space is limited and you need to determine the number and type of items you are going to carry.
Jewel Caskets:
These cases are used as presentation pieces to showcase a single jewel or matched set of jewelry. Jewelry caskets are often elaborate, sometimes outshining their contents. Caskets of high quality can be works of art on their own merits, and such pieces are found in many of the world's great museums and collections. The storage value can vary. Some owners remove the jewels for storage in other containers, and choose to display or discard the casket itself. Where there are fittings inside to securely hold the jewelry, the casket and jewel(s) may be moved into a safe, or inside a compartment in a larger box, for storage.
What is important is not to throw other items into a casket meant for a specific set of jewelry. Doing so risks damaging both the jewelry and the casket itself.
Ring, Bracelet and Necklace Boxes:
The original jewel boxes are fine for storing a single item. They can be bulky however, and an assemblage of many boxes can make it difficult to easily locate an item. If you have many pieces, your collection will take up far less space if you use a box designed to accomodate more pieces (e.g., for rings you might look for a multi-ring case, or a jewelry box which contains an insert for holding several rings).
Pearl Folders:
Fine pearls are often delivered in a leather or cloth, envelope-type folder. As pearls are relatively soft and the strings can be fragile, it is a good idea to continue to use the original package for storing them. For further protection, the folder can be stored in larger jewelry boxes, or in a safe. These folders are available separately from jewelry supply sellers, as are padded silk bags designed for pearls.
Jewel Safes:
For extensive collections, a jewel safe might make sense. Aside from the extra storage space, these also offer a bit of extra security, though few would stand up to a determined thief.
Just as in jewelry boxes, you should be looking for enough drawers and other compartments to store your pieces in isolation one from another.
Some safes include a removable travel tote for items you usually take on trips. This should be small enough to fit into your purse or carry-on. Others have removable trays or drawers, which can make selecting an item easier.
Jewelry Armoires
These are larger, usually wooden pieces of furniture with multiple drawers and compartments. Like jewelry cases, they are usually fitted with linings, hooks and other useful features. Prices vary widely, and some are custom work with special features such as lighting and hidden compartments. You can sometimes find these at estate sales and auctions, after the contents have been broken up among heirs or sold off.
Other Possibilities:
- Storage solutions for coins, watches, and other collectables can sometimes also be used for storing jewelry - often at very affordable prices.
- Compartmented cases for collectibles, beads, buttons, parts, small tools, fishing tackle, etc. may also be suitable. If used for long-term storage, you should make sure that the material won't have any adverse effect on your pieces (see below).
- You might also look at the trays and attaches jewelers themselves use to store, transport and display their wares. Sellers of supplies for jewelers list a range of types on ebay. For an extensive, or growing collection, this might be ideal. Some cases even are designed to fit, in turn, into larger attache-type cases.
- Taborets used by artists to store brushes and tubes, flat files used by architects to store blueprints and maps, tool chests, and similar pieces can often be adapted to store jewelry. Just use boxes or dividers to create small compartments and line with cloth if necessary.
- You may also want to keep a weather-eye for sales of used fixtures from jewelers, watchmakers or department stores which are remodeling or quitting business. This is one place to pick up (at a reasonable price) the solutions the professionals use to store and display their inventory. Cases, safes, chests, attaches, etc. are sometimes available.
Be Aware of...
Avoid storing in acidic materials, including some types of wood, most cardboard, and paper. Acidity can tarnish metal and cause pitting on both metal and stones. Plywood and particle board can also cause adverse reactions over time, due to acids in both the wood and the binder.
The plasticizers found in most plastics can seriously corrode metal, silvered backings and some gemstones. This is a problem with common plastic bags, many plastic storage boxes, polyurethane foams, etc. Plastic bags or boxes can be used for a very short period, but if you need to store for weeks or months, you should find some other solution and not take chances. Foam "rubber" used in packaging and plastics should be discarded. Damage first appears as a slight spot(s) and proceeds to a blue or green film. This may be removed with acetone, but the surface will be affected (the chemicals pit the surface under the spotting or film). Avoid anything which contains PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride). If you wish to use plastic bags or containers, make sure that they are made of inert materials of the sort used for archival storage. Mylar envelopes and bags are a popular choice, and there are inert plastic alternatives for most containers. Again, most plastics contain corrosive compounds, and you should be sure about plastic containers of any type before putting anything valuable inside for long-term storage.
Store jewelry containing plastic elements (including Vulcanite, Ebonite, thermoplastics, Celluloid, etc.) in separate storage containers. Keep pieces of each type isolated from other plastic types. Do not store the containers in close proximity to other types of stored jewelry. These materials are known to produce acidic gases and other substances which can harm precious metals, stones, and other jewelry items.
Also make certain that paper and cloths do not contain metal fragments (found in some lower-quality recycled materials) or grit.
Do not use chemically treated cloths and containers for storage. The anti-tarnish boxes and bags you use for your sterling flatware may react with other metals and stones.
Chemicals should never be used in either cleaning or storing fine jewelry. The same goes for anything involving heat, abrasives and even ultra-sonic baths - all of which can discolor, dry, scratch, dislodge and crack some gems. When in doubt, consult a jeweler as to what is appropriate for your item (what might be OK for one piece could ruin another).
Do not place items into compartments which have components which are harder than, and can scratch the stones or metals in the jewel.
Article Source: Storing and Protecting Jewelry
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