by Tim Harry

Created on: August 14, 2009   Last Updated: September 01, 2009

It is amazing to behold many people's dressing tables and to see just how precious jewellery is often treated. It is not uncommon to find pieces that hold both sentimental and financial importance just thrown down on the table. Surely though jewellery is worth a little bit of care? and jewellery can be kept safe from accidental damage with a simple jewellery box.

A jewellery box is not a safe, and so it is unlikely to protect pieces in a financial sense from theft, they are though an essential tool in keeping jewellery safe from damage. Precious stones like diamonds are known to be extremely hard, and so people might think what can possible damage them? There is though an obvious answer, other diamonds. Diamonds of course can also do damage to soft precious stones like emeralds and opals, as well as precious metals like gold and silver, the normal settings for the precious stones. It is therefore essential that jewellery pieces are kept safe, but are also kept separate. A role that is well suited to jewellery boxes.

Most pieces of good jewellery will come with their own soft, cushioned bags, and it is advisable that jewellery pieces are firstly stored in these bags. The bags though should then be put into a jewellery box. The jewellery box can help to ensure that jewellery doesn't come into contact with each other, preventing damage. As an added benefit though jewellery boxes can help reduce how quickly silver tarnishes, as well as preventing pendent and other chains from tangling up. Those people that do own a jewellery box do have a habit of just throwing their jewellery items into it. This though isn't making the best use of the box. Most jewellery boxes come with separate compartments for rings, necklaces and other pieces of jewellery.

A jewellery box as previously mentioned is not a safe, and it is essential in fact those characteristics of safes, like being air tight are avoided. Many precious stones need to be kept out of direct sunlight but do need to have air around them to ensure that they do not dry out, something that is essential when it comes to storing pearls and opals. Whilst it is now possible to get jewellery boxes made from a variety of metals and plastics, the traditional wooden jewellery box is still preferred by most.

The wooden box can be covered in any number of fabrics, although leather jewellery boxes are currently very fashionable. It might not be immediately obvious where jewellery boxes can be brought from, and they are not widely publicised objects. There are though still available to buy from most jewellery stores as well as any number of internet sites. Most people though still think of the jewellery box as an object that sat on their grandmother's dressing table, with perhaps a musical ballerina that danced when the jewellery box was opened. If an antique jewellery box is available of course then it will probably be as suitable as any new one.

A good jewellery box is invaluable in ensuring that jewellery is protected from the scratches and damage that can occur when pieces are stored away together. Anyone that owns precious jewellery be it sentimental or financially precious, must ensure that they own a good jewellery box.

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