Written by: Cynthia Findlay Antiques
Summary: Keep estate jewellery safe with these tips.
Estate jewellery is a wonderful addition to any extensive jewellery collection. Certain steps should be taken in order to ensure that your finest pieces of jewellery remain in good condition for years to come. Jewellery that is improperly stored can become tarnished and worn over time, causing it to look less elegant. Also, its value will depreciate if the item is not kept in good condition.
Ideally, each piece of jewellery—such as art deco rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings—should be stored in its original packaging. Velvet and felt are commonly used to line jewellery boxes due to their softness; the interiors are gentle on silver and gold pieces, and that softness protects them from wear.
If you no longer own the accompanying boxes for your older pieces of jewellery, the second best option is to invest in a good-quality compartmentalized jewellery box. Different compartments ensure that necklaces, bracelets, and rings can lie flat and not become tangled or mixed up amongst each other.
Where pieces are from can make a difference too. For example, custom jewellery from Toronto might influence which designers or materials inspired the creation. As different metals and precious gems may require different types of storage, be sure to ask about storage conditions when you purchase. There may be certain conditions like humidity or temperature that can affect a piece over time.
If you wish to protect your estate jewellery even further, you can place it in a home safe. This will give you peace of mind at all times. In addition, if you wish to take your jewellery with you while you’re traveling, you may want to invest in an organizer for valuable pieces.
