How to become a storage expert

To organise jewellery efficiently, a great way to start is to sort the jewellery by type ie necklaces, rings, brooches, bracelets and earrings etc. Create separate piles for any other unusual items you have like hatpins, jewelled barrettes, or anklets. Now sort the individual piles. Put small earrings in one pile and large earrings in another. Chunky necklaces should be separated from delicate strands to prevent damage & tangling.

Separate out valuable pieces or important family heirlooms. These ideally should be kept in a home safe or safe-deposit box. You don’t want to risk losing these precious items. Sterling silver pieces should be cleaned and polished, and then kept in anti tarnish pouches to prevent tarnish. Alternatively anti tarnish ‘tabs’ are great and are widely available these days (eBay is a great source for these). Another great tip is to pop a sachet of silica gel in your jewellery box, they help remove any extra moisture and nearly every purse or pair of shoes you buy will have them in, a great way to recycle.

As you sort, separate any mismatches or hopelessly broken pieces. Reconsider keeping anything out-of-date or that you haven’t worn in years. If a broken piece of jewellery can be repaired and you still want it, then set it aside to fix later. Remember, don’t just throw away any precious metals, you will be surprised at the weigh in value of a few odd earrings or broken chains. Now you can see how many pieces you have left of each style and type.

With your list of jewellery styles and quantities in hand, start looking for a jewellery storage box,jewellery box, or jewellery organiser that will suit your needs. Your goal is to arrange each piece of jewellery so it has a place to go at the end of the day. Each pair of earrings should be in its own compartment or hang on hooks. Necklaces should lay flat and straight or be hung them hooks. Chunky bracelets can lay flat and loose bracelets can be flat or hung. Rings belong in ring dividers or on a ring pole. Large, stiff earrings that won’t fit into a compartment can be laid flat in the necklace drawer or the posts can be poked into the ring dividers to keep them secure.

Once you’ve gone through the initial process of organising your jewellery , it’s easy to keep your collection in excellent condition. Put your jewellery away when you take it off at night, taking care to return it to its proper compartment. A little time now will save you extra time in the morning when you’re scrambling to find the earrings that go with your outfit.

The annual review is the second key to jewellery organisation. Spread out your collection once a year and weed out any broken pieces.
This is also a great time to get rid of any pieces you haven’t worn recently or don’t like anymore. Again, if these are in wearable condition consider selling them on platforms like eBay or Etsy or gather a group of friends to swop or sell your pieces over a glass of wine & a catch up.
Taking an annual inventory reminds you of what you have so you can vary your daily choices. Maybe you’ll spot a pair of earrings you love, but forgot you own. By editing it annually, you’ll also keep your collection from outgrowing your jewellery organiser.

If all this seems like a hassle, consider the alternative. First, you spend ten minutes hunting for a pair of earrings you love, but rarely wear, only to discover that one of the posts is broken or one earring has gone missing. Second, it will take you longer to get dressed in the morning because you have to comb through your entire collection to find matches. Third, your silver jewellery will tarnish if not properly stored and you’ll have to spend an afternoon cleaning jewellery. Fourth, necklaces will tangle and develop unsightly kinks or knots that can’t be untied.

If you value your jewellery , you owe it to yourself and your collection to store it properly. Think how much easier it will be to purchase new pieces when you already know what you have, and you certainly deserve a treat after taking so much care of your collection!

Tim Stinchcombe-Twelvetree

Twelvesilvertrees.com 

Read our blog post on what is sterling silver to learn how & why sterling silver jewellery tarnishes.