How to Store Your Jewelry the Right Way

"Whether you're looking to preserve a family heirloom or maintain your everyday favorites, storing your jewelry properly is a crucial step in the care process. Use these storage tips from experts to help keep your jewelry in good shape and shining for years to come.

Avoid direct sunlight. "Just like the sun damages our skin, it can damage your gems," said McKenzie Santimer, a museum manager and designer at the Gemological Institute of America. Certain stones, like amethyst, are particularly sensitive to light and lose their color with prolonged ultraviolet exposure. Other stones that are treated or dyed also fade in the sunlight.

Heat can affect your gems, too. "The sun will cook an opal," Ms. Santimer said. "It's called 'crazing' -- the whole thing can start to shatter."

Mind the moisture. Some materials have distinct preferences when it comes to humidity. If sterling silver is stored in a humid environment, it will tarnish more quickly. To banish moisture, Rony Vardi, the founder of the Brooklyn-based jewelry brand Catbird, recommended sealing silver jewelry in a plastic bag with charcoal or silica packets when you're not wearing it.

Pearls and opals, on the other hand, need moisture. "You'd never leave them in a safety deposit box, because they'd dry out and crack," Ms. Santimer said.

Store pieces separately. To avoid scratches and dings, Ms. Santimer suggested storing jewelry individually in clear plastic bags. This is especially important for jewelry made from softer materials like sterling silver, opal, lapis and pearls.

"You don't want to store pearls hanging with other necklaces, where they can swing back and forth and hit each other," Ms. Santimer said. "Instead, coil them up in a snake coil and lay them flat."

Keep chains from tangling. "One of the things we hear about the most is chain tangling," Ms. Vardi said. To keep your necklaces neat, take a tip from the pros: "We use these tiny jewelry zip bags, or you can just use a regular sandwich bag," Ms. Vardi said. "Put the chain so that the top is clasped and sticking out of the ziplock. That way, the top of your chain can't get tangled with the rest of it, which is how knots usually form."" [1]

1. Here to Help; How to Store Your Jewelry the Right Way: [Style Desk]. Vanderweide, Zoe.  New York Times, Late Edition (East Coast); New York, N.Y.. 31 Jan 2024: A.3.