How to store gold jewellery so it stays perfect
Drop five pieces into the same pouch and they will scratch, tangle and dent each other. A little organisation keeps gold looking new for decades.
The golden rules of storage
Separate everything
Diamond is the hardest natural material and scratches everything it touches, including other diamonds. Store pieces in individual compartments or soft pouches.
Fasten clasps
Close every necklace and bracelet before you put it away. An open chain will find a way to tie itself in knots.
Keep it dry and cool
Bathrooms are the worst place for jewellery: humidity, steam and aerosols all speed up tarnish. A bedroom drawer is ideal.
Use the original box
The box your piece came in was designed for it. Use it for pieces you wear rarely.
Storage by type
Rings
Use ring rolls or slotted trays so each ring stands upright. Keep a small ceramic dish by the sink and on your bedside table, so rings never end up on the edge of a basin.
Necklaces
Hang chains from hooks, or lay them out straight in a long compartment. When travelling, thread a fine chain through a drinking straw and fasten the clasp around the outside.
Earrings
Keep pairs together with backs attached, in a grid tray or on a card. Loose posts bend easily in a drawer.
Pearls
Lay pearls flat. Hanging them stretches the silk. Keep them in a breathable pouch, never sealed plastic, as pearls need a little moisture to avoid cracking.
Anti-tarnish strips
Solid 18ct gold will not tarnish, but 9ct gold, silver and plated pieces can. An anti-tarnish strip in each compartment absorbs sulphur from the air. Replace it every six months.
Keep a record
Photograph each piece, keep the receipt and note the hallmark, stone details and any valuation. The usgoldapp app’s digital jewellery box does this for you, which is useful if you ever need to make an insurance claim.
Care advice, personalised. Every piece is different. Add yours to the usgoldapp care planner and get a plan written for its metal, carat and stones in seconds.