How to choose a jeweler
It’s that time of year when a young man’s fantasy turns into: “What am I going to get my girl for Christmas?” While jewelry is the typical choice, a jewelry box can make an equally enjoyable gift. It’s a bit out of the ordinary, but buying that special someone a jewelry box shows that you’ve put a little extra effort into their gift.
A couple of things to remember: First, like jewelry, this is an area where quality counts. A cheap, flimsy box with the wrong type of lining can cause jewelry to tarnish faster. You want to find a sturdy box, preferably solid wood, with a fabric lining. There are also smaller glass or ceramic boxes that can be good for teens, but buying anything other than wood for a woman’s large jewelry collection is just asking for trouble.
Second, don’t limit yourself to the boxes that the jewelry store carries where you bought your last piece of jewelry. There are many carpenters throughout the United States who make jewelry boxes by hand. These boxes are generally sold through local gift shops and not through chain jewelry stores. Also, art galleries often have beautiful boxes, and of course you can find them online.
But what kind of box should you get? There are still many options available between the styles of wooden jewelry boxes, jewelry chests, and jewelry racks. Just answer these three questions to find the perfect box for your perfect match:
How many jewels does she have?
A large collection of smaller pieces like earrings and rings requires a large box with several smaller compartments; think of two or three drawers with dividers on the inside. A smaller collection could benefit from a jewelry box rather than a box. A jewelry rack can be placed on a dresser or hung on a wall to save space. Some shelves rotate for easy access to jewelry. Even if your jewelry collection grows later, a jewelry rack will be useful for your favorite pieces, and therefore, the most used ones.
What kind of jewelry will you wear?
If you have a lot of necklaces and only a few earrings, you could get by with a necklace rack and a small box for the earrings. However, having thicker bracelets and pins means that a box with larger, open compartments may be in order. Many jewelers now have areas for specific types of jewelry: smooth grooves for rings, side compartments for hanging necklaces and bracelets, even long compartments for placing watches.
How do you want the box to fit in with the other furniture in the house?
Most people make the mistake of thinking that a jewelry box always has to match the furniture in the room. When we show customers exotic wood jewelry boxes in our stores, many of these customers inevitably say, “But my bedroom furniture is oak … that box won’t match!” When you choose a box that accentuates your furniture rather than combining it, you allow the craftsmanship of the box and the beauty of the wood to stand alone. The box becomes a masterpiece in the room instead of blending in with the rest of the woodwork. Also, remember that the jewelry box you buy today can be a timeless display of craftsmanship passed down to future generations as an heirloom.
One more thing: it’s bad luck to give someone an empty box as a gift. Adding a new piece of jewelry to the inside of the box will complete your gift!