It is rare to find a woman or a man who does not have a jewelry box for these are the most obvious and practical place to store the jewelry they own. Jewelry boxes are those treasured items which are lined with velvet and keeps the jewelry safe from the element.

The question of safety and jewelry really depends on the type of jewelry owned. Many who own costume jewelry alone do not bother to use highly secured boxes for these are most likely made out of simple materials. However, if the jewelry in question is fine jewelry involving the use of precious gems, stones and metals, then the need to up the security is crucial to the safety of the pieces.

Many people may have their own safes in their homes which location they should never divulge to others. The safes are used to store in all of the important documents and items of the homeowner, however, these should only be used to store those items which are not that expensive.

For those who own very expensive jewelry which prices reach the hundreds of thousands of dollars per piece, then they should think about safety deposit boxes like those provided for in banks. These are the most secure of places to keep the jewelry safe, despite the fact that Hollywood movies make them very easy to break into, which they are not.

As to the question of keeping the jewelry shiny, now that is another topic altogether. If you have jewelry it is important to make sure that the box they are kept in is clean and lined with velvet and they go in clean as well. Do not just drop your jewelry on bare wood or glass for jewelry made from pearls, for example, have soft surfaces so they can get scratched. Wipe the jewelry clean before replacing in the box.

It is also important to clean the jewelry at least once or twice a year. But you should know how to clean and what to use for cleaning. Take for example gold, you do not just use metal polish on it, or even use toothpaste to clean diamonds set on gold. Only use warm, soapy water and the soap used should be the mild soap like glycerine soap. The softer the soap, the less abrasive it is on the jewelry. After brushing the item with soft bristle brush, rinse off very well until all soap residue are removed and then polish with soft cloth. Leave to dry for a few minutes before replacing in the box.

Note: separate the pearls from jewelry set in metal for they could damage the surface of the pearl.