How to Store Your Jewellery

Looking after your jewellery doesn’t need to be complicated. A few small habits when you take your pieces off can make a real difference to how they look and wear over time.

The best way to store jewellery is somewhere dry, out of direct sunlight and with enough space that your pieces aren’t constantly rubbing against each other. Beyond that, I recommend a few things depending on whether you’re storing chains, silver, gold, or pieces with gemstones.

Where should you store your jewellery?

A jewellery box, soft pouch or individual storage bag somewhere cool and dry is a good place to start.

I’d avoid keeping your jewellery in the bathroom long-term. The regular humidity isn’t ideal, particularly for sterling silver, which can naturally oxidise and tarnish over time.

While your ZPJ pieces are most likely made with diamonds or sapphires, if you also have other pieces with semi-precious gemstones, it is best to keep your jewellery out of direct sunlight for long periods. Different stones can respond differently to prolonged light, heat and changes in their environment.

Essentially, tucked away somewhere safe, dry and secure is better than permanently sitting on the bathroom vanity or beside a sunny window.

Give your pieces a little space

One of the easiest things you can do is avoid throwing all of your jewellery into the same dish or compartment.

Pieces rubbing against one another can cause scratches, and jewellery with stones deserves a little extra care, as gemstones vary in hardness and we don't want them scratching one another.

You don’t need an elaborate storage system. Separate compartments, small soft pouches or individual bags work perfectly well.

For our earrings that are designed to be mixed and matched, I also recommend separating the charms from their huggies before putting them away. Huggies stored with charms attached are much more likely to be bent, especially if they are stored in toilet bags or travel cases. It is a bonus if each piece can be stored securely, with little movement, in separate compartments. This helps minimise rubbing and makes it much easier to find what you’re looking for next time.

How to store necklaces without tangling

There are few things more frustrating than reaching for a necklace and finding it somehow tied itself into a knot; it's always best to fasten your necklaces and bracelets before you put them away.

From there, try to keep chains separate rather than placing several loose necklaces together. You can lay each one flat in its own compartment or pouch, or hang them individually if your jewellery storage allows for it.

How to store silver jewellery

Sterling silver naturally reacts with its environment and may tarnish over time. This is completely normal and doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with your jewellery.

Keeping silver somewhere clean and dry can help slow that process. If it’s a piece you don’t wear regularly, storing it in its own pouch or sealed bag is a simple option and has the added benefit of protecting it from scratches. While we recommend keeping all your jewellery away from spa pools, chlorine and sulphur, silver is especially prone to oxidising, so please be wary.

If you pull a silver piece out after a while and it’s looking darker or a little less shiny than you remember, it will often just need a quick polish - our ZPJ polishing cloths are perfect for this and are included with every order.

How to store gold jewellery

Solid gold is wonderfully wearable, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to scratch.

I still recommend keeping gold pieces separate where you can, particularly from jewellery containing harder gemstones. A soft pouch or lined jewellery box is ideal.

This is especially useful for the pieces you wear every day. Our jewellery is made to be lived in, so there’s no need to be overly precious with it, but giving it a safe place to go at the end of the day is a very easy way to look after it.

What about gemstone jewellery?

This is where it becomes difficult to give one rule for absolutely everything.

Different gemstones have different levels of hardness and can respond differently to light, heat, moisture and knocks. Most of your ZPJ pieces are made using diamonds and sapphires - they are much harder than other gemstones, which means the stone itself can scratch softer materials if everything is stored together.

For that reason, I’d give gemstone pieces their own compartment or pouch rather than letting them sit loose against other jewellery.

Softer or more delicate materials can need slightly different care again, so if you’re unsure about a particular stone, it’s always worth checking the care recommendations for that piece rather than assuming every gemstone should be treated the same way.

When you haven’t worn something for a while

If a piece has been sitting in your jewellery box for a few months, give it a quick once-over before putting it straight back on.

Check that the clasp is working properly and, for gemstone jewellery, have a look to make sure everything seems secure.

If the metal is just looking a little dull, a quick polish can make a big difference. Again, our ZPJ Polishing Cloth is great for this. Don't worry if the polishing cloth starts turning black; that’s completely normal. It's just the polishing compound doing its job - the dirtier it gets, the better - re-use, re-use, re-use!

For anything that needs a little more attention, our Jewellery Care Guide covers cleaning and caring for your pieces in more detail.

The simple version

If you remember nothing else about how to store jewellery, keep it dry, separated and somewhere safe.

Fasten your chains before putting them away, give individual pieces a little space, keep silver protected when you’re not wearing it and take a bit of extra care with gemstone jewellery.

Nothing too complicated - just a few small habits that can help your jewellery stay looking its best for years to come.