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Some of the most elegant jewelry boxes available today are made by Reed & Barton. This is the same company famous for those silverware boxes made of elegant woods. They have been in business since 1824 and they enjoy one of the finest reputations in the industry. They produce fine picture frames as well as their silverware cases and elegant jewelry boxes. They also have very popular specialized cigar humidors and pen chests. Their very popular line of jewelry boxes makes wonderful corporate gifts. The boxes can be individually engraved, or have a company name or logo imprinted. These elegant jewelry boxes are available for men or women, and there are some that even children will enjoy. Musical versions are popular with both young and old jewelry admirers. For the watch collector, there are wooden boxes especially designed to hold a watch collection. The plush padded partitions accommodate the individual watches and keep them from scratching against one another. Most of the interiors are of suede cloth or crushed nylon velvet for extra protection of the jewelry. For men, there are also table or dresser top valets. These are open for keys, change, cell phones, etc. All of the trinkets can be kept in one place and the surface of the dresser remains protected.
Leather designs are also available from Reed & Barton. They have a leather roll up model that is one of my favorite travel accessories. It fits easily in a handbag or carryon bag, and can be tucked away inside those hotel safes. It can also be used in home safes or safety deposit boxes. Some of these leather designs can be locked with the included key. These are all lined in elegant suede cloth or rich nylon crushed velvet. The leathers, as well as the wood boxes, are beautifully detailed. The woods boxes are available in mahogany or cherry or white or natural oak. A rich crush resistant nylon velvet lining coordinates or contrasts with the wood finish. All of the drawers have individual compartments to hold earrings, rings, bracelets and necklaces. Most of the larger chests have pendant hanging hooks and a shirred pouch pocket to keep long and short chains from tangling together. Rings are kept separated by softly lined rolls called ring bards. Earrings have their own small pocket compartment to keep them from scratching or damaging each other.
High gloss piano finished wood jewelry boxes are especially striking. The natural wood grain can be plainly seen on all of the wood boxes, but it is also highlighted on the gloss-finished woods. The jewelry boxes are available in two- drawer to super large three drawer versions. There are Queen Anne tables with a drawer that will hold these larger jewel boxes. The tree drawer chest is 17x11 ½ x9 ¼" and with the table becomes 18x12x36 overall. That's some jewelry tower! The models that lock also have a black tasseled key for security. Much as you'd like to pack these chests in your lightweight luggage, they are just too large to leave home. You'll need to pack the travel versions when you go on a trip.
The Music boxes play "Irish Eyes" on the jewelry case with the Irish blessing engraved on the mirrored lid. All the musical movements are Sankyo and are gold-toned 18-note. The Mahogany finishes with silk-screened American flag plays "God Bless America." There is also a glass top musical chest in cherry finish that plays "Music Box Dancer" and a Mahogany finish box that plays "Edelweiss." For the young at hear, there's the "Sound of Music" in a mirrored lid box with Cherry finish. Don't your jewels deserve one of these beautiful jewelry boxes to house them in?
When shopping for a new jewelry box, you could spend a fortune. Fortunately, you don't have to! It's possible to find high quality, attractive, inexpensive jewelry boxes if you know what to look for and, more importantly, what to look out for. When you begin your search, you're likely to find some women's jewelry boxes that are gorgeous but expensive and some that are ugly but super cheap. The middle ground is the place you want to be.
Determining Your Jewelry Box NeedsCheap jewelry boxes quickly become expensive if they don't suit your needs or are so poorly made that you have to replace them a few months later. When shopping for jewelry boxes, first consider the sort of jewelry you like to wear. Do you tend to wear more earrings than rings or do you like to stack multiple rings? Are your necklaces chunky strands or delicate chains? If you're looking for men's jewelry boxes, does he own several watches or does he need a place to store cuff links? Determine the number and types of compartments you need before beginning your search. Next consider the amount of space you have for the jewelry box. Gorgeous jewelry boxes are also decorative items, so allot them more space than you would a collection of cardboard gift boxes or unattractive stacking trays. If your dresser is low, you might want something tall to add a sense of height to the room. If your dresser is high, select something low and wide so you can easily see the jewelry inside it.
Signs of Quality in an Inexpensive Jewelry boxesWhen comparing jewelry boxes, study them carefully to determine whether they will last a long time. First consider the compartments and lining. Compartments should be large enough to comfortably fit several sizes of jewelry or be arranged in a variety of sizes. The lining of the compartments should be velvet, satin, or something similarly soft. This will prevent your jewelry from becoming scratched and may prevent tarnishing. Second, look at the wood or fabric. Wood should be solid, smooth, and not chipped. Fabric boxes should be well padded and have no signs of puckering on the sides or edges. Boxes with pressboard interiors and wood veneer exteriors are not as durable as solid wood jewelry boxes or fabric jewelry boxes. The finish of wooden boxes is also important. Lacquered finishes are more attractive and easier to dust, but bubbles in the lacquer are signs of poor quality. Steer clear! Third, examine the hinges and drawer sliders. Drawers should slide out smoothly and not catch or show signs of splintering. Hinges should be solid, not wiggly. Squeaking or creaking is a sure sign that the box will not stand up to daily openings and closings.
The Jewelry Box as Family HeirloomJewelry boxes, even if they're not expensive, often become family heirlooms because of the warm memories associated with them. Poor quality boxes will not survive a second generation, but high quality, inexpensive jewelry boxes can be enjoyed for many years to come.
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