Jewelry box – Smart purchasing tips

Jewelry box – Smart purchasing tips

If you are considering purchasing a Jewelry Box this holiday season then read these smart purchasing tips to make the right decision. When selecting a jewelry

box you are really spoiled for choice. There are thousands of designs and hundreds of options. It could get really very confusing. This article summarizes what

you should be looking for while making that crucial “buy” decision.

Aeona Lacquered White Wooden Jewelry Box. & Aeona Wooden Jewelry Box Rosewood Finish

Design features to consider: • The primary function of a jewelry box is to organize all your jewelry in one place.

In addition to its basic function of storing and organizing your jewelry, a good jewelry box should also be appealing to the eye, have good build quality and finish. So what really are the essential features of a good jewelry box? Here are some key features that you should look for while purchasing your next jewelry box:

– A premium quality jewelry box should essentially be a wooden jewelry box, with a matching Rosewood or Lacquered White finish to match the color of your dresser. Faux leather jewelry box would be a complete mismatch on your wooden dresser.

– It should neither be too large like a jewelry chest nor too small like a single layer compact box. The ideal jewelry box would have at least three storage sections (lid , an upper section and a pull out drawer). The top lid holds chains and necklaces on hooks and a pouch. While the upper tray and the pull out drawer should have large deep sections to organize and store your watches, rings, bracelets, chains, pearl necklaces, pendants, hoops and accessories.

Design features to consider: – Both sections (upper and lower) should have independent locks.

Some two tier jewelry boxes in the market have only a single lock for the upper section. The drawer generally comes without a lock. I find this surprising. Are you going to be storing plastic jewelry in the lower tier? The purpose of the dual lock is to ensure that small pieces of jewelry are not pilfered. So either you need two separate locks for both sections or if your house / bedroom is secure then you really don’t need any locks.

– Day –to – day handling wears out a jewelry box over a period of time. A good jewelry box would have design features to protect the shine and gloss of your jewelry box. Some essential design features to protect it from wear and tear or handling marks during its regular day-to-day use are: a lift knob to open the top lid, a pull out knob to open the drawer, raised feet to easily lift the box and above all a stain resistant and tough external finish. These features ensure that your jewelry box keeps looking new for several years.

Natural wood or Engineered wood?

• The choice has to be made on the basis of economic and environmental concerns. Modern jewelry boxes are mostly made from engineered wood (also know as Medium Density Fiberboard or MDF) for the following reasons:

• Engineered wood is environmentally friendly as it is produced from harvested renewable resource (pine wood and other woods) in compliance with FSC and the Lacey Act requirements.

• Maintains its shape and form (does not warp or bend as in the case of some natural woods).

• Durable, economical and light weight in comparison to natural woods.• Whether you pay a fortune for a natural wood jewelry or you pay a reasonable

amount for an engineered wood jewelry box, you should bear in mind that a jewelry box is not an heirloom to be handed over to the next generation. The reason is that unlike the external wood casing the inner fabric lining of any jewelry box cannot be as durable as the wood itself. It tends to wear out over the years. Therefore if you have paid a “reasonable price” now for an engineered wood jewelry box then you won’t feel guilty about replacing it with a bigger or a better box in the future when you prosper and have more jewelry to store.

Big brand jewelry box or a new brand box?

• Same car same manufacturer but much higher price for a different brand. Have you seen this situation in real life? In the automotive world it is known as “Badge Engineering”, when a same product is offered as another brand at a much higher price. The same is true even with big brand jewelry boxes. Most jewelry boxes are not made in USA. If a product is made in USA, then it deserves a premium and hence a higher price. But if it is outsourced from countries like China, Thailand or India and imported as a “brand”, would it deserve a “much higher price” only for the label or brand? Therefore you should first find if the “big brand” you plan to purchase is imported or “made in USA”. Pay more if it is “Made in USA”. Alternately if you are a millionaire and consider an imported branded jewelry box a status symbol then perhaps you should purchase an imported branded jewelry box. But if you are a practical consumer and need a good premium quality jewelry box to organize and store your jewelry then any new brand that offers a “100% satisfaction or money back guarantee” would serve your purpose equally well.

Online purchase or an upmarket store?

• What are the advantages of buying from an upmarket store? Security of transaction, friendly staff, previous experience and product warranty. If there is something wrong with the product, you simply go back to the store and return it. But what if you get the same watertight A-to-Z guarantee is available from an online vendor such as Amazon? Would you trust them? The stupendous success of Amazon was built on trust. In addition to the security of transaction, consider the other very valuable benefits:

• 100% satisfaction or money back guarantee by Amazon.• Price and quality comparison of several brands from the comfort of

your home with just a few clicks on your laptop, I-pad or smart phone. • Saves valuable travel time to visit the store. • Definitely saves money.

Happy shopping!

• The author is President of Arista Crafted Boxes Inc. If you have any questions or suggestions about jewelry boxes, please feel free to write

to Vijay Atawane at vijay@aristaexcellence.com

• http://www.aristaexcellence.com/