Jewelry Box & Truth about Veneers

First let's me start by stating that veneers are real wood. Period. Yes, there are fabricated imitations(melamine, laminate etc.) but, they are not called veneers and many are very noticeable even with an untrained eye.

Contrary to popular belief, veneered jewelry boxes, jewelry armoires, furniture and other items are not a so
 called "cheap" way to create a beautiful item but, more a chance for everyone to own a piece of beautiful woodwork without breaking the bank. Most people do not truly understand what veneers are and right away dismiss anything with a veneer as cheap and fake. What a shame. Nodding in agreement? Read on....

Wood veneer is nature's ultimate expression of it's beauty and diversity and with the most beautiful of woods, veneers are created. Rarely will you find a solid exotic wood item over a few inches tall and usually it will be a bowl that can highlight the wood favorably inside and out. A solid piece of a Fiddleback Maple wood for example, in a size needed to create any item would be way out of most people's price range but, most importantly, it would be a waste of the wood. Veneers ensure that the rare and unique wood that nature has given us are used in a way that maximizes their unsurpassed beauty. No other natural product can give us such an added value in it's uses.

This is no more true than with a jewelry box. The inside is lined and only the beauty of wood is seen on the exterior. This is not to say that what's beneath is not important. On the contrary, most jewelry boxes furniture start with a solid hardwood base to give the veneer a strong structure to be add to. Now add a beautiful Burl wood or exotic veneer and it can take the simplest of jewelry boxes and make it a stunning eye stopping masterpiece that takes your breathe away. I've seen quite a few that can do this and still do.

Did you know....Veneering is an ancient art, dating all the way back to the ancient Indian tribes who used veneers on their furniture. It is used to give furniture or most noticeably jewelry boxes an exotic wood grain appearance and when it is applied properly, it also gives a item the appearance that is a solid piece of that wood, not a veneer over top another wood. This is where true craftsmanship shows through. There are many pieces of furniture, jewelry boxes and even flooring that highlight this talented work.

Plywood is a veneer. Egyptians are considered the inventors of plywood which consists of extremely thin sheets of wood veneer less than 3 mm thick that are glued together.
The exotic appearance of grain in a veneer comes from slicing down through a tree's growth rings and can be emphasized or diminished just by the angle at which the wood is sliced. Veneer is most commonly made of cherry, oak, maple and birch but, also some rare and exotic woods such as Rosewood and Bubinga. Bird's Eye, Bubinga and Fiddleback are very popular veneers for jewelry boxes along with Burl wood of any sort. To learn more on specific woods used for veneers and wooden jewelry boxes, read our article on "Jewelry Boxes --Wood Basics and Beyond".

I hope that in sharing this bit of knowledge of Wood Veneers that you will look a bit differently at the next beautiful piece of furniture or jewelry box you see and not think..."Oh it's just veneers" but, now view it through an unjade eye and see it for the beauty that it is. Nothing more, nothing less.....Just beautiful.

To see the different between handmade jewelry boxes click here and Wooden Jewelry Boxes click here

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Anti Tarnish Jewelry Boxes and Silver Jewelry

Silver jewelry is as popular as it's ever been. Storing your silver jewelry and how to care for these pieces can be daunting but here I'll try to clear up confusion and clarify the truth about silver jewelry storage and jewelry boxes. For cleaning and care of silvery jewelry, please see our article Silver Care Basics.

Causes of tarnish and corrosion:

Humidity, naturally emitted sulfur from silver, chemicals in clothing, food (onion, egg, oil based products, salt, milk, vinegar, acidic foods ) wool, felt, rubber based products(rubber bands), latex, skin oils, makeup, perfume and hair products(gel, hair spray, hair color) and more.

Jewelry Boxes and Storage
How you store and protect your silver jewelry is very important.
Sterling silver jewelry must be stored in a dark, dry place away from sunlight and heat. Silver should be stored where each piece has space for itself without other jewelry under or on top of it. This allows for the air circulation as well as protecting it from scratches and other potential damage. Never wrap or store your silver in paper, cotton, cardboard or plastic as these contain compounds that will tarnish you jewelry quickly. Rubber of any sort even rubber bands will tarnish silver at a rapid pace.

Contrary to popular belief, you do not need a "tarnish proof" or "anti tarnish" jewelry box. Really??

Anti Tarnish or Tarnish Resistant Jewelry Boxes

I will not own a jewelry box with a treated lining. Why? Anti tarnish fabrics used in jewelry boxes are usually

More Anti Tarnish Boxes Click Here

chemically coated. Like all treated surfaces, these coatings wear, erode or evaporate over time. What concerns me is that chemical is up against jewelry you wear in your ears, around your neck or on your hand and some of that coating is sure to be transmitted. That coating is then transferred to your skin. Even if minute particles are transferred, who is to say that you are not allergic to this chemical or have a sensitivity to it. For flatware and cooking/serving items these treated linings are fine as you wash the residue away before use. On the flip side, some linings can actually cause tarnish. They contain sulphur and chloride elements within them. Most don't but, how you store and care for your jewelry makes a difference.

So where does that leave you?

Well, not all anti tarnish lined boxes are chemically treated. There are a few materials that contain minute specks of silver in them that absorb the sulfur gases and will protect silver for a lifetime. If you know that the lining is not a chemically treated but still anti tarnish then great. Don't know? Then there are other options that most people are not aware of and the greatest part is you are not limited to style, color or make of a jewelry box to use these products. Your silver can be protected while you have the jewelry box that you want, need and do not need to compromise at all.

Create an "anti tarnish/ tarnish resistant" storage environment for silver:
Follow the guidelines above and use 1 or 2 of the ideas below for storage. All are inexpensive, easily available on the Internet, from a local jeweler, hobby shop and even free. Also all are safe and do not emit fumes, gases or vapors.

1. Tarnish absorbing cloths

Pacific Silver Cloth(Pacific Cloth) or a Silver Tarnish Inhibiting Cloths are great to wrap jewelry in before storing or lay the cloths inside box with jewelry on top or next to the cloth. These cloths have minute particles of silver to attract the sulfur to the cloth. It will become saturated with the sulfur so you will need to change them but, some versions last up to 40 years depending on the amount of silver in the cloth. (Google it) Price average $15/yd.

2. Anti-tarnish strips

Hagerty Silver Strips or 3M Anti-Tarnish Strips absorb the sulfuric gases that cause tarnish. These are Anti Tranish Silver Stripssafe economical way to stay tarnish free. They are paper strips that contain activated charcoal that absorbs the gases. You can just lay them within a drawer or cut them up for compartments or

More on Silver Strip click here

smaller drawers. Jewelry does not need to be laid on them just placed in the drawer. These strips last at least 6 months and you can label/date them so you know when to replace them. You can find them online, at jewelry stores and even hardware stores. A box is roughly $8 - $12 for a pk. of 8. Not bad, huh?

3. Silica Gel granules.

Do not throw away those little packs of that come in your jewelry box,new purse,shoes or medicine bottles! These absorb moisture in the air and retard tarnish. Add one to each drawer to help keep the jewelry box interior dry. Lack of air movement can cause a moist environment. This is why the gel packs are in leather products and more when you purchase them. Since we all throw them away and they come with most everything, you're sure to have quite a few around to save. Store them sealed in a plastic bag and keep them in a dark cool place for future use. This will keep them from absorbing moisture before you need them. Change them every few months. A must in humid climates.

4. Chalk.

Even standard blackboard or sidewalk chalk can be used in a jewelry box. It has amazing absorption qualities and a little piece will work for months to control moisture/humidity.

Follow these simple ideas and guidelines and you'll enjoy your silver with little maintenance for years and still have the jewelry box of your choice.

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Children's Jewelry Boxes Beyond The Basics

Regardless of age, your first jewelry box will always be remembered. It need not be expensive or big, as long as it has certain requirements. Only you can decide what those requirements are. Take a look:
Should it be Musical Jewelry Box?
Remember you may want the magic to continue with a lift of the lid and the

music begins to play while the ballerina twirls in harmony. Enchanting and playful with a charming style and fanciful designs will delight your young princess or lovely young lady. Let her imagination run wild as she twirls with the ballerina to the melody within her box. You'll find these days that the ballerina may be #1 but, twirling cats, horses, fairies and more are becoming popular.

Jewelry Box Designs?
There are wonderful boxes to be found with scenes of fables, nursery rhymes and even horse jewelry boxes. Can you imagine...? Vibrant colors of flowers and butterflies with pink detailed drawer pulls or a whirly graceful horse within a musical jewelry box or even floral fantasies with the music of "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" from Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite" with flowing ribbons, roses and ballet slippers in a delightful design? Go explore. The right box is at your fingertips!

Pricing?
There's a huge range in pricing these days but, a good price to start with when shopping is about $30. This will be the lower end of the price scale though you could certainly find those up to $75 or more.

What is your Goal?
Be reasonable. Know what you want. Do you want the child to play with it daily? Is it her first jewelry box? Should it be a box for years or just for her early childhood? Is she at the tween age(8-12) or younger? What does the child like? Do you want the box to be extravagant in price or extravagant in design? These are important questions to think about.

What's the Right Children's Jewelry Box?

• If she is to play with it and it is for her younger years, then look for a box that is paper covered board, safe to play with and will not break if dropped. Choose a jewelry box that the child can relate to, has a little plastic mirror and is musical.
• For a box with longevity through childhood, avoid the ballet slippers and cutesy designs. Keep it simple with a pretty pink lining and some music. If you keep it white, she can decorate it later herself with stencils or stamps!
• You may prefer a wooden

children's jewelry box. These are perfect if they are to kept out of little hands.

The are the dresser top jewelry boxes that are kept for many years and are to store jewelry more than to handle. These should not be given to children under the age of 5 to handle alone. Please use adult supervision. Wooden jewelry boxes are heavy and can be hard to handle for little hands. If they do fall or are dropped, they will most likely break and may hurt a child.

Lining & Color of a Child Jewelry Box?
Most children's boxes come with a faux suede or paper lining that often is pink. We all can relate to that. Lining of either will protect her jewelry and treasures equally. Pink is the color of choice inside and out but,there is blue, white, purple and even green out there.

Still Debating what Jewelry Box is right for your Child?
Ask questions before you buy. The jewelry boxes of the past most of us had a kids has been updated and improved to last a lifetime without costing a fortune. The paper covered wood boxes we had as children are now "new and improved" with wonderful songs, drawers from every side and music beyond the norm. You'll find nursery rhymes, ballet, horse themed songs and more. These boxes are durable and are made to last. I know first hand, my 3 yr. old daughter has had hers for 2 years and it's going strong! These are a great choice for quality and price. Still....wooden boxes come in wonderful styles, have a bit more refined feel to them and on a dresser, will last well beyond childhood.

Remember...Whether its rock stars and movie stars or princesses and fairy tales, you'll make it memorable with any jewelry box you choose.

You never forget your first, second or the absolutely stunning jewelry box of your childhood. and let JewelryBoxDirect.com help give you a start with those wonderful memories. Visit our selection of Children's Jewelry Boxes & Music Jewelry Boxes

5 Points Before Buying A Jewelry Box

1. Choose Size & Shape
Are you looking for a jewelry box to store or showcase a whole collection, a jewelry box for specialty items like watches, earrings and bracelets but holds other jewelry also, a nice box to hold jewelry in general or one that has to have music. These are just examples of what to think about when shopping. Other aspects come into play such as space, décor, budget and personal taste in terms of color, style such as handmade jewelry boxes or high quality wood jewelry boxes. The dimensions of jewelry boxes on the outside vary a great deal and the pictures on any website can make a box look larger or smaller than it actually is. We clearly list the dimensions for each item so please check the measurements to help you make the right choice.

2. Jewelry Boxes Linings

The best bet is to look for a suede-like lining that is has texture and is firmly attached throughout the interior of the box. Try to avoid slick or loose linings like silk as it’s not good for jewelry to slide around and is not tarnish protected material. Velvet is wears fast, leaves pressure marks and is hard to clean so keep that in mind. Most jewelry boxes now offer a faux suede or felt lining that keeps jewelry from tarnishing and also gives texture to help keep jewelry snug and protected.

3. Which Box and for WhomThe first thing needed is knowledge of the person who will be using the item. Girls tend to love traditional musical ballerina boxes, one that is colorful and decorated or has hand-painted designs. As there is limit selection for children, look for one with basic storage compartments lined and with an appearance that is pleasing. Look & music tend to be the deciding factors. If they love how it looks, then it’s the right one.
women jewelry boxes and men valet jewelry boxes, the look and feel are both important factors, but finding to right box is a bit more difficult as how the interior is arranged and features made for the shape and style of jewelry now is a deciding factor.

4. Look, Feel & Space LayoutLook at the interior layout and features offered in each box. What to look for depends on the variety and type of jewelry you have means the box could include hooks or special drawers for necklaces, bracelets and watches, pockets, ring rolls, bracelet rolls, watch cushions, and even special pockets or pouches for storing certificates, paperwork or jewelry. All of these are features can make owning a jewelry box enjoyable and allow you to organized and all your jewelry protected and easy to access all at the same time.

5. Making Choices
Topping the list of important factors in selecting a jewelry box is the layout and type of compartments inside the box. Important for you because certain jewelry need special attention or organization to protect them from tangling, scratches and other damage and for easy access for you. This will help you determine which boxes to consider.

Some jewelry needs special storage, here is some helpful info:

Pendants:

Look for a box that has hooks inside the lid or in a side door and preferably a pouch to hold the pendants secure.

Pearls:

Pearls need extra consideration concerning storage. Individual pearls should not touch each other during storage as rubbing or bumping of the surface can cause pitting and possible chips. Never hang pearls as the silk string may become weak. Store flat and either alone or covered to separate from other jewelry.

Watches Boxes:

Watches boxes are best kept as if it’s being worn. This protects the shape and closures from damage.

Earrings:

Earrings can easily be damages due to the sharp and rough posts and backings. They are best stored in pairs or a couple together to protect and make it easier to find matching pair.

So Please take the time to read more about our large selection of Jewelry Boxes found at JewelryBoxDirect.com