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Daily Wire Tip March 1: Storing Your Jewelry

By on March 1, 2010
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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip
March 01, 2010

Question:

I would like to know what you think is the best way to store your Sterling Silver and Gold Filled Jewelry in between shows and sales.

Answer:

For long periods between shows, all of my jewelry pieces are stored in individual plastic bags in sectioned, flocked jewelry inserts in plastic trays (that lock together on top of one another). The ends of the trays are labeled so I know what is where when I need to pull a product in a hurry; such as Small Cab Pendants/gf, Designer Pendants, Crystal Earrings/gf and one for sterling silver, and another for argentium labeled Arg, etc. I also save the silica gel packs (that are found in many products we all purchase today) and place them under the fabric in the glass display cases I have in the show area of my studio, to help eliminate moisture-producing tarnish. I do not store my Akoya or freshwater pearls in plastic though, these are just in the above-described trays, each with a silica gel pack. (There are some folks who use small pieces of chalk in their trays/cases to reduce the moisture as well.) During show season, my pieces are just in their trays with no individual packaging, as working every weekend is just too much for all of the packaging. Whatever method you decide to use, make sure you can get to your stock easily, and be sure to check your pieces about two weeks before a show so you have time to do any cleaning that may be necessary.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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4 Comments

  1. avatar

    Gayle L. Zemp

    March 1, 2010 at 3:45 pm

    I find it easier, and less cleaning to place a piece of antitarnish fabric over the sections of the plastic boxes. You could cut strips and place in the bottom of the trays also. These are permanent and need no additional attention. I believe you can buy felt and spray it with antitarnish spray, but I haven’t tried this. The fabric is usable over and over, and no worries about tarnish or moisture.

  2. avatar

    nancy beegle

    March 2, 2010 at 12:44 am

    Hi, Dale —

    That’s so good for me to read — thanks! I’ve been collecting the silica packets and putting them in my containers, all to my son’s chagrin, who laughs at me and says they’re worthless, so I really was excited to read that you do it, too, and that I pretty much have figured out the storage thing for myself, and apparently done it right!!! You’re great for my ego!

    Thanks again for all the information you share with us. We’re like baby birds in a nest, waiting for a worm, and you give us one each day! LOL!

    ninib

  3. avatar

    Gayle Knapp

    March 2, 2010 at 10:14 am

    I too use the anti-tarnish cloth (most fabric stores carry it–sometimes under the name “Silver Cloth”). I cut it to tray size and cover each tray with it as I stack them into my carrier. This cloth was significantly reduced my re-polish time between shows.

  4. avatar

    Mint Schlief

    March 3, 2010 at 7:22 am

    I have been using Dale’s suggestion for the last couple of shows and recently added the silver cloth. I cut strips the width of the trays but TWICE as long. This lets the jewelry be covered top and bottom with the anti-tarnish protction and also protects it with more of a cushion. I have also purchased a foam type blanket from Target which I cut to fit the bottom of the large trays. I use this rather than the flocked liners for large rigid necklaces. I then cover this with the long anti-tarnish cloth. I have found in the past with my sterling silver flatware that it will stay tarnish free for a really long time when completely covered with the cloth. If I am in a hurry getting something out and don’t COMPLETELY recover the remaining flatware, it will tarnish quickly in the exposed areas. That is why I decided to use the larger double length strips of silver cloth for my jewelry storage.