Areaware Jewely Jewelry Box
With its playful spherical knobs and rounded edges, this jewelry box is a cheerful addition to any bedroom (but it doesn’t store very much).
Who this is for: The whimsy chaser who doesn’t have much jewelry to store.
Why it’s great: Playful but not childish, pretty but not prissy, this box is the aesthetic compromise between what I would have wanted as a child and what I want now as an adult. The curved lines, cheery knobs, and playful corkboard lining are just plain fun. And I love that your own reflection greets you in the mirror on the underside of the lid. The little tray inside the box can slide side to side or be lifted out, allowing access to the lower compartment.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The lower compartment is only half an inch deep, and the upper tray is only a third of an inch deep—both are too shallow to store chunkier pieces without hitting the upper tray or the mirror. And though the cork isn’t likely to scratch jewelry, it’s not the soft fabric lining our experts recommend for storing daintier or pricier pieces. Beyond the box’s small size, it has only three compartments, so it’s better suited to housing rings and earrings, as opposed to necklaces or bracelets with delicate chains that can tangle.
Dimensions: 10.5 by 7.5 by 2.5 inches
Finishes/colors: cream with red knobs, blue with cream knobs
Material: MDF (medium density fiberboard), metal hinge and hardware, mirror, cork, plastic feet
Wolf Sophia Jewelry Box With Window
Made by a historic company, this gorgeous box has considered every storage detail, but it’s priced to match.
Who this is for: A curator with a small-ish collection of jewelry who prefers it right where they can see it.
Why it’s great: Wolf has been making jewelry boxes since 1834, and as far as I can tell, the company has earned its stellar reputation: Its Sophia Jewelry Box is genuinely beautiful, with thoughtful, impeccably constructed organizational elements. It has two removable watch cushions; walled cubes for small bracelets, pins, and earrings; rows of rolls for rings and cuff links; long compartments for necklaces—and, thanks to its glass lid, you can see all of this when the box is closed. All of those parts are lined in soft cloth, which not only prevents scratches but also protects against tarnishing. This design comes in four colors. (You’ll also find a slew of other sizes, styles, and configurations on Wolf’s site.)
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Because of its glass top, this box shouldn’t be stored near a window, particularly if you have tarnish-prone metals, like sterling silver, or light-sensitive stones, like opals, amethysts, or pearls. Jewelry expert Grant Mobley told me that with some gemstones and pearls, prolonged exposure to UV rays could cause discoloration or drying out.
Dimensions: 14 by 10 by 2.75 inches
Finishes/colors: rose quartz, jade, midnight, forest green
Material: leather, glass, fabric lining
Jonathan Adler Eden Lacquer Jewelry Box
This ornate vessel is shaped like a cigar box, yet inside it offers efficient jewelry organization. It will liven up any corner of your home.
Who this is for: Someone with a flair for the dramatic and who wants to splurge on a unique piece.
Why it’s great: Jonathan Adler’s Eden Lacquer Jewelry Box is an art object that invites curiosity. Depending on where you place it—atop your bedroom dresser, on a desk, or on the coffee table in your den—your guests might wonder if it contains cigars or candies (or maybe just a TV remote). And it’s excellent at its real job, too. There are six hooks on the underside of the lid, each one hefty enough to hold a few necklaces (depending on their thickness). And an elastic pouch underneath the hooks keeps everything securely in place. At the base of the box, you’ll find small, fabric-lined compartments for earrings, two large squares for bracelets, and two rolls for rings. A tasseled key locks and unlocks your wares, keeping the mystery alive. The box is available in several designs (and if you love the look of these jewelry holders but want to store something else instead, there are great general-purpose lacquer boxes on the site as well).
Flaws but not dealbreakers: This designer box is the most expensive one we recommend (by about $100), but Jonathan Adler fans may justify the cost in order to own one of his creations.
Dimensions: 11.25 by 7.25 by 2.5 inches
Finishes/colors: red serpent, blue serpent, zebra, winking, basket weave, sorrento
Material: lacquered wood, brass key plate, velvet lining
West Elm Mid-Century Champagne Lacquer Jewelry Box (Medium)
With its elegant, mid-century style and subtle gold sheen, this box offers some of the best organized storage of any models we tested.
Who this is for: The jewelry collector who has a generous assortment of pieces.
Why it’s great: Based purely on aesthetics, the medium-size West Elm Mid-Century Champagne Lacquer Jewelry Box is a stunner. Its sharp lines and simple silhouette are classic, and the shiny champagne finish keeps it modern and fresh. From a storage perspective, it’s also top-notch. The whole interior is lined with a cotton-linen blend. The medium box I tested has a top level with three compartments, for earrings and bracelets, and there are four ring rolls along the whole width of it. The underside of the lid has six hooks for hanging necklaces, with a little pouch to keep them in place. The two pullout drawers below are deep enough to hold bulkier items, such as watches or big-beaded jewelry. Like Pottery Barn’s Stella Box, this jewelry box also comes in various sizes and a couple of colors (acorn and white). For all of the versions of this box, monogramming is available for $15.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: At $225 for the medium size, this jewelry box is not cheap. It’s also heavy, even without any jewelry inside (think something akin to a full gallon of milk), so it’s not something you’ll want to move around often. In the model I received, one of the necklace hooks was bent too tightly to slip in a necklace (I was able to remedy this by wedging my credit card in and yanking it forward).
Dimensions: medium, 14.5 by 10.75 by 7.25 inches
Finishes/colors: champagne, acorn, white
Material: wood with lacquer finish; metal hardware
Pottery Barn Stella Jewelry Box
Simple yet classic, pretty without being ostentatious, this jewelry box does a great job of keeping a large collection organized.
Who this is for: Someone with lots of jewelry who likes clean lines and a classic look.
Why it’s great: Similar in size and style to the West Elm Midcentury Modern Jewelry Box, Pottery Barn’s Stella Jewelry Box (Large) also has a top tray and two drawers (the two lower handles are affixed to the same double-depth drawer), with ample compartments lined in velvet. The top tray has rolls for rings, and there are two small square compartments, for bracelets, and one large compartment, for bulkier pieces. I tested the large size, but this box is also available in various other colors and sizes.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Like the West Elm Midcentury, this box is big and heavy. It’s also one of our most expensive recommendations. Like the Sophia box, this one has a glass top, so if you tend to place your jewelry box by a window, more-delicate gems should not be placed in sight. And due to the glass top, there’s no necklace storage under the lid. Finally, the top “drawer” doesn’t open, which is fine, but I just think it’s goofy.
Dimensions: large, 15 by 10 by 7.5 inches
Finishes/colors: white, fog, black, light burlwood
Material: MDF, iron, glass and metal
Cuyana Large Jewelry Case
As great for travel as it is for sitting pretty, this jewelry case has just enough space for your favorite pieces.
Who this is for: The frequent traveler who loves bringing jewelry on trips.
Why it’s great: Cuyana is one of Wirecutter’s favorite accessory brands (its tote bag and travel case have been picks for years), and this jewelry case more than lived up to my high expectations. A zipper opens the lid, and underneath there’s a strap for bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. Two semi-circle snap pouches fit into the base of the container to hold daintier pieces, and there’s a thin leather flap in each pouch to keep those items from scratching. The case’s supple, color-saturated leather looks great on display, and I appreciate being able to throw it into my suitcase when traveling. It’s available in several colors, and there’s a travel size that’s better suited for throwing in a carry-on bag.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The necklace/bracelet strap on the underside of the case lid is quite stiff, and it softened up only after several uses. If you do travel with this case, you’ll want to shove a scarf or a handful of tissues inside to keep anything from rattling around—otherwise, there are a few inches of space between the lid and bottom.
Dimensions: 3 by 6.5 by 4.6 inches
Finishes/colors: black, ecru, soft rose, lipstick, mango
Material: leather, metal zipper
CB2 Buchannon Clear Jewelry Holder
This pretty glass jewelry holder evokes Old Hollywood, and it can also house candy and toiletries.
Who this is for: This isn’t exactly a traditional “box” like the ones above, but for someone who loves vintage-inspired decor, it’s perfect for holding just a few pieces of jewelry.
Why it’s great: The CB2 Buchannon Clear Jewelry Holder’s textured glass and brass accents exude a retro, soda-fountain vibe. And due to its small footprint (roughly the size of a Yukon gold), this vessel fits easily on small bathroom counters, nightstands, or dresser tops. For someone who wears the same few pieces every day, this is a beautiful object to drop them into at the end of the day and retrieve them from in the morning.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Unless you cram jewelry into this vessel, you can’t store much; because of the lack of compartments, there’s a lot of unused vertical space. Also, this vessel isn’t lined with fabric, so it’s not ideal for delicate jewelry. A small number of buyers left comments about the glue of the lid coming undone or the screws coming out. I found the holder to be sturdily constructed, but I will update this guide should long-term-testing prove otherwise.
Dimensions: 5.5 by 3.25 by 3.5 inches
Finishes/colors: clear glass
Material: glass and iron
