How To Store Gold

 

Gold is a precious commodity and everything from gold jewellery to gold coins has become a wise investment over the years. Whether it’s a solid gold ring or a stunning 18ct chain, it’s no secret that gold jewellery is a great place to put your money. But, when investing your well-earned cash into gold, it’s important that you store your jewellery in a safe place. Fortunately, there is a range of options when it comes to storing your gold jewellery that ensures its safety.

Not all types of gold can be stored in the same way, though, as some types require special environments to maintain their condition. To help you store your gold properly, we’ve outlined some of the ways you can cover all bases.

 

Where Should I Store Gold?

Storing your gold properly is essential, but with so many options available, it can feel daunting trying to choose the right place. After all, it needs to be in a safe and secure place that will prevent it from being stolen. There are no legal requirements, however, and you can keep your gold wherever you feel most comfortable.

One of the most important factors to consider when storing your gold is its quality. If your gold is in storage for long periods of time and not properly cared for, its condition can deteriorate. Taking the time to carefully store your gold in not only a secure place, but one which won’t damage it will benefit you in the long run.

 

Our Top Tips For Storing Your Gold Jewellery

If you’re unfamiliar with how to store gold, you may not be aware that you have to separate your pieces and keep them clean when storing. Small details like this are essential to caring for and storing your jewellery.

Separate Your Jewellery By Metals

This is key to ensuring your jewellery doesn’t get damaged by different types of metal. Before putting your rings, chains and bracelets into storage, start by separating your gold, silver, fine and costume jewellery, as these should always be kept apart. 

Separating your favourite jewellery will prevent metals from interacting with each other and tarnishing - making sure your precious pieces stay with you forever. 

Keep It Clean & Dry

Once you’ve ensured your jewellery is separated by metal, you should make sure that it’s clean and dry, as any dirt or moisture can cause the metal to tarnish and even rust. If you’re placing your jewellery into storage for a long time, it’s a good idea to give them a deep clean beforehand. 

No matter what the type of jewellery is, you should never store it when dirty as it can cause it to spoil prematurely and even tarnish the other pieces that it’s stored with. You want your jewellery to shine when wearing it, so make sure you care for your collection.

Low Humidity Levels

High humidities can increase the rate that your jewellery will become tarnished. When storing your precious pieces in your home, it’s wise to have a dehumidifier nearby to help keep humidity levels low. 

Additionally, you should never place your jewellery above a heat source, such as a radiator. Instead, maintain consistent temperatures to ensure your jewellery stands the test of time. If you’re using jewellery boxes, you should keep them inside cupboards or wardrobes, to protect your jewellery from any dramatic temperature changes within your room. 

Insure Your Gold Jewellery

When it comes to expensive, fabulous gold pieces, whether it's an extravagant ring or delicate bracelet, you should make sure that they are protected in case they become damaged or lost. When you first purchase your jewellery, make sure you take photos and collect serial numbers. This means if you do need to make a claim on your insurance, you can provide proof of purchase.

 

Should I Store Gold Jewellery At Home?

Storing gold jewellery at home is an option many people choose. It means you can keep a close eye on your treasured pieces whilst also giving you easy access to your collection if you wish to wear any of your jewellery. Here are a few of the ways you can keep your gold safe at home:

Small But Mighty Ring Holders And Trinket Dishes

Small trinket dishes and ring holders are designed to store small pieces within your jewellery collection, such as earrings and precious rings. Not only are ring dishes a great place to keep the jewellery you wear regularly, but they also make great decorations for your room. They are perfect if you have a large collection of delicate, stylish jewellery that you want to keep a close eye on. 

Stand-Out, Stylish Jewellery Boxes

From fabric-covered and sleek acrylic designs to sophisticated glass boxes, jewellery boxes make for a great ornament displayed on a tabletop or stored away out of sight. You can organise them in any way to suit you, with sections for rings, necklaces and more. Jewellery boxes not only keep everything organised, but they also:

• Protect your jewellery from damage
• Keep them away from dirt
• Are easily accessible
• Reduce the risk of losing your favourite items

No More Tangled Necklaces: Get A Jewellery Stand

Jewellery stands are available with multiple bars set at different heights; they can be free-standing or wall hung and come in a range of colours and sizes. They are great for hanging longer bracelets and necklaces, making it easier to organise them, stopping them from getting tangled and helping to prevent long chains from touching surfaces and tarnishing. Hanging your necklaces vertically will make them easier to grab when you get ready each morning and help you avoid the stress of trying to untangle them which could damage the chain.

Travel In Style With A Mini Jewellery Box 

Travel jewellery boxes will keep all your special pieces stored in one place, whilst protecting them from damage when on the move. With soft fabric linings, places to store rings and stud earrings, hooks for necklaces and multiple compartments, a mini jewellery box is a must-have when jetting off on holiday.

 

Can You Store Gold And Silver Jewellery Together?

Generally, it’s not a good idea to store gold and silver jewellery together. Instead, you should separate them before putting them into storage and prevent gold and silver metals from touching when kept together. Whilst some sources say this is unnecessary, it’s important to take precautions when dealing with expensive jewellery that represents a considerable investment.

Gold is a very unreactive metal, which means that in its purest form it won’t oxidise (react with oxygen). This prevents corrosion from happening. However, silver can be prone to tarnishing. This can happen when it reacts with sulphur in the air, causing it to tarnish and form a dark, discoloured layer on top of the metal.

Keeping your gold and silver jewellery separate will prevent any transfer of tarnish from one metal to the other. This will ensure that no discolouration or damage will occur to your gold, maintaining its top condition.

 

How Should I Store My Gold Sovereign Coins?

Jewellery may not be the only type of gold you invest in, as gold sovereign coins are also a popular form of gold people choose to put their money into. Just like other types of gold, sovereign coins require certain storage conditions to ensure they remain untarnished. 

Storage Conditions

When it comes to storing your gold you need to consider the conditions you are placing the pieces within. From sunlight and humidity to avoiding cleaning your gold coins, in order to keep their value, it’s important to look after your gold.

Avoid Sunlight & Humidity

Always keep your gold sovereign coins at room temperature in dark, dry conditions as sunlight and humid environments can damage your coins, especially if exposed to these conditions for long periods of time.

Use A Safe For High-Value Items

A reliable personal safe is a popular choice for many as it can help protect against potential intruders, especially when storing rare collectable coins. Of course, it’s crucial that you choose a durable, high-quality safe to ensure that your items are truly protected. 

We recommend choosing a safe with a sufficient Eurograde rating to ensure that the full value of your coins will be covered by your insurance provider. For example, if your gold sovereign coins are worth more than £60,000 then a safe with a Eurograde 1 rating should be suitable.

Avoid Cleaning Your Coins

With the vast majority of gold sovereign coins, we usually recommend avoiding cleaning them in order to retain their value. This is because many professional cleaning products contain acidic chemicals that can damage the surface of sovereign coins. Even simple cleaning methods like running the coin under a tap or rubbing it with a towel can cause damage, therefore it’s usually better to avoid cleaning methods full stop. 

Storage Methods

There are various types of storage which you may wish to explore, including: 

Coin Flips

Coin flips are one of the most popular ways to store your individual gold sovereign coins, allowing you to safely display your coins whilst protecting them from dust and spills. Coin flips can be found in cardboard or various types of plastic, although we’d recommend avoiding PVC flips as they can sometimes damage your coins. Instead, you should opt for a mylar coin flip to maintain the quality of your coins.

Coin Albums

Another popular way to store gold sovereign coins safely, whilst showing them on display, is by keeping them in coin albums. These are essentially storage albums with hundreds of rows of coin flips, which makes them ideal for large collections of sovereign coins. Like individual coin flips, they also allow collectors to safely display coins whilst protecting them from dust, liquid and other elements. 

Pendant Mounts

Many collectors invest in solid gold pendant mounts to hold their gold sovereign coins, which also allows them to wear it on a gold chain or necklace. If you choose to do this, we’d advise keeping your coins in individual flips or a coin album within your safe at all other times.

Ring Mounts

Ring mounts are another popular option for collectors that like to bring out their gold sovereign coins on special occasions. As opposed to pendant mounts, these gold sovereign coin mounts are made in the form of a ring, allowing the owner to wear the coin on their hand. They can be found in a wide variety of designs and finishes, however, most mounts are crafted from solid yellow gold with patterns that complement the coin.

 

Properly Storing Your Gold

Knowing how to properly store your gold is important for keeping its value and ensuring your gorgeous jewellery pieces, collectables and more remain looking their best. By following our advice and tips, you’ll have all the information you need to help you to keep your gold pieces looking their best. 

If you wish to invest in some stunning solid gold jewellery, explore the range we have available here at Hatton Jewellers.

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