How do you choose the best carved handmade jewelry box? It can be easy to select the perfect jewelry box once you know what you need it for and how much you have set aside for it.

It is crucial that you are aware of the different varieties of wood that are used in making jewelry boxes. The jewelry boxes that are created with exotic wood from other countries is markedly costlier than the ones made with local wood. Mahogany, cherry, koa, white ash, maple, birch, and walnut are the most common varieties of wood used for this purpose. Boxes made of padauk, lace wood, jatoba (Brazilian cherry wood), bloodwood, rose wood, olive wood, king wood, bocote (similar to cocobolo), ebony, wenge, sandalwood, etc are more expensive as they are from other countries.

The quality of the wood and the type, and the level of craftsmanship involved dictate the price of the handmade jewelry box. If the box is embellished with elaborate inlays, etchings, or brass work, the price is bound to go up. Jewelry boxes made of Korean wood exhibit exquisitely unmatched mother of pearl inlays on the hardwood. And those made of a very exotic and rare wood called Kauki can set you back quite a bit.

Jewelry boxes come in various shapes and sizes. Depending on what the occasion you are buying the gift for, or what you intend to store in it, you should decide on the shape of the box. A heart-shaped jewelry box makes an ideal gift for Valentine’s Day. And for more austere occasions like bar mitsvahs, baptisms, or graduations, a box with sharp edges would be good.

A musical jewelry box with a ballerina on the top would be the best gift for little girls. And if it is lined with pink satin or velvet, it would definitely be well received!

The sort of jewelry box you should buy depends on what it will be used for. If the jewelry is ethnic and chunky, you will need a tall one with trays so the necklaces can be laid flat without getting tangled. A box with doors and lots of hooks will keep dainty chains safe and untangled.

Get a jewelry box with several doors with hooks to store gold chains. Drawers and separate slots are needed for necklaces and rings. If you are looking for a jewelry box for men, then the ‘valet box’ should have sufficient drawers and dividers to separate watches, keys, cuff links, tie pins, rings, etc.

A flat and wide jewelry box is best for high dressers while a tall one would be more suitable for a low dresser. Try to blend the jewelry box in with the rest of the room. Customising the box to go with your decor will be more expensive but well worth the expense. If one jewelry box is not sufficient to store all the jewelry, buy a matching box to add to the decor.

Check to see if the wood has a smooth finish and is not chipped. Ensure there are no bubbles if the box has a lacquered finish. Velvet or satin make the best linings for jewelry boxes.

To summarize, always check the quality and type of the wood, the inlays & embellishment, the final finish, durability, your requirements, and that it blends with the decor of the room.

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