Types of Jewelry Boxes by Shape, Size & Features

After looking at all the possible variations of types of jewelry boxes by use and styles, we’re moving further by exploring all the possible types of jewelry boxes, but by shape, size & common features this time.

#1. Lighted jewelry boxes

Interior lighting is usually a feature of the bigger storage options, such as armoires or wall boxes. That is mainly because when it comes to those, lighting is essential in order to increase visibility inside. Lightbulbs are usually placed at the top of the armoire so they shine down on the various compartments. The inside of the door can also have lights at the top, especially if it contains hooks or a mirror. For these, the lighting serves a very practical purpose.

There are also individual jewelry boxes that have lighting. For these, a small LED light inside the lid is used to light up the piece of jewelry inside, upon opening. Here, the purpose of the light is less practical and more decorative or eye-catching.

Other jewelry boxes have tiny colorful LED lights on the exterior, and there the purpose is strictly decorative. This is mainly a feature of children’s jewelry boxes.

#2.  Musical jewelry boxes

These are a truly charming classic. Musical boxes are quite small in size and are used mostly for their decorative qualities or for storing some unique or special items. About the size of a keepsake box, maybe a bit larger, their layout is somewhat more complex, most of them including various padded compartments for rings, watches and earrings.

Some of them include trays, which are perfect for bracelets and necklaces. They are usually made of cardboard or pressboard. Some collectible musical boxes, and thus the more expensive ones, are made of porcelain or wood. Since the porcelain ones are fragile due to the nature of their material, it is especially recommended that they be treated with care and not overfilled with jewelry. Some musical boxes do contain mirrors.

When the lid opens, they play music, usually a lullaby or a well-known piece of classical music. For added charm, most of them include a ballerina or some other figurine that spins to the rhythm of the music.

Musical boxes are excellent gifts, especially for children. In fact, they would be fit for a child’s jewelry collection, which doesn’t have that many pieces. They are certainly not something you would buy as the main storage place of your collection, but rather as a special part of it, where you store the pieces that have sentimental value or you find to be special.

#3.  Stackable jewelry boxes

If you were to describe these boxes in a single word, the word would definitely be “practical”. Basically, they consist of some trays that you stack on top of each other, in order to create your jewelry box. The top tray has a hinged top. Usually, each tray has a different layout, offering a variety of storage options for different types of jewelry.

To ensure that your jewelry is stored in optimal conditions, the interior of the compartments is usually lined with soft fabric, to avoid any potential damage and gently polish each piece, as they are taken out to be worn and placed back afterwards. This stackable system allows you to pick the trays that have the right number of each compartment for you. It’s the Build-A-Bear of jewelry boxes.

#4. Mirrored jewelry boxes

Mirrored jewelry boxes never fail to add a whole new decorative dimension to your dresser. The fact that they are covered in mirrors makes them blend in with any interior design style, being a safe option for everyone who cares about the interior design of their home but is not sure what would fit in.

They come is every design and size, which means you can find one no matter how large your collection. And yes, in case you were wondering: most mirrored jewelry boxes do contain mirrors on the inside!

#5. Lockable jewelry boxes

Lockable jewelry boxes are something everyone with a passion for expensive pieces should consider. They offer some extra reassurance that your jewelry is kept safe in case kleptomaniacs are around. The majority of lockable jewelry boxes have a lock and key system, while the more modern ones can use a code to protect your jewelry. Most people choose lockable boxes over the other types because they are the safest option in the world of jewelry boxes.

#6. Luxe ribbon jewelry boxes

Luxe ribbon jewelry boxes are usually boxes for individually packaging pieces of jewelry. They come in many types of designs and layouts, depending on the type of jewelry they are intended for: there are earring boxes, that come with slits in which earring hooks can be inserted; there are bracelet boxes, which are longer and slimmer and have elastic bands at both ends, keeping the bracelet in place and there are ring boxes, which are usually square or rectangular and have a slot in the middle, for one or two rings.

They are kept very simple as far as design goes and they tend to be made of cardboard, which is lighter and cheaper. However, most of them have some sort of decorative accessory, such as a ribbon, which amplifies their simple elegance.

#7. Cotton-filled jewelry boxes

Much like luxe ribbon boxes, cotton-filled boxes are used to package individual pieces of jewelry. Usually made of cardboard as well, their common feature is that they contain a cotton cushion inside, which is meant to protect and even carefully polish the pieces of jewelry, as they are being handled.

If you want to mail jewelry to someone, cotton-filled boxes can be a great alternative to postal jewelry boxes. They offer great protection and they are also lightweight: both the cotton and the cardboard, the main materials these boxes are made of, are exceptionally light, so they are a very cheap option when shipping jewelry. Of course, there is a wide variety of colors and designs available.

#8. Lift top jewelry boxes

Lift top jewelry boxes are those boxes that have a hinged lid. They are more practical not only because the lid is harder to misplace and it stays in the same place as the box, but also because of all the space underneath the lid, which is very difficult to put to good use with a detachable lid.

In most lift top jewelry boxes, the inside of the lid has a mirror, which is very conveniently placed for people who like to try on multiple pieces of jewelry before deciding on the best one. Thus, they are very convenient for the majority of jewelry lovers. Other lift top boxes put that space to good use by having pouches, inside of which people can store jewelry. They can also hang earrings on the elastic band that closes off the pouch. Lift tops are the most practical option available.

#9. Individual jewelry storage box

These boxes usually consist of a heavily compartmented tray with a lift top. The compartments are numerous, usually square or rectangle and smaller in size. To increase visibility inside, most of them are made out of transparent plastic, or they at least have a transparent lid. This is a very helpful feature, as it gives you an overview of all the compartments, without even having to open the box.

These boxes would be a great choice for people with extensive ring and earring collections, since the compartments are usually relatively small. They wouldn’t be an adequate choice for necklaces and it would certainly be impossible to store something like a bangle in these.

#10. Rotating jewelry boxes

Rotating jewelry boxes are usually larger in size. In fact, some of them can be labeled as armoires. Like most armoires, they have a variety of compartments and trays, fit to store most types of jewelry. To make handling them and browsing through them for the perfect piece of jewelry, they rotate. This way, they allow you to have a literal look around your box without having to move. Well, except your arm.

They are practical for people with medium or large jewelry collections, as they have a lot to browse through before making a decision.

#11.  Removable tray jewelry boxes

Removable tray jewelry boxes are usually the size of a regular jewelry box. Their main distinctive feature is that they have a large, simple compartment at the bottom, which is uncovered by removing a tray that sits on top of it. Usually, the tray includes multiple storage options for various types of jewelry, including slots for sings and small compartments for bracelets. Removing the tray is made easy by two leather handles which are placed at both ends of the tray.

#1. Paper or cardboard jewelry boxes

Jewelry boxes that are made of paper or cardboard are usually individual jewelry boxes. They are mostly used for packaging jewelry that is offered as a gift, so they are not an adequate main storage option for one’s jewelry collection. Most of them come with various soft fabric linings or cushions, in order to protect the pieces inside. They are very light and they come in a variety of colors and designs, ranging from totally simple to utterly sophisticate.

#2. Wooden jewelry boxes

Wood is the original material jewelry boxes were made of. Its durability, availability and elegance have since made it a classic material, not just for jewelry boxes but for most things around us. Wooden jewelry boxes range from small, single-compartment keepsake boxes to jewelry armoires. There is also a great range of designs and layouts for most of these boxes. Wooden boxes can be either quite light or rather cumbersome, depending on the type of wood they are made of.

Here, a special category is wooden carved boxes. These usually resemble bedroom dressers and chests, but in miniature form. Their inside is kept quite simple, with one or two compartments at most. In this sense, they are reminiscent of keepsake boxes.

The majority of them have a hinged top, while others have a detachable lid. Some models have a tray underneath the main compartment. For the most part, the inside just consists of the polished wood, with no fabric. Even though they might appear to be very cumbersome, most of them are actually quite light, as they are made with lightweight wood. Concerning their designs, they range from very intricate and detailed to simple and classic.

Just like a musical box, these can be used for storing a few special items that hold sentimental value. They are not the best fit as a main storage option, since they will not be able to hold that many pieces. However, they are excellent for decorating and giving a vintage feel to any dresser.

#3. Leather/Faux leather jewelry boxes

Leather jewelry boxes aren’t actually made of leather, but rather covered in it. Leather is very popular among fashion designers and home decor items because it looks very chic and expensive, whilst being a very durable material. Leather is a very popular material for men’s jewelry boxes, because it is considered to give them a manly, more rugged look, as opposed to the elegance and finesse given to women’s jewelry boxes by fabrics such as satin or velvet or materials such as glass.

Given its flexibility, some of the more unusual jewelry storage options such as jewelry rolls and pouches are made out of leather, in order to give them both the pliable characteristics they need and the durability customers want. In recent times, customers have been more and more interested in faux leather, because real leather has a terribly high environmental and ethical cost. However, people must be aware that the fact that real leather is bad is not the only reason to choose faux leather products.

First of all, faux leather can be produced in sizes that exceed the size of most animals, meaning there are many more options as to what one can make of it. Also, since it is produced synthetically, it can be made more matte or more rugged, depending on what is wanted. Also, faux leather doesn’t soften and age like real leather, which means it can be used for longer, whilst maintaining its initial properties.

#4. Glass jewelry boxes

There are glass jewelry boxes of many different sizes. The smallest ones are intended as individual storage, while the largest ones are as big as jewelry chests. Usually square or rectangular, they have glass walls, with frames made of metal. The more special ones are shaped in interesting ways, like diamonds for instance.

Most of them have a simple compartment, especially those of medium size, which doesn’t help them in terms of practicality and convenience. Their top is usually hinged. When it comes to practicality, these boxes leave a lot to be desired. Of course, one would expect them to be rather fragile, and they are. However, the glass on all of them is resistant enough so that we are able to use them.

They are not recommended as main storage options due to the fact that they break easily when mishandled and because of their lack of compartments, which can make organizing your collection pretty difficult. Still, they are very chic and special, their aesthetic properties being enough to make you want to purchase one.

#5. Velvet jewelry boxes

Velvet jewelry boxes, or rather jewelry boxes that are covered in velvet make a very familiar figure for most people. Velvet is one of the most commonly used fabrics, both for lining the inside of jewelry boxes and for covering their exterior. Its soft aspect and touch give jewelry boxes a very delicate look, while the reputation the fabric has acquired throughout history makes for a very royal allure. Authentic velvet usually has a very high cost of production, which alongside its distinctive softness makes us associate it with nobility.

There is a huge variety of designs, shapes and sizes when it comes to velvet jewelry boxes. Some of them are individual jewelry boxes, whilst some are traditional jewelry boxes, with multiple compartments and trays, suited for a variety of types of jewelry.

As a side note, keep in mind that compartments lined with velvet are very practical, because they serve a double purpose: they protect your jewelry and they also polish it gently.

#6. Plastic jewelry boxes

We live in the plastic age. The majority of objects surrounding us are made of plastic. There are also many jewelry boxes that are made of plastic, one of their core advantages being the fact that they can be very durable while also being very cheap. They can be individual boxes or larger boxes that contain multiple small and simple compartments. For most of them, the top is hinged, but others have a detachable lid.

These jewelry boxes do not have that much going for them when it comes to aesthetic qualities, but they are very practical. If you are not interested in sophisticated designs and eye-catching designs, plastic jewelry boxes could be an adequate option for you.

#7. Metal jewelry boxes

Metal is another traditional material for jewelry boxes. Just like wood, metal jewelry boxes are very durable. The fact that many antique boxes are made of metal and they are still completely functional today is proof of their exceptional durability.

Metal lends itself very well to being turned into decorative objects, because it melts and it can be easily shaped.

Most metal boxes are lined with soft fabrics or contain pillows inside, to protect the jewelry against the hardness of the metal. Most of them are medium-sized and come with a single, large compartment.

They come in a variety of unusual shapes: round, heart-shaped, butterfly-shaped etc. For these, a special category would be Faberge jewelry boxes, which we’ve already talked about previously in this article.

#1. Common shapes: square, rectangular, oval, round

These shapes are very common in the realm of jewelry boxes. Their simplicity is what makes them classy and, if you are interested in interior design and you want to make sure your jewelry box matches the rest of the items in your room, it is almost certain that one of this shapes will look nicely in your space.

But why are these the most common shapes, especially when talking about square and rectangular? Well, we can infer that the traditional materials from which jewelry boxes were made, namely wood and metal, were easier to shape or mold into these basic shapes, and so a standard was created. Nowadays, since jewelry boxes are mass-produced from a variety of materials that are relatively easy to handle and mold, we are less constrained and we are able to experiment with various unusual shapes.

#2. Uncommon or unusual shapes

Here we can talk about shapes such as diamond, heart, butterfly and seashell. These shapes are more unique than the ones discussed previously because they are rarely mass-produced. Unlike the other shapes, which are more universally appreciated from a personal preference standpoint, these cater to specific tastes only.

That is why they are usually custom made, which gives the person who buys it more opportunities to personalize it and make it even more uncommon.

Compared to the common shapes, the space inside these boxes usually cannot be used as efficiently, due to the fact that they tend to have more nooks and crannies. Still, they are fun objects to own and display, they do their job adequately and they can be a way to give a more personal and authentic note to your dresser.

#3. Small/Slim jewelry boxes

When you are browsing by size, the main thing to consider would be the size of your collection. If you own a collection that is on the smaller side, perhaps the least cumbersome and most practical choice would be a smaller jewelry box. This way, you don’t invest more than necessary in a box that does more than you need and you don’t occupy space that would be best used in other ways.

Usually, boxes that are specially designed to store only a certain type of jewelry fall in this category, but if your collection is more varied than that, you can most certainly find smaller universal jewelry boxes. These come with many separate and specialized compartments.

Some jewelry boxes that tend to be slimmer are ring boxes and bracelet boxes. Ring boxes are slimmer because they come with a couple of narrow rows with multiple slots for rings, while bracelet boxes are usually individual storage options, thus there is no need for them to be bigger.

#4. Medium jewelry boxes

Medium jewelry boxes would be a safe bet for anyone who has a varied jewelry collection, but also for people with smaller collections that plan to invest in jewelry in the future. They usually come with many specialized compartments and trays, providing you with adequate storage for most jewelry types. Since their size allows them to, most of them include a mirror, usually inside the lid.

#5. Large jewelry boxes

People who would benefit from owning a large jewelry boxes are people with extensive and varied jewelry collections. If you don’t like to throw away jewelry that has gotten older or out of fashion, this would be a great choice for you as well, since your collection is constantly growing and you often find yourself in need of new storage space.

Just like medium boxes, these come equipped with various compartments, designed for a certain type of jewelry: slots for rings, small compartments for earrings, trays for necklaces, bangles and bracelets, and side compartments with hooks, to ensure that your necklaces stay tangle-free.

#6. Huge jewelry boxes

If you are a proud jewelry hoarder who is constantly renewing their collection and you always find yourself buying more jewelry than you actually need, you should definitely invest in the end-all, be-all of jewelry boxes: huge jewelry boxes. Frankly, the name says it all: these are true pieces of furniture, just like a chest of drawers or an armoire. Hence why they are called jewelry chests and jewelry armoires.

When it comes to jewelry chests, the biggest ones sit on the floor, as they are impossible to put on a dresser. They have more compartments, trays and drawers than you thought you needed, and some of them come with a mirror inside the lid. Jewelry armoires are not technically jewelry boxes, but they are a jewelry storage option nonetheless. A regular jewelry armoire contains multiple drawers that are usually padded as to not damage the jewelry. On most of them, the drawers vary in size or height.

#7. Common colors: black, brown and white

If color is for you the determining factor in choosing a jewelry box, then you should contemplate the space in which you intend to put it. Try to get a sense of that space and imagine what would best complement it: the class and sophistication of black, the royal and neutral qualities of brown or the modern touch of white.

Of course, these aren’t the only colors out there: you are sure to find jewelry boxes in the whole spectrum of colors already on the market. But if nothing you find out there pleases you, you can always make your own custom rainbow-inspired design.