Jewellery Boxes - for boys!

[Edward]

Couldn't find a thrad on this when I searched, so I thought I'd start one...

I've recently begun to contemplate buying some sort of jewellery box for myself. Looking around, I don't see very much on the market - at least not much that doesn't presume that as a man I have no need of owning more than about six pairs of cufflinks and two wristwatches. Being rather more of a dandy than I guess the average guy nowadays, I'd be looking for something that could take maybe eight watches, a couple of dozen pairs of cufflinks, half a dozen rings..... on it goes! Have any of the other men on here come up with an ingenious solution to this? Did you buy, or make yourself? I guess I could always buy more than one box, though the cost would soon mount up! What did men do back in the day... the upper classes, I mean, as obviously those further down the economic chain probably were unlikely to be lucky enough to own enough bling to really necessitate a box....

 

[scotrace]

You mean there's something besides old cigar boxes???


(anxious to see what turns up)

 

[Mike in Seattle]

I've got a couple...and they have a section which is like foam covered in velvet (like the rest of the interior) with a slot in the center that's supposed to hold cufflinks or rings. Works best on the former - the latter generally pops loose. This site has a few cufflink boxes. I've no idea on a box for six watches...I just leave mine laid out on the dresser - a friend made a little "cover" - velvet, seamed in the center to it cleanly folds over.

 

[The Wingnut]

This man (I stopped being a boy when I became self-sufficient) still uses a wood cigar box...nothing wrong with it, and the trays are nice as they give me two layers and have dividers. They smell great inside, as well.

There were a lot of neat 'bric-a-brac' boxes made in the '30s and '40s in the streamline style, with rounded-off tops and alternating stained woods, and finger-joined edges. Seems they turn up a lot for cheap in antique stores...I've kept my eyes peeled for a sizable one that's got some dividers or robust enough structure for some dremeling and sliding in plywood dividers I can make myself.

For now, I'm just fine with my cigar box...looks good on the dresser.

 

[Edward]

Wingnut... lol I think no matter how old or self-sufficient I get, I'll always be a little boy at heart.

Cigar boxes are an interesting idea for odds and ends.... it occurs to me that a vintage one nicely treated would make a great storage box....

Mike - I like the look of that box designed to hold 136 odd pairs of cufflinks! I wouldn't need that kind of space yet, but it would certainly leave me with sufficient room for all the pairs I'm likely to collect over the next few years.

 

[scotrace]

One thing I've found about using (cedar) cigar boxes is that if you stash watches with leather bands in them, it has the same sort of effect as cedar shoes trees - keeps the whole works from getting perspiration damage.

 

[Sunny]

On ebay: brown leather with gold leaf, lined with suede. That's a place for rings in the middle, and there's a pocket inside the lid.

My father has a dresser-top valet/jewelry box made of wood. There's one drawer across the width, IIRC with at least a place for rings and/or compartments. On the top left is a depression for change and keys with a little railed space behind where he puts his wallet; on the right is a little roll-top compartment. He's had it for as long as I can remember. This isn't his, but it's nearly identical:

 

[Edward]

Scotrace - good tip, I'll remember that.

Sunny - thanks for posting those: that desktop valet is stunning. I'd love to track down something like that.

 

[mwelch8404]

The real men: http://www.gerstnerusa.com/

 

[KittyT]

My dad has a leather one that belonged to my grandfather that is still full of his jewelry. I wish I could get pictures for you all. It's a lovely piece, very masculine, but still with that soft lined inside for protecting watches and cufflinks.

 

[Edward]

It's strange that these seem to have largely died out (apart from a few specialist manufacturers). I guess with more men wearin g only one watch and not using cufflinks.... If men's jewellery becomes more of a thing again, maybe this will change. I'm seeing a lot more cufflinks around these days, though I'm one of the very few guys I know who would have several rings that I wear on different occasions (day/evening, casual / formal.... etc).

mwelch - lovely box, but rather outside my budget!!

 

[mwelch8404]

Yes, the USA made ones are pricy. They do have "international" versions; http://www.gerstner-international.com/

The even carry them at Sears, like:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...&cName=Garage+&+Tool+Storage&keyword=gerstner

or

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...&cName=Garage+&+Tool+Storage&keyword=gerstner

They're $250 or less

 

[Edward]

Could be more realistic..... nice looking!

 

[Memnon]

Gerstner Treasure Chest
http://www.russellsformen.com/01brands/gerstner01/go212.html

 

[Memnon]

Oops, I see someone already beat me to the Gerstner.

 

[Tango Yankee]

Dobbs Trinket box

Not quite what you're looking for, but I just won this amber-colored glass trinket box with the Dobbs logo on the lid:



It's only 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" by 2 1/4" high, but I thought it would be cool to add it to my hat-related stuff. Dunno what I'll put into it, though.

Regards,
Tom

 

[mwelch8404]

Just ran across this - it may fit your needs:

http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/andmore_home/andmore_greatgadgets/57121.aspx?feature=Product_64

 

[John in Covina]

There are watch specific boxes and they even have ones that will move the watch to keep the selfwinding ones going! I have an old men's jewelry box that I got as a teen and it is not a favorite in design, but I have had it so long that I can't part with it.

 

[Edward]

Tango - nice looking box. Would be useful to have on the nightstand to keep a few pairs of cufflinks and rings that might be out to be in constant use through the week in?

John... I've seen a few boxes designed specifically for watches, but never one that keeps them going. Interesting idea! I don't mind having to reset the time on a watch I haven't worn for a bit; what makes it a regular pain is that pretty much any wristwatch I seem to encounter has a date of the month window that requires you to keep turning the hands round 24 hours at a time to get to the right day.... bah....

 

[John in Covina]

Take a spin.

John... I've seen a few boxes designed specifically for watches, but never one that keeps them going. Interesting idea!

***********
THere are 2 magazines for Watch collectors that I have seen at the big magazine racks, but can't think of the names of them right now. Anyway, they have advertisments from the watch storage box companies.

One was really neat, it was like a credenza and there was a secret switch that had the back section raise up to display the watch collection. Otherwise it was down and literally out of sight.

The ones that spin the watch in the case, I am not sure if they are like wind up clock works or were battery operated electronic turners.