Keep each ring in a closed box, or in a fitted compartment of its own, in a place you will remember. That is the simplest way to store rings at home when you are not wearing them. A loose dish, a bathroom shelf, or a pile of jewellery in one box makes it far easier for a ring to be knocked, forgotten, or scratched.
This is a different question from packing for a journey, which we cover in our guide to travel storage for rings. At home, the risk is usually ordinary and repeated: the same dish by the sink, the same moment of taking a ring off to wash, the same drawer in which pieces knock together.
A closed box, and a place you will actually use
A small closed box on a bedroom table, in a drawer you open often, or in a cupboard that is not a bathroom, is easier to live with than a clever hiding place you then forget. If you take a ring off during the day, it should go into that box at once, not onto the nearest saucer. The box that the ring arrived in is often perfectly good for this, and it already fits the piece.
Keep pieces from rubbing against each other
A diamond can scratch another diamond, and can also mark a softer gem or a metal surface. GIA notes that only a diamond can scratch a diamond, and that diamonds should not be stored against other gems. If you use a larger jewellery case, give each ring its own slot or a soft pouch, rather than letting them share a single open compartment. Our guide to whether a diamond can be scratched sets this out in more detail.
What to avoid at home
A bathroom is a poor place to leave a ring, because of steam, soap, and the chance of a ring slipping into a basin. Windowsills and low tables in a hallway are easy to brush past. If children or guests are often in the house, a drawer or cupboard that closes is kinder than an open display. You do not need a safe for everyday storage, but you do need a habit you will keep. Our note on hand cream, sunscreen and the film on a ring is useful for when you put the ring back on, and our guide to cleaning an engagement ring at home is there for a gentle clean before the ring goes away for a while.
Certificates, photographs and getting in touch
Keep the certificate and any valuation somewhere dry and easy to find, even if that is not the everyday ring box. A clear photograph of the ring is also useful, as we mention in our guide to what to do after getting engaged and in our note on getting a ring professionally valued. If you would like advice on a box, a resize, or a check of the piece, get in touch. We work by video consultation and message, with no showroom, and you can also look at stones in our diamond collection if you are commissioning something new.
Frequently asked questions
How should you store your rings at home when you are not wearing them?
Keep each ring in a closed box, or in a fitted compartment of its own, in a place you will remember. Do not leave rings loose in a dish, in a bathroom, or in a pile where they can rub against each other.
Is a jewellery dish by the sink a safe place?
No. A dish by the sink is one of the easiest places to knock a ring into water, or to forget it. If you take a ring off to wash, put it straight into a small closed box that lives away from the basin.
Can rings be stored together in one box?
Only if each piece has its own slot or pouch. A diamond can scratch another diamond, and can also mark a softer gem or a metal. Our guide to whether a diamond can be scratched explains that more fully.
Should you keep the certificate with the ring?
Keep the certificate somewhere safe and dry, but not necessarily in the same everyday box as the ring. A simple record of what you have, including a photograph, is useful if you ever need to make an insurance enquiry.