Small, valuable and easy to store badly, usually in the drawer everything else lives in.
What actually destroys it
Sulphur in the air, which tarnishes silver — and rubber bands, newspaper and some cardboards give it off directly. A silver chain stored with a rubber band around it will show a black line exactly where the band sat.
Humidity, which accelerates tarnish and corrodes base-metal parts and watch movements.
Abrasion, because hard stones scratch softer ones and everything scratches gold.
What to do instead
- Each piece separately — a soft pouch, a lined compartment, or tissue.
- Chains fastened and laid flat, because a knot in fine chain is damage rather than a nuisance.
- Anti-tarnish strips for silver, or at least an airtight box with silica gel.
- Never rubber bands, never newspaper.
- Stones face-in, padded.
Watches specifically
A mechanical watch is happier being worn or wound occasionally than sitting for years. Keep it away from heat and humidity, and if you store it long term, say so when you sell — a watch that has not run in five years is a different proposition from one that has.
Leather straps dry out and crack. Store them off the buckle so the strap is not bent at one point for years.
What it costs
A box with compartments and a packet of silica gel. The one genuine expense is a safe, and that is a security decision rather than a conservation one.
Questions people ask
Does polishing silver each time help?
No. Each polish removes a little metal and detail. Prevent tarnish instead of removing it repeatedly.
Should gold be stored differently?
Gold does not tarnish, but it scratches easily. Separate compartments matter more than air for gold.
Is a bank locker worth it?
For high value, often. For everything else it makes the pieces inaccessible, which has its own cost.