“How do you store your jewelry?”
There’s a reason why this topic isn’t discussed very much—it’s a lot more fun to talk favorite pieces, designers, and gemstones. Our storage solution of choice, whether an expansive armoire, a bureau topped with trees and towers, or trinket dishes scattered on various surfaces throughout your home, is typically unremarkable.
But Trove, a recent entrée into this category, envisions jewelry storage as something much more emotionally charged—and therefore worthy of the utmost attention when it comes to design and functionality. Founded in 2020 by Melbourne-based entrepreneur Hannah Ward, the collection blends inspiration (and vibes) from bygone eras with refined modern aesthetics. Think of the elegant, streamlined form of a Saarinen table crossed with a tufted velvet ottoman trimmed with bullion fringe and you’ve got it.
Ward has had a lifelong passion for antiques, jewelry, and all manner of precious and decorative objects, and sought to create a storage solution that was as sentimental, intimate, and deeply meaningful as the items it housed. So, she devised a six-piece system of trunks, trays, and cases that expressed her vision, carefully considering color, form, texture, and materials. Prices are $128 for a small tray insert to $979 for the largest trunk fitted with trays and compartments.
If the organizing and safe-keeping of your treasures comes first, next in line is sheer beauty: the defining feature of a Trove box is its deliciously lustrous lacquer exterior, currently offered in an array of jewel tones and Laudurée-esque pastels (and there’s even one in taupe that’s very Mocha Mousse, Pantone’s color of the year). Artisans trained in traditional Chinese lacquerware craftsmanship apply eight layers of lacquer to each piece. As a finishing touch, each is adorned with subtle gold patterns and motifs, a homage to antique jewelry boxes of the past.
According to Ward, “Each piece is a contemporary take on a long-forgotten art form. I love the idea that each box tells a story of a life so far; a collection of jewels, artifacts gathered, pieces that have true meaning.”
Some of the trays are sold separately and seem to invite a more intentional approach to getting dressed and accessorized. The idea is to slow down the selection process as you place a few options in the tray for consideration—as a lady’s maid might have done once upon a time—and bring them closer to your full-length mirror to try them on and decide. (If you’ve ever lost a necklace in the peaks and valleys of your bedding on a busy morning, you will understand why a tray is so helpful.)
Alternatively, of course, the trays can sit on a vanity or bureau top as a convenient place for your “frequent flyers” so that you don’t have to rummage through, say, a compartment brimming with a jumble of gold rings or earrings in search of the ones you always seem to be reaching for, no matter the occasion.
Naturally any of the Trove boxes, trays or cases would make a superb gift for anyone who is serious about their fine jewelry collection. Especially lovely are the small gift boxes for engagement rings and wedding bands and the travel-perfect “Sidekick” silhouette (the smaller version can replace the glass or ceramic ring holder on your nightstand).
Expedited shipping online is definitely available if you need the gift in a hurry; Trove is also carried by an elite network of stockists including Net-a-Porter, The Seven in New York, Jo Latham in Fort Worth, among others.
Another option is to pick out something in person at Trove’s new U.S. flagship boutique, which opened in November. Situated on a sun-drenched corner in New York City’s West Village, it’s a moody space filled with artwork, gleaming wood finishes and velvet wall coverings. In addition to presenting the full collection of jewelry boxes, the Trove boutique offers the bonus of a tightly curated selection of jewelry by designers like Tabayer, Sophie Keegan, Pamela Zamore, Beck, and Natalia Pas.
A central glass case houses renowned Brazilian high jeweler Fernando Jorge as the store’s Designer in Residence, a program that will highlight a different talent every month. The names will rotate but all will share Ward’s dedication to quality and timeless design.
