How to Choose a Fireproof Safe For Your Jewelry

Jewelry is one of the most common types of valuables people choose to store in their safes. And it makes total sense. Jewelry can be really expensive, it often holds significant personal and sentimental value. Being extremely valuable it is often the first thing people put inside a safe.

This is proven by a study that was conducted by the National Burglary & Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) in 2023. A survey interviewed 1,000 homeowners asking about their use of safes, what type of safes they use, reason for using safes and other related questions.

The study revealed that 53% of homeowners use a safe to store their jewelry. Even more homeowners use safes for jewelry in high-crime areas. The percentage reaches 67% in these areas. As for the type of safe used to store jewelry, the leading position is held by fireproof safes.

That’s why the question How to choose a fireproof safe for jewelry storage is so common and relevant.

The key characteristics of a safe you should look for when choosing a fireproof safe to store your jewelry are:

Fire protection rating
Size
Security Level
Additional Features

And the key factors that must be taken into account when choosing a particular model are:

How much is your jewelry worth?
How often do you need to access the safe?
Where do you want to place the safe?

Let’s dive deeper into those.

Key Fireproof Safe Characteristics to Look For

These are the most important attributes you must look for when choosing a fireproof safe for jewelry storage:

– Fire protection rating

A good fireproof safe should be able to withstand a fire for at least 1 hour. This leaves enough time to have the fire department respond to your call and deal with the emergency.

A proper safe must go through testes by independent laboratories (like UL or ETL) and be awarded a certification. For example, if the tests are conducted by UL the certification looks like this: 1-hour UL Class 350 or 1-hour Class 125. (Read more in our latest fire ratings guide)

Depending on type of jewelry you are going to store in the safe the fire rating should be selected accordingly. For example, if you only keep rings, necklaces and other items made of precious metals, UL Class 350 is enough. But if you also want to keep your wrist watch in the safe, the fire rating of the safe should be UL Class 125. Because the inner parts of the watch are more easily damaged they need this rating to protect it.

– Size

The next characteristic you should take into account is the size. The safe should be large enough to fit all of your jewelry. You don’t want to cram your necklaces, rings, watches, bracelets, earrings, etc. into a tiny box. This may lead to scratches and tangles.

A good idea would be to measure your entire jewelry collection and compare it with the dimensions of the safe. People often underestimate how much space they will need to store ALL their valuables. Also, with time you might decide to add more jewelry or other items inside, so it would help to have spare place.

– Security

And extremely important factor is the safe’s security. A secure lock that is difficult to pick or break is a must.

There are various types of locks in fireproof safes to choose from. Check safes that have keylocks, electronic locks, combination locks, or biometric locks. Depending on your preferences and usage a certain type may provide more security for you personally.

– Extra Features

Some safes can provide additional features that make them more suitable for storing jewelry. For example, some models may have humidity control that prevents moisture from oxidizing your jewelry. While this might not be a deciding factor but it is nice-to-have feature depending on your valuables.

How to Choose the Right Fireproof Safe For Your Needs

Now that you know what to look for in a fireproof safe for jewelry, is there anything that could apply to you specifically? Everyone has their own habits after all. You need to choose the model that meets your particular needs.

To help you make the right decision, here are some questions you should ask yourself:

– How much is your jewelry worth?

Depending on the value of your jewelry you might want to spend more or less on the safe itself. This value will determine the budget.

If you have expensive or sentimental pieces, you may want to invest in a higher-end safe to get more protection and additional features. If you are not planning to store such expensive items, a more budget-friendly safe can be a better choice.

– How often do you need to access the safe?

This point is often overlooked. The frequency of your safe usage will determine how convenient you want the safe to be. If you wear your jewelry every day, choosing a safe that is easy to open is a way to go. Check the ones with biometric lock, for example.

On the other hand, if you wear or change your jewelry occasionally, you may be fine with a safe that is more secure but less convenient to open. In this case a key lock or a dual lock could be a nice option.

In the end of course it come down to how prioritize convenience vs security.

You might want to check out Top 5 affordable fireproof safes for jewelry list

– Where do you plan to place the safe?

Think about the location of your safe beforehand. This will help you decide if it can be a big and heavy model, or if it’s going to be a lighter and more mobile safe.

We recommend putting your safe, no matter the size, in a location that is hidden from view and that is difficult for burglars to access.

Tips for Storing Your Jewelry in a Fireproof Safe

Once you’ve chosen the right fireproof safe for your jewelry, here are a few tips for storing your jewelry in the safe:

Keep your jewelry in airtight containers to protect it from moisture, unless you have a waterproof model.
Label the containers so you can easily find what you are looking for, especially if your space is not particularly spacious.
Don’t store your jewelry in direct contact with the safe’s walls to avoid possible scratches.
If you have a lot of jewelry, consider getting a fireproof safe with multiple compartments. It will be much easier to keep your pieces organized and protected.
Clean and dry the jewelry before you store it in the safe. This will help prevent it from corroding.

Conclusion

We hope this article cab help you choose the right fireproof home for your jewelry. Remember to do your research and compare different models before making a purchase.

As always – keep yourself safe and your belongings fireproof! 🔥