Custom Velvet Inserts

Fitting Velvet Inserts to Your Boxes

An insert has to fit two things: the box it sits in and the pieces it holds. For the box, we need the internal length, width and depth of the base, and ideally a sample box, because rigid boxes can vary slightly from their stated size. The insert should sit flush or just below the rim so the lid closes without pressing on the jewellery.

For the pieces, send measurements or, better, the items themselves or exact replicas. Ring sizes vary, watch faces differ in diameter and lug width, and pendants come in all shapes. We draw cut-outs with a small allowance so pieces press in firmly but lift out without force. The free proof shows every cut-out drawn to scale, and we can make a sample insert for checking before the full run when fit is critical.

If you already have boxes from another supplier, we can make inserts to fit them. If you need both, ordering box and insert together means we size them as a pair and you avoid gaps or pinching.

Choosing a Colour and Texture

Black velvet is the classic choice because it gives gold, silver and stones the sharpest contrast. Navy and deep green give a similar contrast with a slightly richer feel. Burgundy suits gold jewellery and traditional brands, and cream or ivory flatters pearls, rose gold and bridal pieces. Grey works well with silver and modern designs.

Match the insert to your box rather than designing it on its own. A black rigid box with a black insert looks unified and serious, while a white box with a navy insert gives a clear moment of contrast when the lid lifts. If your brand uses a specific colour, we can usually find a close flocked match, though true velvet fabric comes in a narrower range of shades.

A small foil logo can be added to the insert itself, often on the inside of the lid pad or a lower corner. Keep it subtle, as the jewellery should be the focus.

Who Uses Velvet Box Inserts

Jewellers and goldsmiths are the main buyers, from independent makers selling online to shops with a counter. Watch brands and watch repairers use cushion inserts for presentation and returns. Gift companies use velvet beds for cufflinks, pens, keepsakes and engraved items, and corporate gift suppliers add them to presentation boxes for awards and long-service gifts.

Cosmetic and fragrance brands occasionally use velvet inserts to hold a perfume bottle or a lipstick in a gift set, where the soft surface adds to the sense of occasion and keeps glass from rattling. Hair accessory brands, makers of rosaries and prayer beads, and coin and medal dealers order them for the same reason: the piece is small, valuable to the owner, and deserves a bed that holds it still.

Protection in Transit as Well as Presentation

A good insert is not only decorative. Fine chains tangle, stones scratch against metal, and watches slide into the lid if nothing holds them. A fitted insert keeps each piece in position, so the customer opens the box to the same view you saw when you packed it.

For pieces sent by post, pair the presentation box with a snug outer mailer. The insert stops movement inside the box, and the mailer protects the box itself from crushing. Some brands also add a thin velvet or satin pad on the underside of the lid, which presses gently on the jewellery and stops it lifting out of its slot if the box is turned over. p1 The outer mailer is covered on our printed mailer boxes page.

Send a Box and the Heaviest Piece Together

A velvet insert is cut to a box and specified by a piece, and both are best seen in the flesh: post us one of the boxes it will sit in, since rigid boxes vary from their listed size by a millimetre or two, and the heaviest item it will hold. From those we choose the core, card for flat earrings, foam for a ring slot or a watch cushion, and set the cut-outs.

Say which pieces share one insert and lay them out as you want the box to open, with the hero piece in the centre. Choose black, navy or grey for silver and burgundy or cream for gold and pearls. The custom quote arrives by email within one working day, from £0.25 for a card-core insert, with the minimum set per job.

The free proof shows the layout and every cut-out, and a sample can be made first where the fit is critical. Production takes 4 to 7 working days after approval and the inserts reach UK mainland addresses by free tracked delivery. Jewellers ordering the box as well usually choose our velvet-covered boxes with lids so the inside and outside match.