Wear It or Share It? 10 Steps to a Clutter-Free Jewelry Box
I have an assortment of jewelry I wear every time I leave the house: My Alex & Ani and Pandora bracelets from my kids, my Michael Kors watch I bought with my first Nordstrom paycheck, my wedding rings and my rosary necklace from my mom. Once in a while, I break out my tri-colored thumb ring I bought in Key West in 1992. Every piece I wear means something to me. I feel a connection to a person or a moment when I wear them. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that they make me feel “safe.”
In addition to those indispensable pieces, I have other jewelry. Actually, I have quite a lot of it. Some of it real, some not. Some gifts, some indulgences. Again, each of these pieces has meant something to me at some point. But how do I walk the fine line between a being collector of meaningful pieces vs. a hoarder of junk?
I follow this 10-step approach to de-clutter my jewelry case and decide if I’ll actually wear each piece again, or if they would be better off in a new home.
1 - Remove everything from your jewelry box.
Yup. Take it all out.
2 - Throw out any cheap earrings that don’t have a mate or a back, bracelets with broken clasps and tangled necklaces.
This is an easy first step.
3 - Now that we’ve eliminated the “unwearables,” let’s identify the “must keeps.”
Wedding rings, diamond earrings, children’s handcrafted gifts, items of meaning, basically anything would make you distraught if you lost.
4 - Next, separate your jewelry.
Separate necklaces from earrings, bracelets, etc.
5 - Now, categorize.
Categorize by each by chain length, earring style and bracelet type.
6 - Look closer at each category.
Do you see any redundancies? Similar chains, styles or charms? A bunch of pieces with hearts on them? Now, let’s make some tough choices. It’s time to narrow down those redundant pieces to one or two.
7 - Having a tough time deciding? Try them on.
I know, it sounds like a lot of work, but it only takes a second to see if you still like the piece enough for it to claim real estate in your jewelry box. You may even discover something you forgot all about!
8 - Reorganize your jewelry box or drawer.
Make everyday essentials easiest to reach and keep any formal wear in its original box (if you still have it).
9 - Does anything need repaired?
If you have some keepers that need cleaning or repairs, decide if you can do it yourself (sometimes you can touch up silver with a little polish and a jewelry cloth) or if you need to bring it in to a professional jeweler.
10 - Finally, decide what to do with the pieces that didn’t make the cut.
Maybe you have a daughter, niece or friend who would love to wear those pieces. If not, find a local vintage shop that might be willing to take them. Maybe you can even trade them for something new. One woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure!