How to Clean Out Your Jewelry Box Part Two

This is my second-part blog about cleaning out your jewelry box with purpose and efficiency.

From last weeks blog, you should have four groups of jewelry: Regularly Worn; Don’t Wear; Sentimental Not My Style; Don’t Like Don’t Wear.

What To Do With Each Group

Regularly Worn:

You don’t have to do much with this group! You may even have added a few pieces that you really like but forgot about because they were hidden in all your jewelry box clutter. 

This group of jewelry should go at the top of your jewelry box, so that you see them every time you open your jewelry box. 

This is a good time to take these pieces into a trusted jeweler to have them checked and cleaned.

Don’t Wear:

This group is different from the Sentimental Not My Style in that this group of jewelry has little or no sentimental value to you. Here are a few ideas on what to do with them:

·       Gift some of these pieces to family members or close friend – Be sure to write a note of where you got them so that the giftee has the history

·       Take them to a trusted jeweler or gold buying business to sell the gold, platinum, or silver for cash – Be sure to keep the gemstones to create a new piece with

If you are having a hard time parting with any of these pieces, it may be because you have a sentimental or monetary attachment to them. In that case, put them in the Sentimental Don’t Wear group!

Like but Don’t Wear:

The most obvious reason for not wearing this jewelry is because it needs to be repaired or cleaned.  Put these pieces in a Ziplock bag to take to your trusted jeweler. 

Ladies sometimes think that some of the pieces are “too fancy” to wear. All it takes is one decision to wear your most extravagant piece with a cute sweater or dress. It will make you feel good and elevate your day! We get good at what we practice, so practice wearing the "fancy" ones!

When you love a jewelry piece, you will make time to wear it.  It might not be every day, but it will be part of the jewelry rotation.

Another reason you may not be wearing it is because the clutter in your jewelry box hides those pieces. By clearing out your jewelry box, you’ll readily see the pieces you love, and it will be easier to wear them.  

Sentimental Not My Style:

These are the pieces you can take to a jewelry designer, like me, to restyle into a piece where the sentiment and style are equally loved. We can use the gemstones from these pieces to make one or multiple pieces.

It can be very moving to wear jewelry that links you to your family and history, but also connects you to the person you are today. After seeing earrings we restyled into a style she loves, one of my clients said, “Now, I have my mom with me where ever I go!”  That made me tear up!

I have had women who grew and transformed after a divorce or spousal death, so we used the diamonds from their wedding set to create something new. For the divorced, it represented rebirth and strength.  For the widow, it represented their new life moving forward.

Bonus: Treasure Box!

You might have some or a lot of jewelry that is costume.

Please continue wearing the ones you love, but you might have some that you no longer wear. If you have children or grandchildren, create a Treasure Box for them to play with.

The “Tooth fairy” used to gift me jewelry instead of cash, and I loved it! You may inspire the family’s next jewelry aficionado.  

What Next?

By now, I hope you have some ideas of what to do with the jewelry you are not wearing. This process can take some time, so don’t feel like you have to rush it, but don’t forget about it either!

Where ever and from whomever you received this jewelry from, the intent was to wear it. You can do that by choosing to wear it as-is, gifting it to someone who will wear it, or restyling it into other pieces. 

I would love to help you with jewelry in 2026!  Angela Cisneros Jewelry Concierge brings back the joy and confidence of jewelry shopping, so that you can celebrate with ease! My by-appointment approach means:

• One-on-one appointments (personal attention and no crowds!)

• Discretion and privacy (surprises remain surprises!)

• Expert help from a Graduate Gemologist with 29 years of experience (yep, that’s me!)

Learn more about me and my process: www.AngelaCisneros.com 

Book your FREE appointment with me today! www.AngelaCisneros.com/book-appointment