I think what I need to do is do a "vivienne files" with my jewelry. Pick out jewelry colors that go with what I'm wearing now and stash all the colors that don't work with my current wardrobe until those colors come back.

I have a slew of enameled colored earrings too...back in the old days of working, I would coordinate my earrings with my outfits so I have them in many, many colors....but now some of them are chipped, some are way heavy so I don't wear them any more. I'm so much less tolerant of annoying clothing and shoes that hurt my feet than I was when I was younger!

I'll preface this by saying I am not a jewelry person. But 25 or so years ago I inherited a costume jewelry collection from my grandmother. Most of it was very nice. Lots of Schiaparelli. I held on to it for many years, but then got an idea. I went through and selected one set to keep, then sold the rest. I used the money made from the sales to purchase a lovely antique Arts & Crafts grandfather clock. I still have the clock, and I like to think of my grandma whenever I look at it.

Some of my necklaces and bracelets are silver plated and tarnished. Is there a way to clean that? Will a jeweler do that without charging an arm and a leg?

Not haven read the previous replies... this might have been covered?

You old giant enamel flowers could look gorgeous on wood or plastic napkin rings... if you use such.

Moni

PS, also good to hot glue on to plant markers and put in flower beds... :)

Maybe you can give some pieces a new life. In our area (Seattle), we have the Woman's shelter Jewelry Project. They accept unwanted, even broken jewelry. They clean it and fix it or even recreate something. Items are given to women in shelters and the Dress for Success closet.

Nice idea, OklaMoni!

I always revert to the same few pieces and most of it has been untouched for years and years.

^^^This statement tells me that even if large enamel flowers come back into style, you’re still not going to wear them.

Donate the things to a local theater.

Or to a Goodwill type place. For her wedding, my sister’s friend carried a bouquet of flowered pins stuck in styrofoam. It looked fabulous, and I think the idea is all over Pinterest so others are propably still doing it. Some crafty person will be thrilled to find a collection of pins.

Once you release this unwanted stuff to the universe, you make room for the universe to provide you with what you really need or want.

Thanks hhireno...I think what I need is simplicity and clearing out the clutter will certainly help that!

Every once in a while at craft shows, I see wall hangings made of old buttons, but I imagine jewelry could work also. Buttons lend themselves to Christmas trees, winter scenes (white buttons make good snowflakes). Jewelry could make a spring scene, watches could make a city, somehow?? Whatever bits and bobs you have left over to get rid of, maybe contact a local school art teacher to see if they'd like it.

Enjoy the process of downsizing your collection :-)

Please consider donating your jewelry pieces to a senior center - the residents make Christmas trees with them, such as in the google sites in this link:

https://www.google.com/search?q=christmas+trees+made+from+old+jewelry&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjD8oTt8aveAhUNh-AKHTPoAlcQ_AUIDigB&biw=1002&bih=430

Thanks kayjones...I know our local sr center is getting ready for the craft sale...a money raiser they hold before xmas each year.

My favorite chandelier restorer also used to make mirrors framed with old costume jewelry, something like the wreaths in kayjones's link. They made lovely table decorations.

DO you have any tweens in your life who would love to go through your collection? I got rid of my costume jewellry years ago when I realized I never wore it. But I don't wear my real stuff either.

blfenton, Sorry, not that I can think of even among the neighbors.

Annie I use a silver cloth on my Sterling jewelry. Much easier and gentler than any type of cleaner or polish. One of the things I love and wear consistently is marcasite new and vintage, and a silver cloth works perfectly.

I always donate to thrift shops which benefit a charity, so it gives me peace of mind when donating that it's going for the good. You have a lot, Annie! Wow....

Part of the problem too is that some of it, I don't know if it's valuable or not...I mean it's not ruby or emeralds, but whether it's collectible. I guess I could take it to a jewelers to find out...

Annie, I have no suggestions at all as to how you might go about this "downsizing" process. But please, PLEASE don't just pitch whatever you decide not to keep! Find and contact any local crafters group. Chances are there will be someone, probably several 'someones' in the group who would be very interested. It's amazing what crafters can do with single earrings, broken watches, pins, etc.! And, as others have already suggested, there are a number of organizations that might be interested in your cast-offs. Good luck! ! !

Rusty

Costume jewelry fixes? I have that in spades! What you do is, put whatever you want that is reasonable (not plastic and not watches) in ammonia for an hour or so, shake it around, and then rinse (I use a strainer to hold the pieces) with cool water. Clean it with a soft towel. Is the paint chipping? Or do you want some other color? Fingernail polish them. Missing backs? They sell replacements backs Michael's, Walmart, etc. Easy-peasy. Watches? If they're quartz run, the backs can pop off and battery replacements are, maybe, $5 online. The stuff you no longer love? Sell it on Etsy or Ebay as retro. Or just donate it. I have a friend at work who was downsizing and loves jewelry as much as I do. She brought it all in, and I went through it and took what I wanted. I passed it onto another coworker who took what she wanted. We donated the rest at Goodwill.

FWIW, from what I've seen, jewelry, broken or in good repair, is usually sold without a problem at thrift stores, so if you donate it, it will have another life. I do agree that you should probably do a little research to make sure you aren't letting go of something with value.

I also agree with the idea of letting it go in stages. Pick a few things that you aren't sentimental over and wouldn't miss, and let them go. Doing it slower will also give you the chance to keep an eye out for items of value. You will know when it feels right to let something go, even if it isn't easy to do so.

I, too, am in the process of cleaning out my jewelry collection. Most of mine is cheapie stuff that I bought in my teens or twenties, but there is a lot of stuff that I don't want to just keep around and have DD think it has more value (monetary or sentimental) than it does. Even at a young age, she has a large collection of fashion jewelry and doesn't need my crummy old stuff causing her more clutter. Even having a child to potentially pass this sort of thing onto, I feel like much of it would just end up being clutter to her, and maybe guilt clutter that she eventually feels stuck with.

Have my mother's beautiful costume jewelry. She had pins and clip earrings to match, lots of them. Hate to part with them, they are just sitting in a bag. Think it's time to part ways.

Yep. Since my SIL is in a nursing home and expected to succumb to lung cancer in the next few months, it has fallen on my DH (me) to sort thru her things and thin the melee. I've suggested that she have and wear some of the "not valuable" items in the nursing home so she could get enjoyment from them. I was shot down, because "what if someone stole it". Of course, all that type of stuff will be thrown or given away in the end, so what would it matter?

Additionally, there are one or two pieces that are in envelopes and labeled as "Great Aunt Martha's" or "Gramma Doe's". The problem is, no one in the family is able to tell me who these people were!

kayjones posted the same link that I was going to post except I was going to suggest putting that project together yourself. Somehow I'd feel it easier to donate a finished product than boxes full of jewelry. Now that I've said that it sounds like a fun craft project for the winter and I've convinced myself to do it. I'm in the same boat as far as the costume jewelry collection goes. Some of it is very pretty but I will never wear any of it. In fact, I was just thinking about this the other day - that I need to clear this stuff out or do something with it. Overwhelming.

I appreciate your posting this Annie. Now I have something creative to look forward to over the winter. (which I was rather dreading). See how you can turn someone's day around? Thanks! I hope that this can turn into something fun for you too.

Annie, I think part of my reluctance is, I know darn well that as soon as I get rid of those enameled flowers, they'll come back in style and I'll be regretful!

Save a few in each collection, then. Do you really need all 50 enamel flowers?

Jewelry is or can be really sentimental. It brings back memories of people and special events in our lives. It's also small which makes it easy to store and forget about.

Because I make jewelry, I often use parts and components from old/vintage jewelry to use in new designs so dealing with old jewelry is less of a dilemma for me.

In your situation, I would keep a few pieces that have really special meaning, toss anything that is broken, offer what's left to other members of the family and either donate the rest to a thrift store or toss it. You'll feel so much lighter once it's done; at least I do when I tackle these kinds of projects that I've been putting off.

Between all of the great advice you've received here, I think you'll figure out a way to get it done that will work out best for you.

Edit to add that there is a market for old costume jewelry. There are people who collect vintage pieces, people like me use it in their own designs and crafters love to use it in their craft projects. There are often old/vintage jewelry lots on sale at ebay; and the more collectable or valuable pieces can be sold individually. If you are interested in doing something like that, check out ebay to see what is selling and the prices being asked.

Oh definitely don't throw away! All of the pieces are reusable! I go through my stuff (when I still had stuff lol) and sort it for salvageable parts and pieces. I'm back into doing jewelry again a little bit and wish I had some of that stuff. Any one that does crafts or anything like jewelry making would probably be happy to have it.

I faced this dilemma this summer and found that it was better not to think too long about things or I would never get rid of it. I looked for a consignment store, but no one in my area wants costume jewelry, so I'm donating all of it. Most of mine dated to the 1980's/1990's. Even if the styles return, I won't care because I dress much more casually these days.

My collection of real jewelry is more problematic. I don't want most of it either, but I know the precious metals and gems have some value, so I need to find someone who will give me some reasonable value for it. Luckily, there isn't a lot of it, so I can keep it in the bank and not worry about it.

Annie, I haven't read all the replies. I'm just going to tell you what my husband always tells me when I get in one of those moods. "If you get rid of it, will the house be lighter? How soon until you regret it?"

We are not hoarders, but we are sentimental. I also have my grandmother 's and my mother's watches, much of their costume jewelry. I don't love it all, but I do love having it, looking at it, knowing I have it. Pictures of those things are just not the same.

I have every story and picture hub has ever written/taken (and he is a professional writer!), every award my kids (all six of them!) have earned, stories they've written, mittens they learned to knit on. None of it is in any order at all, but I have it and I'm glad. My house is orderly and clean, but I can never find the specific item I'm looking for amongst the keepsakes because I/we get sidetracked, often enjoying the search as much or more than finding the item.

It's all good. If one finds happiness in a well curated home, that's great! I'm happy in my sentimental home.

My new mantra for getting rid of things that might have some $$ value is: Will the $___ I might get for this make a difference in my financial life/future? Is it worth my time and trouble to figure out what it's worth and where to sell it?

Luckily for me, it won't. A bracelet that might be worth $10 or even $50 is going to do more good by raising money for a charity than it would make in my life. Someday, if I'm in a nursing home and out of $$, will I regret getting rid of $5000 of clutter? It won't and I'd guess for you it won't either. I love giving things to my local thrift shop that supports our Children's Hospital. I give the less valuable things to Goodwill.

Even if I accidentally gave away something with more value than I knew, it will be raising more $ for a good cause and it's not doing anyone any good sitting in my drawer/cupboard.

There's a decluttering guru who says, "Expensive clutter is still clutter!" I sure wish it was easier to rehome things that have some monetary value. Our Goodwill and Salvation Army both have volunteer appraisers who look over things like jewelry and furniture to value them before they are priced and on display. I suppose that's always a question you could call and ask a place before donating.

This idea just came up on my Facebook feed. There was no link with instructions.

I love that Maddielee!

The Assistance League has a resale shop here. I have donated nice costume jewelry that I no longer wear. It sells quickly, and the profits go to helping provide children with school clothes, etc.

We have a charity locally that helps women in need by providing resume services, job counseling as well as gently used business clothing and accessories to help them look for work.

I purged most of my costume jewelry yesterday, while going through the remaining boxes from when I moved 2.5 years ago. I kept some sparkly, more expensive costume pieces for my granddaughter to play with when she's older.

When I buy non-gemstone/non-precious metal jewelry now, it's handmade by an artisan, and usually from my travels. I have necklaces with pendants, my favorite style, from the Cotswolds, Northeast Italy and Venice. The Venice pieces have Murano glass pendants. The artisans are usually women, so I feel I'm also helping them.

This idea just came up on my Facebook feed. There was no link with instructions.

I think that is beautiful! wish it had a link and instructions - I'd do something like that with the old costume jewelry from my mom and my former MIL.

I have soo little and none of it any too great. I remember my mom's and my Grandmother having stock piles and as a kid it was all such a treasure trove. I am not much for wearing jewelry so I don't have much "good" or costume. But I just love seeing what other's have and as sales I imagine what could be done with it. I know they are old school tacky but I have an eye for those crosses or Christmas trees people make out of old jewelry--framed art or fee standing. I don't have any because I think if I had my own jewelry it would be kewl to make one from them...nostalgia, sparkle, re-sue recycle it seems like a perfect fit.

I'm thinking maybe something like this would help me with my storage issue for the jewelry I do keep...

https://www.containerstore.com/s/taupe-supersize-stackers-premium-stackable-jewelry-box/d?productId=11008760&q=jewelry

That's a great idea for storage Annie!

You have no children, but is there no one in the family that might (someday, it took some maturity before I did) value a relative's watch, beautiful pin or necklace? Niece, nephew, cousin, cousin once or twice removed? I feel fortunate to have my grandmother's watch from the 1920s and the necklace given to her when she retired. I still sometimes mourn having had my great-grandmother's necklace from the early 1900s stolen the first of 8 times my house was robbed, wishing I could get it back. These objects that my ancestors loved speak to me somehow, even though I do not wear them.

I would select a few special pieces -- just one or two per ancestor -- and put them aside with information and a picture about the person to whom it belonged. It may be true that no one will ever value them (none of my siblings or their children seem to feel the same as I do) but once they are gone, they can't be gotten back.

Then pick out a couple of pieces for yourself that really gladden your eyes, and either try to sell the rest on ebay, craigslist, yard sale, or at a flea market, or donate it to a thrift store.

Idstarr, it took me a little while digging on Ancestry, but I did finally figure out who was the "uncle Dovie" that my mother spoke of (not her uncle!). I would surely try to figure it out before letting the pieces go. There are people who research for fun too, not just their own family, who might help you if you want to try.

rae, I might do that with non-costume pieces, but for the costume stuff, there's no real sentimentality that any of the distant cousins would attach.

I think I may have found a solution. I have a walk-in closet and the closet door is always open. I have a hook on the front of the door but nothing on the back. I found over the door jewelry storage that looks like it can accommodate a ton of stuff and it will add a mirror to the closet besides. This is just one version of several on the market.

Maddielee I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to have the cast of jewelry to do that or a Christmas tree or something. It is an old word craft but something about it really peaks my creative self. Since I was a child I have dreamed of my mom giving me her old stuff, so I could create!! Childhood is long gone. I am not much of a jewelry wearer. Ironically I spent a year as a costume jewelry buyer for a counter in a mall 40 years ago, but have not managed to accumulate much of anything. I find most jewelry too cumbersome to wear to work and we don't gad about much, so have no reason to buy much. I also have a button jar. I love it--inherited a lot of its contents from my MIL. I wonder what a large jar of broken bobbles would look like? Could be interesting.

I gave away all my old costume jewelry years ago and decided to only wear the good stuff on a daily basis. I only wear earrings and rings so that is easier to store. I guess I am kind of a plain dresser but the earrings! Oh my they are lovely.

I started my jewelry project and unfortunately started with the stash from DH's mother and grandmother and my mother...I found some things I didn't know I had that I liked and *added* to my heap!

The good news is that we contacted a jeweler who said he'd be happy to take a quick look at the stuff and make sure none of it was *vintage* *retro* or *valuable* so I could goodwill it as desired.

I've also contacted my cousin's DIL who is into vintage stuff to see if she wants any of it.

This website will give you some idea how valuable some of the old signed designer pieces can be. Their prices are very high, but most pieces look like they never left the jewelry box. Even though they're costume, some of the designs are exquisite. Alfred Philippe designed pieces for Cartier and Van Cleef & Arples before he left to design for Trifari and you can see that high end artistry in many of his pieces.

https://www.trifari.com

Take a good magnifying glass or jeweler's loupe and check for markings. Don't submerge in any liquid any jewelry with stones, etc. that are not prong set because the old glue can give way and your stones will fall out. That happened to me once. Read up on cleaning vintage jewelry because you don't want to use strong chemicals.

I think some of those Christmas trees made from old pins are really pretty. It all depends on the pins you have to work with. There must be something campy you can do with the old enamel flowers. 'Gonna google that.

Annie - I switched to the Stackers containers last year for my good jewelry. I had been using a jewelry box that DH had given me when we first married. The Stackers came in several different configurations and I ended up using 3 different ones to separate and store my pieces. Since they only 'stack' together I bought some pretty elastic from the fabric store and sewed 2 large bands that I can place around the stackers to keep them together. Since then both my DD and DDIL have started using them too.

After looking at your large collection I'm beginning to feel fortunate that I only inherited one tiny box of jewelry from my Mother.

I haven't read all the replies, so this may have been mentioned. Contact your high school or local arts drama department and see if they'd like some of the jewelry for their wardrobe closet.

Good idea, aok...I hadn't thought of that.