Jewellery boxes are sentimental places. The bridesmaid jewellery from your sister’s wedding. The ring an ex-boyfriend gave you for your 21st. The Christmas necklace from your Aunt Hilda or the souvenir bracelet from your trip to Egypt.

But soon you are over run, particularly with some extra broken and odd pieces. Like a broken necklace clasp or an earring without its partner. So here are a few questions to help sort out your jewellery box : Do you still love it? Do you still wear it? Would it break your heart if you lost it?

When you decide it’s time for some letting go, here are some ideas to reuse and recycle

1. Regift : Would someone you know love the piece? Give it to them, but be careful not to regift if you could be found out. 😉
2. Donate : there are heaps of grateful charities and charity shops out there. Charities like Dress for Success help women with work wear and accessories for interviews and corporate life. Appeals like Share the Dignity’s #itsinthebag, fill unloved handbags with gifts and essentials for women at Christmas.
3. Resell : brand new or gently used jewellery could earn you an extra few dollars if you are willing to sell on sites like eBay or Gumtree. Good photographs and accurate descriptions are important. If you aren’t sure it’s a real diamond, then don’t advertise it as such.
4. Sell for scrap : if there is any gold, sterling silver or precious gemstones in your jewellery it might be worth weighing them in at a pawn shop or jewellery recycler.
5. Remodel or repair : a few tools and you could become your own jeweller. This is great for minor repairs and once you get the hang of it, beads can be restrung and a lone once loved earrings changed to a simple pendant.
6. Reuse : beads can even be added to other crafty projects like keyrings, decorations and scrapbooks.
7. Remake : lots of handcrafted jewellers can remake a piece of jewellery to give your special pieces a new lease on life. Stones and pearls can be reset. Metal melted and reformed. Rings resized.

Fill that jewellery box with joy! But not overflowing