Sometimes, your jewelry might not age well. This may be because it was designed in a style that was once fashionable but no longer is, or because it accumulated scratches and damage. Another reason your jewelry might not have aged well is that you are not interested in the same styles and fashions today that you were when you purchased it. When one’s jewelry no longer reflects one’s personality, or just appears incongruous with the way that one dresses or acts, then the first thing many people think of doing is throwing it away.
Throwing your jewelry away is a foolish thing to do, however. This article will tell you why that is:
Wastefulness
The first reason that you should never throw your jewelry away is that it is incredibly wasteful. As this article will explore in greater detail later, there are many uses for one’s jewelry besides throwing it away. In an age where people are becoming increasingly concerned about the environment, one’s carbon footprint, and recycling, it’s best not to wastefully discard one’s old jewelry. It’s time that you got out of the habit of wasting things, when there’s so many people suffering in the world.
New Life
Your old jewelry can have a brand new life, with a new owner, or with you. According to one jewelry repair service in Baltimore, an experienced goldsmith or jeweler can tackle just about any task. Despite how old and unwanted your jewelry might seem to you, that might not be the case for somebody else. It may also not remain the case if you have your jewelry repaired or restored. There’s very little that can’t be done nowadays, with huge advancements in technology and engineering. A ring can be resized perfectly, for example, and an old necklace can be restored to its original condition.
Initial Cost
This point goes back to the concept of wastefulness. Jewelry isn’t cheap, which you likely already know, since you have so much of it that you want to throw it away. Jewelry is so expensive, that throwing it away is absolutely senseless. If you inherited jewelry and didn’t pay for it, that doesn’t change the fact that somebody did at one point. The problem we have in our society today is that people do not understand the value of their money. There’s lots that you can do with your jewelry outside of throwing it away; you can even make some money back on it.
Consider Charity
Moving away from reasons why you shouldn’t discard your old jewelry, let’s discuss what you can do with it instead. Something that’s worth thinking about is charity. If you have so much jewelry that you are considering throwing it away, then why not let it go to somebody else for free, who can either use it or sell it themselves? There isn’t a single charity shop in the world that won’t accept jewelry donations. You could also give it to somebody who doesn’t have much jewelry, or who admires that specific piece, like a friend or relative.
Recycling
An alternative to giving your jewelry away to charity is recycling it. Not everybody’s jewelry is made from precious metals and gemstones. Some people have jewelry that is made from plastic, or other non-precious materials. If this is the case, then your best option is probably to recycle your jewelry. It’s unlikely that you will be able to sell it on for much, and it probably wouldn’t be worth it to repair it, unless it had sentimental value to you. Recycling is very straightforward; one simply drops one’s jewelry in a recycling bin.
Repairing
Repairing your jewelry is without a doubt the best option on this list, for the reasons mentioned at the start of this article. While repairing one’s jewelry can be costly, it allows you to continue to use your jewelry, even if it is in a very sorry state. Jewelry can be completely restored also, with new bits and attachments added on if they have become lost. If you are interested in having your jewelry repaired, then find the most experienced and qualified jeweler that you can and ask them for a quote.
Repurposing
You can also repurpose old jewelry. Repurposing is when you use your jewelry for something that was not its intended purpose. You could turn your jewelry into wall art or attach it to an item of clothing. Repurposing one’s jewelry can be a lot of fun and allows one to be creative. If you enjoy art and you are a creative person, then repurposing your old jewelry is something for you to consider. You may need a sewing kit, glue, and other equipment. You could also pay somebody to repurpose your jewelry for you.
Selling
Selling is also an option. If your jewelry was expensive or good-quality, then selling it should not be a problem at all. There are plenty of websites where you can sell your old jewelry, from eBay to Etsy. Make sure that you are very clear about the age and condition of your jewelry when you sell it. If you post misleading information, then you can get into a lot of trouble. Posting misleading information can lead to your selling account being banned, and you could have to refund the buyer who bought your jewelry from you.
Trading
An alternative to selling is trading your jewelry in, for credit or for more jewelry. If you purchased your jewelry from a large jeweler, like Tiffany or Cartier, and retain your jewelry’s certificate of authenticity, then you may be able to return it to the store and trade it in. Alternatively, you could take your jewelry to a pawn shop and trade it in there. When you trade your jewelry in for credit, you are given a certain amount of store credit that you can use to buy items. You can also trade your jewelry in and do a straight swap for another piece that you like.
Throwing away your old jewelry is a waste. There are lots of other things that you can do with it, from selling it to repairing it. You shouldn’t waste jewelry that’s got life left in it.
Feature photo by DARYA
