What to Keep When You Update Your Jewelry

What to keep when updating your jewelry is a good question. A while ago, I wrote about the importance of  creating a wardrobe that suits trends, fit, and style. Since jewelry often has some value beyond being a woman’s wardrobe accessory, the decisions are not as apparent as with clothing. The latter, namely, is subject to wear and tear. Read the solutions on how you can tackle the problem. 

Disclosure: Sponsored post.

Obvious Keepers: Family Heirlooms, Stackable Rings, and Personalized Jewelry

Antique jewelry, which often serves as family heirlooms, and engraved, personalized jewelry are keepers because they are timeless pieces. Another reason to hold on to and wear them is that they evoke memories of a loved one.

Keep stackable rings at any age as a part of your signature personal style.

Typically, personalized rings, engraved ID bracelets, charms or cuffs, name necklaces, (grand-)Mother rings, and pendants, etc., were gifts specially ordered for you. A monogram signature ring, letter ear studs, or a Sterling silver name cuff or necklace, for instance, are a timeless, chic finishing touch to any outfit, regardless of style. For more personalized jewelry inspiration, visit zoelev.com.

If you have ethnic jewelry that reflects your heritage, keep it. Wear them at parties where you don’t know many of the guests. Typically, ethnic and traditional jewelry pieces serve as a great way to start a conversation.

There is no reason to keep your real gold, silver, gemstones, or any other valuable collection for “good.” Wear them every day, as every day is good enough. Enjoy them before your heirs do! Be happy like a clam. You not only deserve it; no, you owe it to yourself to have happiness.

You are in charge of your own happy life.

What to Keep When Updating Your Jewelry: Bold, High-Quality Costume Jewelry as Accessories

These neckbands can easily add the glamour needed to transform a work outfit into a ready-for-date-night outfit. They are the perfect accessory to make an entrance on First Friday, at a formal reception, and to dress up a mother-of-the-bride or groom’s dress. You can also wear them when being the maid-of-honor at your best female friend’s wedding or when dressing for the opera. The vintage-inspired clear crystal necklace, like in the photo below, is perfect for the bride. And of course, for all those Dancing Queens among you, my lovely readers.

Bold, high-quality costume jewelry complements my ballroom dance wardrobe and is perfect for holidays, such as dressing for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, holiday parties at the office, date night with an LBD, birthday parties, New Year’s Eve cocktail parties, tea parties, and weddings of all kinds.

Besides these straightforward styling ideas, you can use the pieces to dress up a casual look when your personal style is dramatic. Try these beauties to glam up a pair of jeans and a white T-shirt. These faux gems also look stark on a knit sweater.

High-quality bold costume jewelry is a Do. You just don’t blurb about it.

Styling Inspirations for Bold High-Quality Costume Jewelry: Festive Business Attire

The following photos provide outfit ideas with bold costume jewelry.

Timeless Must-Have Jewelry for Every Style

Every woman needs the following jewelry in her jewelry collection, best suited to her primary personal style:

• Bangle or bracelet
• Cocktail ring
• Diamond or zirconia (fashion) ring
• Engraved personalized ID bracelet or signet ring
• Pendant necklace
• Pearl necklace (fake or real)
• Stud earrings
• Watch
• Artisan or handmade jewelry you designed

When your former style turned into your secondary style, keep the pieces that belong to your secondary style.

In the above list, the bold pieces work with every style. Therefore, they are the ones to keep. For stud earrings, consider options that feature fake or real diamonds, zirconia, spheres in gold or silver colors, pearls, or spherical gemstones. These studs are perfect for the office. All you need to know is which earrings to wear when and where.

When it comes to watches, consider keeping both your unique wooden watches and classic or minimalist style designer watches, as they complement any style. You may consider updating real gold or silver watches with a wristband in your new style.

Replace the discarded pieces with new items that suit your style. You can find key pieces for American Classic, Bohemian, and Gamine styles, as well as Romantic style, in the linked posts.

What to Do with Jewelry that You Don’t Wear Anymore?

If these pieces have a retail value, consider selling them unless they hold memorial or sentimental value. Instead of selling, you may also use the pieces as a gift to someone you know who likes them. When keeping them as mementos, consider pinning them on a board as a wall decoration or displaying them on a glass shelf.

You could also host a jewelry swap party, where your friends bring their discarded jewelry. Note swapping works better with costume jewelry than authentic jewelry because the value of fake jewelry typically differs less.

For authentic jewelry, you can create a sketch of how to modify it to match your new style. Discuss the idea with a goldsmith, obtain a cost estimate, and decide whether to proceed. The three pairs of earrings in the photo below are examples of such updates.

After a messy divorce, if redesigning isn’t the right option for your mental health, you could always sell your engagement ring to give it a new purpose. This selling allows someone else to enjoy it while you use the proceeds toward something more meaningful to you.

Wrapping up What to Keep when Updating Your Jewelry for Style

Jewelry to keep, even when your style changes, includes family heirlooms, ethnic jewelry reflecting your heritage, stackable rings, and personalized pieces. Timeless Must-Have jewelry for every style is pearl necklaces. Read what you need to know about pearls.

Collage: N. Mölders with photos of engraved/personalized jewelry courtesy of Faruzo.

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