Throughout history, jewelry has been a part of fashion. However, it does more than embellish an outfit; it can show our personality, make us feel more elegant, and boost our confidence. Among many cultures, jewelry can be a symbol of wealth and status. However, when people do not store it properly, it can look like a tangled mass of necklaces and mismatched earrings and cufflinks. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be that way when you follow the B-C.L.E.A.R. process in the art of jewelry organizing.

B: Bring it all together

The first step is to bring all your jewelry and accessories to one location. Ensure you include items in travel bags or still attached to clothing in your closet (lapel pins, cufflinks, etc.). Ideally, work on a hard, flat surface such as your dining table or dresser. Please don’t use kitchen or bathroom counters because you could lose items down the drain!

I suggest you first place a soft (but not fluffy) blanket, towel, or fabric on the surface. It will protect your valuables from damage and the surface from scratches. The Out of Chaos team often uses yoga mats to protect counters and tables when we organize and pack our clients’ belongings.

C: Categorize your possessions

The first step in the art of jewelry organizing is to separate it into categories. For the moment, let’s ignore the monetary and sentimental value and use the following groups. If you find broken or damaged items, imagine they are intact, then include them in their appropriate category. You can arrange for repairs later.

Frequent Favourites: These are the pieces you wear most often. They coordinate with most of your outfits and make you feel fantabulous. Examples include silver hoop earrings or a classic gold wristwatch.

Infrequent Favourites: You love these items, and they look great on you, but you only wear them for special occasions. Examples include a pearl necklace or diamond stud cufflinks.

Sentimental Pieces: Although you might have sentimental items in the other categories, this group is for those you don’t wear or use. For example, your grandmother gave you her wedding ring, which is too small for you. Or you inherited your great-grandfather’s beautiful but non-functional pocket watch.

Everything Else: These are the items you don’t wear or don’t like. It could include the bedazzled rooster brooch Aunt Bertha gave you (it’s not your personality) or the vintage tie clip that doesn’t look quite right with any of your suits. Again, don’t worry about monetary or sentimental value yet. We’ll get to that in a bit.

L: Limit the number of items you have

Jewelry is small, but that doesn’t mean you should keep everything just because it doesn’t take up much space. Let go of duplicates (or triplicates) and keep only your true favourites.

Be honest about your Favourites category! If you have trouble deciding on your favourite pieces, do this experiment. Put all your accessories in one box. Pull out items as you wear them and return them to your jewelry box. After one month, you’ll know what your essentials are. For your Infrequent Favourites, look back over the last year and see how many special events you attended. Imagine dressing for those occasions and then put those items in your jewelry box, too.

E: Evaluate your treasures

Ideally, identify high-value Favourites items and arrange for an appraisal for insurance purposes. Most jewellers will tell you whether it is worth paying for an assessment if you’re unsure of the value. Regardless of the value, take photos of each piece and save them in a secure location (physical or digital). The images will be helpful if your jewelry is lost or stolen.

It’s time to evaluate the Sentimental Pieces and Everything Else. As cold and harsh as it sounds, there are no laws that state you must keep sentimental jewelry. You can if you want to, but you don’t have to. You could pass it along to another family member or have it appraised and sell it. If you’re having trouble deciding, put the item in a safe place. Then, mark a date on the calendar (and note the location of the “safe place”) and revisit your decision in a few months.

Once you identify all the Favourites and Sentimental items you are keeping, arrange for repairs and cleaning. It will help your jewelry last longer.

You can let go of the items in the Everything Else category. Check out the R for Removals section to learn how.

A: Assign storage locations for the jewelry you keep

Now, the fun part of the art of jewelry organizing – storage solutions! Examine the items you’re keeping, the Frequent and Infrequent Favourites. Of course, the frequent favourites should be easily accessible, and there are many types of storage solutions. However, what you should invest in depends on the jewelry you have. Here are a few ideas:

• Stands: Necklaces, bracelets, and watches hang from mini racks that sit on a dresser or counter. Some have places to hold rings, earrings, cufflinks, and more.
• Boxes: There are hundreds of styles of boxes available with drawers and compartments for all types of jewelry. Note the type and number of items you’re keeping, and choose a box that can hold all your pieces.
• Cabinets: If you have an extensive jewelry collection, a cabinet might be a good choice for you. There are floor models and wall-mounted ones. With a full-length mirror, extra shelving for cosmetics, and built-in lighting, it might be a great alternative to using the bathroom mirror.
• Hanging Pocket Organizers: These organizers hang in the closet and have pockets for all your jewelry items. They are great for small space living. However, extracting small pieces from the pockets may be troublesome if you have large fingers.
• Travel Case: People who travel often should consider keeping their Frequent Favourites in a travel case so they are always ready to go with minimal work. They can add items from their Infrequent Favourites as needed.

Since this is the “art of jewelry organizing,” I researched jewelry display options, and it was overwhelming. There are thousands of them! They include custom-designed creations and handmade ones from repurposed household items. I’ll simply say that display options are only limited by people’s creativity, so if you’re looking for inspirational ideas online, set aside at least a few hours.

R: Removals – Reuse, Resell, Regift, or Remove what you don’t need

You evaluated your treasures and determined what you are keeping. Now, it’s time to remove what you no longer want.

First, consider passing along sentimental items to other family members. Give them a decision deadline and let them know you will sell the piece if they don’t get back to you by the deadline.

Next, identify high-value items and arrange for an appraisal. Moreover, including a written history (provenance) of antique and vintage items may result in a higher sale price. For example, your grandfather bought his pocket watch while stationed near the Swiss border in World War II. Write the story as you know it and add photos of your grandfather with the watch over the years.

If you’re considering selling your items for the value of the metal (gold, silver, etc.), read my post, Gold Digging 101: Let’s Clear Out That Jewelry Box, to get a reasonable price and avoid common scams.

Typically, it’s time-consuming to sell low-value costume jewelry. However, theatre troupes (including high schools and colleges) might be interested in unique or vintage pieces. You can also check out Where to Sell and Donate Items to find agencies in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland that might accept your jewelry.

Final Thoughts

jewelry can help you feel glamorous and self-confident, so think of organizing your jewelry as a self-care session. The bonus is you’ll save time when getting ready for your day – or date. And remember, the best system is one that you can maintain and works for your lifestyle. If you find yourself constantly untangling necklaces, perhaps a stand would work better for you than a box. There’s no right or wrong way to do it.

If your jewelry collection is out of control, let the Out of Chaos team take the stress out of the process. We can help with the art of jewelry organizing and find practical storage solutions to give your favourite pieces the spotlight they deserve. Contact us today and transform your jewelry into a beautifully organized collection you’ll love to use every day!