Eco-Friendly Options for your Unwanted Jewelry

As we celebrate Earth day, it gives us an opportunity to review our lifestyle to find ways to demonstrate our support for eco-friendly living.  Often overlooked is the jewelry box and how to dispose of jewelry that is no longer wanted.  This blog post outlines five sustainable ideas for your unwanted jewelry. 

1.  Have a Jewelry Swap Party

    You know the old saying “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure”.  So why not have a party with a group of friends and swap jewelry.  This idea is rather simple and can be planned in multiple ways.  Select a date, location, and have fun trading pieces of jewelry.  You can create rules like “white elephant” parties or no rules at all.  Not only will you find a new home for your unwanted jewelry you will have a fun time with friends.
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    Pro:  It is fun and entertaining with the bonus of bringing home free jewelry.
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    Con:  There may be jewelry left over that nobody wants so you need to have a secondary action.  This would not be a good option if your goal is to reduce your jewelry wardrobe. 
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    2.  Gift It

        Similar to the Jewelry Swap Party, this option is to gift a piece of jewelry to a friend or family member.  This is especially special if the piece of jewelry has sentimental value.  Remember you do not need an occasion to gift it.
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        Pro:  You’ll make some happy.
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        Con:  I can’t think of one!
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        3. Upcycle & Repurpose

        If you like to create, consider “deconstructing” your unused jewelry and create something new.  This is a great solution for jewelry that is broken or has seen better days.  Upcycling is simply the process of taking found objects, such as jewelry, and using them to create something new.  There are endless possibilities, and you don’t need to re-create another piece of jewelry.  Pinterest has hundreds of ideas from holiday ornaments, napkin rings to magnets.  Don’t know where to start?  Check out our Pinterest board for some inspiration:  Jewelry Upcycling.
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        Pro:  You get to use your creativity and create something new.  Perfect solution for broken jewelry or jewelry with wear.
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        Con:  This option may require additional investment in supplies.  Challenge yourself to use what you already have.
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        4. Sell or Consign
          Selling your unused jewelry is another option.  There are many online platforms available that make it relatively easy to set up and start selling.  For your on-trend or classic jewelry, check out Poshmark or Ebay.  Both platforms have pros and cons, yet with a minimal time investment you can be up and running.  You will need a way to take pictures (I use my phone camera), a few supplies (shipping box or bubble envelopes) and a way to print shipping labels.  When creating a listing you will need to describe and price your jewelry.  Do some research to determine what similar items are selling for.  To save time, if you have a “collection” of jewelry, you could sell a “lot” of jewelry vs. individual pieces. The key is to be realistic on the price yet remember it is all about timing and having the right seller see your items.
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          Sound like too much work? You can sell your jewelry at a local consignment shop.  Keep in mind, they may not accept all your jewelry and will offer you less than you could probably make on Ebay or Poshmark.  If you have designer pieces, consider online consignment sites such as the RealReal They do most of the work for you yet expect to compensate them for that work.  This is a perfect solution for those of you with little time to sell your jewelry yourself.
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          Pro:  You get money for your used unwanted jewelry.
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          Con:  You will need time to learn to do it yourself.  Even if you do it yourself, there are fees you need to pay.
          1. Donate
          Another option is to donate your unwanted jewelry.  There are many charitable organizations from your church, school, or Goodwill.  
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          The biggest pro to all these options is unwanted jewelry doesn’t end up in a landfill!  Have an idea not mentioned, drop a comment below!

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