6 Things to Consider When Deciding to Sell Your Jewelry

Just about everyone has some old, barely-worn jewelry lying around that they’re not sure what to do with. The path of least resistance is to leave those old necklaces and earrings languishing and tangled in your dresser drawer, but that might not be the right answer for you. If you’re reading this post, you’re probably already wondering whether to sell your jewelry. Here are six criteria to take into account while making this decision:

1) Do you wear it?

If you’re not wearing something on a regular basis, you probably shouldn’t own it. You’ve worn it twice in the past year? Not good enough. Maybe you could wear it if you styled it correctly? Not good enough. Think about it like this: If it were to disappear from your closet suddenly, how long would it take for you to notice that it’s gone? If the answer is more than a month, you don’t need it.

2) Do you have an event that you need it for in the future?

This doesn’t mean: “Could you theoretically wear it to the Met Gala if you were to suddenly become a celebrity?” Be realistic. Do you have an actual, concrete occasion that you might wear this piece for? If the answer is yes, then you should probably hold off on selling, at least until the event is over. Additionally, It’s a good idea to keep one or two pieces of jewelry specifically for special occasions. But more than that is unnecessary.

3) Does it make you feel like yourself?

Is this piece of jewelry really you, or is it you from five years ago? Everyone’s sense of style evolves over time, in a sense that goes far beyond bouncing from trend to trend. What you value aesthetically changes over the years. Has your closet kept up with those changes? When you wear anything—jewelry, a bag, a pair of shoes or jeans—it should reflect your sense of self and make you feel confident. If your jewelry doesn’t do that, get rid of it.

4) Is it flattering?

Different metals suit different skin tones. If you have a warm skin tone, gold is most flattering. If you have a cool skin tone, you’ll want to stick with silver. Not sure whether you have a warm or cool skin tone? Check out the veins on your wrists. If they’re blue, you have a cool skin tone. If they’re green, your skin tone is warm. Jewelry should make you look more beautiful, but it will only achieve that if it’s the right metal for your skin tone. If it’s the wrong metal, it’ll make you look bland, so there’s no reason for you to own it.

5) Is it damaged?

 If a piece of jewelry is damaged to the point where it’s unwearable, you might think it’s worthless. But even if it’s damaged, you can still sell your jewelry—in fact, that might be the only way for you to get any real value out of it anymore.

6) Does it spark joy?

This is the tried and true KonMari method. Marie Kondo’s tidying up strategy has taken the world by storm over the past couple of years, and for good reason. Your jewelry should spark joy. This could be because it has sentimental value, or it could be that you just love the way it looks. When you wear it, when you look at it, and when you touch it, it should elicit some sort of positive emotion. If it doesn’t, you don’t need it.

If you’ve decided to sell your jewelry, or you’re just looking for some guidance, visit The Gold Atm. Call (770)-843-4653 to schedule an appointment, or look at our website for more information.