I don't know what to do, can I come and talk to you about my grandmother's engagement ring, some diamonds, a gold necklace, a pendant, ...........? We've all got one; a drawer or box(es) full of old, broken and unworn jewellery. The single earring(s) missing their other halves, the rings - sometimes with valuable gemstones - that we will never wear but which we hold onto for their sentimental value, the broken chains and the charms from the charm bracelets we 'think' are silver.

Why do we keep it?

We hold onto pieces of jewellery for all sorts of sentimental reasons; because it carries memories and stories that makes it hard to part with. It can also provide emotional comfort during challenging times. We sometimes keep unworn jewellery for special occasions or for future generations.

Believe me when I say that I have heard some beautiful stories about pieces of beloved jewellery as well as some strange and hilarious ones but the recurring frustrations seem to be that this jewellery:-

• Takes up too much space

• We don't wear it but don't want to let it go

When it gets to the point that it makes us feel guilty or bad about ourselves, we need to do something: I call it decluttering, and once I show you how to get started, it will feel amazing, so let's look at our options:

Option 1: Sort, Scrap, Sell

Option 2: Repair and Replace

Option 3: Remove and repurpose gemstones

Option 4: Repurpose and upcycle the gold or silver

Option 5: Wait, there's no rush

Sort, Scrap, Sell

Once you make an appointment, the first thing I will do is ask you to tell me about the pieces of jewellery you have brought along and maybe share some of the stories and memories the pieces hold. Together we sort them into piles labelled 'definitely scrap', 'definitely keep' and 'don't know'. The first pile holds no sentimental value to you whatsoever. This is really helpful as you can then decide whether you want to sell it for scrap and use the proceeds towards making something new or just pocket the money! We then work through the other two piles and explore whether you'd like the pieces to be repaired, dismantled or modified.

Repair and Replace

If you feel a sentimental attachment to a piece of jewellery, it doesn't matter whether it's made from precious metal, brass or paste, youI still cherish it and would wear it if only it could be repaired. Wherever possible, I will try to restore your jewellery to a wearable state; this is often easier and not as expensive as you may imagine and definitely worth considering. As well as repairs, I can often replicate missing earrings so that they can be worn again as a pair.

Remove and repurpose the gemstones

If you want to keep any gemstones for sentimental reasons but perhaps don't like the style of ring or earrings in which they are set, I can remove the stones, sell or recycle the metal and design a new, bespoke piece of jewellery using the stones.

Repurpose and upcycle the gold or silver

Instead of selling your unwanted gold or silver, I can melt it down and turn into something beautiful which you will love wearing. This is a great way to declutter and repurpose unwanted jewellery. Alternatively you may want to modify a cherished piece of jewellery into something more modern.

Wait, there's no rush

And finally, you don't have to do anything; after all you may simply not be ready to cast away your treasures quite yet. I'm happy to discuss ideas for new bespoke projects either in person or online.

Just get in touch either by email or phone to book a no-obligation consultation.

tel: +44(0)7802 463024     email: enquiries@dannyries.com