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How do you use / enjoy your jewellery?

  • Thread starter Thread starter MillieLou
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MillieLou

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Reading the "Bling Wish List for 2022" got me thinking. Many of us put so much thought and effort into our pieces, but we seem to have very different ways of enjoying them. For example...

Some gradually collect a few special pieces that are infused with huge sentiment, and wear them all the time, becoming part of them and their story.

Some enjoy the intellectual / artistic process of meticulous selection, rarely wear pieces, yet enjoy having them and looking at them as they would works of art.

Some enjoy the process of acquisition, the chase, finding deals, but not so much the owning.

Some take pleasure in choosing different items to wear each day. Often found posting on the lovely "show me what you're wearing today" threads.

Some buy with an eye on passing onto the next generation, rarely wearing themselves, but enjoying having them nonetheless.

I'm sure there are lots more! I am curious about how people approach jewellery.

Me? I'm still trying to work out where I fit. I've had a love/hate relationship with jewellery over many years and think I need to spend less time buying stuff, and more time thinking about what I really want from it - hence this thread :saint:
 
I would say for me it's a little bit of each of those choices. I love the search/hunt for a special piece. I enjoy deciding what to wear that day and enjoy wearing them. I enjoy looking at them even if I am not wearing them. For example my black opal I consider a work of art. And I am happy just looking at it. So yeah different pieces give me joy in different ways. And I am passing all of them down to my nieces so hopefully they will enjoy them too.

I will add I don't get attached to pieces per se. I have a healthy perspective. They are just things. Even if they are breathtaking things and pieces of art they are still just things so if something should happen to them it would not devastate me. I would be sad for a while but I would be OK. People and animals are who matter to me. Not things.

Though I do get pleasure from my jewelry it is just jewelry at the end of the day.
Please don't take away my PS privileges. :)
 
@MillieLou I must say, you have given voice to a question which has been frequently on my mind of late. I see all these wonderfully curated collections (@mrs-b @PreRaphaelite @elizat @DorotheaBrooke immediately come to mind, but there are so many others), and look at my absolute hodge-podge of a collection, and I have to wonder how one gets from point A to point B. Not just financially (though that is an enormous factor), but emotionally/intellectually as well. And then I wonder if I even want to get to point B? Maybe a more eclectic collection is simply what I'm destined for? All that to say, like you, I'm still finding my way.
 
hodge podge definatly describes mine
Im never going to have a PS worthy collection because our house needs renovating
although maybe one day i could buy some really fine pearls .....

I wish the majority of my pieces were at least the quality of my inhertited pieces, those are the pieces i love the most, from mum, my grandma, her sister and then their mother -very middle NZ of their time, their diamonds are not anywhere near PS but they are well made and 18k

But i still love some of my mall purcheses and love is the main thing to me

I have a few auction finds that fit somewhere in between
I'd be happy to get my to do list done and dusted with regard to resizing and restringing

i guess my most loved pieces all represent stuff
i value the sentiment over everything
i'd be happy to aim for ecliptic
but i also want a fair doze of fun
 
I also value sentiment. I have lots of lovely things that I have been gifted over the years or bought for myself, but I can take them or leave them bar a few. My Raymond Weil watch, bought to replace the Cartier Tank that my dastardly ex bought me for my 30th (sold the Tank & put the money to our house deposit) I wear every single day. I have always dreamed of owning a Rolex one day though.

My diamond studs from my parents & my solitaire pendant from Mr T, given only 6 weeks after we met, are small but priceless to me & I wear them constantly. My eternity ring only leaves my hand for cleaning & is a constant reminder of what Team T went through to safely have our 2 beautiful girls. I can vividly remember Mr T wedging it on my swollen hand the morning after DD2 was born, as I lay in a hospital bed covered in wires. It felt like a celebratory full stop at the end of a dangerous 2 year journey. My new Tiffany solitaire has, as you know, been coveted by me for years & years & years! That one will stay with me regardless of what else my come my way.

Inherited pieces are treasures, whether to my taste or not. They remind me that what I lust after wasn't the same as what my grandmothers & Great Aunt lusted after & coveted. Other pieces I may pull apart or let my girls pull apart when they're older.

My dream item list has only ever been for 3 things: a Tiffany classic solitaire ring of substantial size (for me & my low key lifestyle), a thin yellow gold Cartier Love bangle & a nice Rolex. I am hoping to get the Cartier for our 15th wedding anniversary in September & the Rolex for my 50th in 3 years. And then I might be done?!
 
For me it has always been the hunt and then making it more difficult by self imposed restrictions.
At about 16 I had a list of jewellery pieces I wanted to own. The list included a gold Rolex watch, an opera length of pearls and a diamond of at least 1 carat.
As the years passed and my collection grew I added more to my list and made additional restrictions mostly $ ones.
The last item on my list was a huge Aquamarine ring. That one came with a $1,000 spend limit. Everyone said “no way” and it took 15 years but I did it, with earrings thrown in for $800.
Apart from hunting I also like repurposing. I’ve converted a few unworn brooches to bracelets or necklaces and done a couple of watch conversions.
Over the decades I have acquired a considerable collection. Many pieces being “upgraded” so I have a heap of pieces to move on. Also being retired I no longer have the need to change my jewellery wardrobe everyday.
 
That said I have a few most special pieces (aside from inherited pieces which will always stay with me).
my opal bracelet.
Almond Blossom ring
Alexandrite bracelet
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I'm not at all sentimental.
I wear just a single ring, and it really has no "meaning" to me.
It just is what it is.

That said, I greatly appreciate the diamond.
I value it because of the breathtaking beauty of its light performance and the pattern of the cut.
Tome it's a very unique and special wonder of both nature and human skill.
I fell very fortunate I get to wear the diamond in my avatar.
 
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I’ve been thinking about this recently because when I sold Fancy Pants, I was parting with a piece I had intended on keeping forever. After that I started thinking about my personal buying and selling habits and whether there is a long term goal and what that looks like.

It dawned on me that I just enjoy trying different things and feel like there is actually a method to the madness that probably isn’t apparent to others. Selling a piece allows me to get to the next level or expand into new territory. I also have a really hard time owning multiple pieces of good jewelry because we were victims of a burglary 20 years or so ago and I see having so many items as a huge responsibility. I lost all my jewelry in that burglary. This is probably another reason why when I buy a piece I sell one because it keeps the collection smaller and more manageable.

Lately I am looking at jewelry a lot less, that might be the novelty of the latest purchase not wearing off or maybe I’m just tired lol! Most of my collection I consider very wearable yet distinctive so that keeps from feeling bored with it.

I only have one goal on the bling list for 2022 and that is to reset my lab diamond into rose gold (which I just ordered the setting for a few days ago) because I was able to get a rose gold six prong Stuller setting at a steal. After this I will be good for a while.
 
Some of my pieces are very sentimental and I shall not part with them until I leave this earth.

I like to vary my jewellery on a regular basis, depending on my mood, what I wear, and the occasion.

I guess I have 3 wardrobes of blings: casual, smart casual, and dressy, to match what I wear.

I hope I shall have more opportunities to wear the nicer pieces in future to do them justice.

DK :))
 
I have spent the last 2 years curating/thinning out my jewelry collection (well you have to do something during a pandemic, right?). I enjoyed wearing all the necklaces, pendants, earrings, and bracelets I had collected but realized I had sacrificed quality for quantity. I have far fewer items now but I get more pleasure wearing what I have.

I did acquire a couple classics during this time -- a DBTY necklace and diamond hoops -- that are light-years beyond what I had previously. I miss the "hunt" sometimes for the next acquisition but I am happy with a smaller collection.
 
Spouse says she is my avatar :mrgreen2:. I buy her the pretty things I can't wear. She's a good sport; she likes and wears whatever I buy but has almost zero interest in choosing for herself. She says she trusts my taste more than her own -- but only in this one very tiny corner of the relationship universe :cool2:. No, I do not "control" her -- and if you knew her, you would laugh at this notion. We are in the same industry and make similar salaries so there is zero financial control, either.

I have just always liked colored stones.

I don't have a list to complete but random things will catch my eye. I like pretty Edwardian and Deco and Art Nouveau but not too fragile. There is very little in the intersection of that Venn diagram. I am fairly sensitive to price but I would rather save a nice screenshot than buy a cheap copy of something nice.

We have passed some things down to a couple of kids -- kind of a "loan" but probably not.

Spouse loves her "nicer" stuff but was shamed by a jeweler for the hard wear that her favorite sapphire (ring) endured and now she almost never wears it. Her go-to's are a $12 pair of silver earrings with a lot of sentimental value (family trip pre-COVID) and a sterling necklace from her sister many years ago.
 
This is a great, thought provoking question!

I think for me, I enjoy variety, but I like to space out purchases and try and link them to occasions or emotions. This is something I inherited from my mother - she used to scrimp and save to purchase each piece and so all of her jewelry has meaning (she has loaned me several of her smaller pieces over the years, so I am spoilt for choice), plus I have some jewelry that belongs to my grandmothers, which is priceless to me. I won’t buy an expensive piece without considering if it will really fit in my wardrobe, though. For example, I wanted a South Indian temple jewelry belt for the LONGEST time. Those belts are very expensive (they’re solid gold) and I realised I’ll wear them a couple times a year, if that. So I’ve let that desire go (I bought a costume version when I was in india last, and that is enough for me). For me, that money is better invested into a piece that I can wear more easily (even if not more often), as in, goes with my occasion specific outfits more. i have zero guilt about spending on nice things because I earned them, I can afford them, and I get good wear out of them. If something no longer sparks joy, I redesign it instead of liquidating it, because I’m comfortable with that %age of my net worth being in jewelry, and maybe my kids etc will appreciate that jewelry / raw material some day! But I don’t buy as much as I could, even, because I want to appreciate owning those things instead of always chasing the next high.
 
Whenever I need a pick-me-up, I would bring out the nicer pieces to admire and to play with, and count my blessings for my lot.

That usually cheers me up, and it costs nothing and is zero calorie!

DK :))
 
As I approach the end of life (my realistic but depressing way of viewing things), I am considering selling all my smaller pieces and only keeping a dozen or so major pieces (ones that I put a lot of thought into, excluding heirloom pieces from family). I would prefer others to get more enjoyment out of them as I rarely wear any jewellery these days.
 
I use jewelry to mark occasions, so most of it is sentimental to me.

That said, I also try to only accumulate pieces that I will wear and wear frequently, and I am also mindful of the next generation (my daughter has metal allergies so I choose pieces in metals she will be able to wear).
 
I used to really look at deals and what I knew were good buys. I still like to look for deals and shop smart, but I try to do it with a different eye. At one point, I had probably 4-5 antique engagement rings that were all below .25 and planned to do something with the stones, but then couldn't bring myself to tear them out of the settings. I also had maybe 3-4 dinner/navette rings too, because it was a style I could find at that point at really good prices and elongated looks nice on my hand!

I have done a few culls over the years. At each cull, I have parted with items that I am okay with not having anymore.

I have a four rings on consignment now and if they don't sell, I'm honestly probably okay with it minus one ring, but I prefer they do sell (but not at a horrible loss either).

When I am buying stuff now, I really try to look at the special/unique factor, does it duplicate what I already have and will I actually wear it/cost per wear. I do try to look at where things fit, what I actually wear and what I will use and not just like.

I'm a ring and earrings person (larger studs/levers that sit close to the lobe and some dangles, but not traditional studs). I think bracelets are beautiful and I have two antique bracelets that I don't wear honestly. One is fancier looking and the other is a chunky curb style with a larger rose cut floral clasp that I should wear casually and intended to do that. But, as much as I like bracelets on others, I find them annoying on me. At one point, because I liked them a lot, I had another 4-5 of them that never got worn!

Necklaces... I did the same with bracelets. I had a ton of pendants at one point because I like them on others. For "nice" jewelry, not things I picked up in my 20's at craft/art shows in silver, I have minimal necklaces and three brooches that are pin and pendant combos. But, I usually only wear the Marla Aaron locks and chains/pearls if I wear a necklace. So, necklaces are just not really for me. Even though I love the Paspaley lavalier.

Rather than sell things at a loss, I have remade existing items and stones into new settings and done coversions too.

As of now, there are only a few things I feel comfortable saying I would sell and not miss them.

Sorry, that was rambling, but because this year I have done a clean out and sold things, all this has actualy been at front of mind.

Thanks for the sweet mention @lala646 !
 
I have no sentimental attachment to any of my pieces, they’re things, beautiful things nonetheless, but if it came to a choice of saving my DH, DS or DIL, I’d give them up in a heartbeat.

I have a lot of jewellery collected over the years, but I only wear Bella, Marilyn, my ‘Dottie’ heart pendant and now my diamond hoops.

I really should think about thinning out my collection, but honestly, I just can’t be bothered. My DIL can do whatever she likes with it when it‘s passed down to her.

I recently offered her whatever she wanted, and all she took was a ruby & diamond cluster spray ring and some pink tourmaline flower earrings. She said she’s worried she’d lose or damage any of the other pieces at this stage in her life.
 
I haven't worn any jewelry since COVID and isolation began. I don't know why, I love looking at and thinking about diamonds, but I don't feel compelled to buy or wear any myself anymore. I've never worn (other than to try on) my Lightbox 2ctw platinum studs, Lightbox 0.5ct pendant, or my DBTY necklace that I wanted "so badly." DH stopped buying me jewelry because I never wear it. I sometimes play with and look at my jewelry. I have a very simple, understated style so I probably would only ever wear my ER and/or wedding/7-stone band. Jewelry doesn't really matter or mean much to me other than some sentimental pieces, but it's the sentiment that matters, not the jewelry.
 
LilAlex said:
Spouse says she is my avatar :mrgreen2:. I buy her the pretty things I can't wear. She's a good sport; she likes and wears whatever I buy but has almost zero interest in choosing for herself. She says she trusts my taste more than her own -- but only in this one very tiny corner of the relationship universe :cool2:. No, I do not "control" her -- and if you knew her, you would laugh at this notion. We are in the same industry and make similar salaries so there is zero financial control, either.

I have just always liked colored stones.

I don't have a list to complete but random things will catch my eye. I like pretty Edwardian and Deco and Art Nouveau but not too fragile. There is very little in the intersection of that Venn diagram. I am fairly sensitive to price but I would rather save a nice screenshot than buy a cheap copy of something nice.

We have passed some things down to a couple of kids -- kind of a "loan" but probably not.

Spouse loves her "nicer" stuff but was shamed by a jeweler for the hard wear that her favorite sapphire (ring) endured and now she almost never wears it. Her go-to's are a $12 pair of silver earrings with a lot of sentimental value (family trip pre-COVID) and a sterling necklace from her sister many years ago.
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Hey LilAlex, your wife just called me and she said she really trusts your taste on on this ring. Stocking stuffer? :P2 :lol-2: :devil::sun::saint:

 
I buy things to wear, and if I'm not wearing something, I'd rather re-home it. I'm also almost solely a ring person. Most of my rings (though not bands) are for special occasions so they have great sentimental value. I always wear my solitaire and a band or two on my left hand.

With the exception of a couple items, my necklaces and bracelets are fashion jewelry, although as I replenish the bling budget, this might change. I think of them as my fun jewelry and like to switch them up every day.

While I do like the thrill of the chase, I try to limit it to bands.

I love to gaze upon and play with my jewelry, but they give me the most joy when I'm wearing them.
 
I am impulsive collector and hoarder who likes variety. My approach to jewelry is all emotional and seldom practical. But it makes me happy.

Knowing this, I do have a mental limit on what I can spend on any given piece. I know that if I cross that dollar threshold, it won't stop my need to collect...just make it a more expensive hobby. So no large ideal diamonds for me. I love having new pretties too much.

Impulsive: If I see something that calls to me and the price is reasonable, I find it hard to resist. I love shopping with and supporting independent small business owners and have long term relationships with several jewelers. It's hard to pass up an opportunity to spend time (and money) with them. I love it all - fine jewelry and fun costume pieces.

Variety: I do circulate what I wear but admittedly I have some pieces that could use more love. I like changing up styles even if it pushes me outside of my comfort zone. There have been periods where I go on a run favoring certain pieces or types of pieces but that never lasts long.

Collector: This is the slippery slope. Sometimes I fall in love and start collecting more of it. This was my PS downfall with colored stones. Then realizing I had too many sitting in gem boxes, I made a rule that if I bought something I had to set it right away (a real problem).

Hoarder: I occasionally make serious attempts to start culling my collection. But then after I factor in all the work involved to sell pieces at a (usually significant) loss, I quickly give up. It's not worth it. There's a point where I'd rather keep or gift to someone I care about.

I dream of a more curated collection with pieces like I see here. I tell myself that when I'm older, I will be happy with a few really nice pieces and could own it if I got serious about selling. It's a nice thought but who am I kidding.

I feel like I just went to confession...please don't judge me :lol: :pray:
 
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For me, it's usually because I've seen an antique piece online that I can't buy, so I try to find a stone that will work in a new ring inspired (or even a very close copy) of the antique, unavailable, piece. So I start looking for the stone and when I find it, I start the process of having the ring made. It's almost always a ring as my necklaces and earrings are almost all solitaires or studs. Sometimes I see a stone that I love (or it's a great deal) and I buy the stone and then start looking for inspiration for settings. I rotate the jewelry that I wear, and I wear some pieces more than others, but I do generally wear each piece off and on and not much just sits. Although I do have a few pieces that I love, but never wear. But I can't stand the thought of parting with them.
 
LilAlex said:
I guess we could sell the house. I don't know -- there's only one left! :P2

Screen Shot 2021-12-13 at 6.56.41 PM.png

She would not wear a big diamond ring -- even for me :cool2:

Pretty sure she'd wear a big emerald or sapphire, though...
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Nailpolish on the pavilion. Emerald monday, sapphire tuesday, diamond wednesday :halo:
 
I am a big believer in use it or loose it. So I use and enjoy my jewerly every day. Just like my best china and Christofle cutlery :)

The pieces I don't use all that much are either given away or put into storage for my niece. I am actually considering changing my Tiffany Victoria bracelet into a dog collar for my little dog, because I don't use it at all and I find it sucks the life energy out of me to take care of things, which I never use or enjoy...What's the point in having them?
 
VeryUndecided said:
I am a big believer in use it or loose it. So I use and enjoy my jewerly every day. Just like my best china and Christofle cutlery :)

The pieces I don't use all that much are either given away or put into storage for my niece. I am actually considering changing my Tiffany Victoria bracelet into a dog collar for my little dog, because I don't use it at all and I find it sucks the life energy out of me to take care of things, which I never use or enjoy...What's the point in having them?
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Oh gosh. This is a joke right!? Please don’t do that!! Your dog could wind up eating a stone or component - which could be life threatening!! And if he (or she!) doesn’t - it’ll either get lost or destroyed when he scratches!!!
 
yssie said:
Oh gosh. This is a joke right!? Please don’t do that!! Your dog could wind up eating a stone or component - which could be life threatening!! And if he (or she!) doesn’t - it’ll either get lost or destroyed when he scratches!!!
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Nope, it's not a joke. Of course I would not just put a diamond bracelet around his neck! I would have a custom made leather collar, which would incorporate the diamonds into it and made it all safe and secure. I always look out for him.

Maybe you are thinking about another type of dog. My dog is just a special, super gentle creature, who just loves to lounge in the sun on the sofa. Even as a puppy, he's never, ever destroyed anything. He also doesn't just "chew" on things. It's not his style at all. Plus he's never alone. And I would never mount it in any way, which would be dangerous for him. No worries! And if a diamond gets lost? C'est la Vie...But thanks for thinking about his well being and making me aware of any potential risks.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone! This is so interesting.

I like the idea of wearing my pieces, but often find them uncomfortable. I am gravitating towards low bezel settings for rings, everything heavy, smooth and comfortable, that I can wear without worry.

Part of me likes the "signature pieces" approach of wearing the same things all the time. Another part of me would like to mix it up. Maybe I like variety more than I think. My approach is also evolving with time and age :)
 
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