Are you looking to pare down your jewelry collection but don’t know how or where to start? Keep reading to learn how you can create a minimalist jewelry collection that works for your lifestyle.
Is your massive jewelry collection taking over storage space at home?
Are you spending a huge chunk of your hard-earned money on jewelry only for them to tarnish or break a few months later?
If you answered yes to both questions, it sounds like you need to declutter your jewelry and build a minimalist jewelry collection!
Don’t worry, I’ve got you. I’ve been through this situation before…
As someone who loves fashion, I used to think an outfit wasn’t complete without jewelry.
Plus, costume jewelry was something I always bought impulsively because of its price and availability.
Over the years, I accumulated a huge pile of costume jewelry. Unfortunately, these pieces never lasted long. They eventually became severely tarnished or broken or looked tacky after a while.
Five years ago, I stopped buying costume jewelry because I did not want to waste more money on poor-quality pieces. By doing this, I was able to focus on building a capsule jewelry collection instead.
Keen to get started on a minimalist jewelry collection? Keep reading to discover my tips and tricks on how to create the best minimalist jewelry collection for everyday use.
Related:
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Table of Contents
5 simple tips to create a minimalist jewelry collection
If you’re a fashion lover like me, decluttering your jewelry collection may be one of the hardest things you’ll ever do. Fret not, I’m here to guide you.
Here are five simple steps to create a minimalist jewelry collection:
1. Evaluate your lifestyle
As we grow older, it’s common to experience lifestyle changes. For example, you might be a mother now and childcare is all on you. Or perhaps you have a job that doesn’t permit you to wear jewelry.
You may still be holding on to all of your jewelry from high school or college days, but let’s be honest. When was the last time you wore them?
That’s why it’s so important to evaluate your lifestyle. Answer the questions below truthfully to figure out which jewelry you’ll be wearing most often:
- Does your job allow you to wear jewelry?
- If yes, are there any rules regarding this policy?
- Are you a stay-at-home mother who’s with young children all the time?
- How active is your current lifestyle? E.g. are you someone who’s on your feet a lot or do you enjoy doing outdoor activities?
- Do you often attend formal occasions like events and weddings?
Write your answers down in your notebook or on your phone, so you can come back and refer to them later.
2. Gather all of your jewelry
Now, gather all of your jewelry in one area in your home. You can assess how much jewelry you have and want to keep when you view your entire collection at a glance.
3. Remove tarnished and broken jewelry that cannot be repaired
Like every decluttering session, I like to start easy.
In this case, it means removing tarnished and broken jewelry that cannot be repaired. You certainly don’t need these in your collection anymore!
4. Determine what you like AND wear most often
Decluttering jewelry is difficult, especially if you still like most of them.
But, there’s no point in liking and keeping your jewelry if you don’t wear them! You may want to keep a couple of sentimental family heirlooms, but the majority of your collection should be pieces you like and wear often.
Need help deciding how many pieces to keep? Well, it’s time to whip out your answers from Step 1.
You DON’T need a lot of jewelry if you’re…
- working in an industry that doesn’t permit you to wear jewelry (e.g. doctors, nurses, contractors, etc)
- a busy mom with young children
- leading an active lifestyle who enjoys outdoor activities
- not attending a lot of formal events
Once you’ve determined which pieces you like and wear frequently, set them aside. These will become a part of your jewelry collection.
5. Declutter the rest
What about the rest of your jewelry, you ask? Doesn’t it feel like a waste to get rid of them?
Well, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
Just because you’re not going to keep them doesn’t mean you have to throw them away. You can sell them on marketplaces like eBay or Craigslist or donate them to family, friends, and charities. You can even host a yard sale in your neighborhood!
Here’s a list of places you can donate all of your costume jewelry.
What to consider before building a minimalist jewelry collection
If you’re starting your collection from scratch, there are a few things you need to consider before you purchase anything.
Jewelry Material
There are certain materials like copper that can cause chemical reactions. I still remember when my finger turned green when I wore cheap costume jewelry.
If this happens to you, you may want to invest in pure gold or silver jewelry. If that’s above your budget, try stainless steel or sterling silver jewelry, or gold-plated sterling silver jewelry, also known as vermeil or demi-fine jewelry.
When shopping for jewelry, look out for these terms:
- Vermeil
- Solid gold
- Sterling silver
- Gold-plated sterling silver
- Stainless steel
- Diamond
- White topaz
- Natural gemstone
Sensitivity of your skin
I didn’t realize I had sensitive skin until I noticed my ears would get red and itchy when I wore certain earrings.
If you’re like me, this means that you have an allergy to a metal (likely nickel) often found in earring posts. As a result, the best earrings for sensitive ears are made from nickel-free materials like pure gold, silver, platinum, and titanium.
Jewelry Metal Color
Do you lean towards gold or silver jewelry? Gold pieces look great for people with warm undertones whereas silver jewelry looks stunning on people with cool undertones. Personally, I prefer gold because it complements my skin tone.
Why invest in demi-fine or fine jewelry?
Since I’m in my 30s, I have spent a lot of time and money learning about which jewelry has worked for me.
Now, I only purchase demi-fine or fine jewelry because:
- I have sensitive skin
- I don’t have the patience to remove my jewelry before showering and I don’t change my jewelry often
- and I don’t want to waste money on low-quality pieces
Knowing this about myself has made it easy for me to curate my minimalist jewelry collection.
Minimalist jewelry collection essentials
Rings
Custom engagement ring – Since I’ve been married, my engagement ring and wedding band are the only rings I wear daily. My engagement ring is custom by a local jeweler, but the design is inspired by Catbird’s Violette The Swan. I fell in love the minute I saw it, and I still love it as much today!
Custom wedding band – I wanted something simple to pair with my engagement ring, so we went with the same local jeweler to custom-make a half-eternity band similar to this Edge of Ember version. I’m so pleased with how the combination turned out. It’s exactly like how I pictured my wedding stack to be – pretty, elegant, and delicate.
Statement ring – I love statement rings but can’t pull them off because I have short and stubby fingers. If you prefer something bold, I highly recommend getting a stacker ring or a croissant dome-shaped ring. All you need is one ring to complete your look!
Bangles / Bracelets
Gold classic bangles – I’ve been wearing a trio of gold bangles (a gift from my late grandmother) for as long as I can remember. Unfortunately, one is a little wonky and keeps slipping off, so I’m down to just two for now.
I’m not one to stack wristwear because they can be a little noisy and off-putting especially when I’m typing away on my computer. But, I love the look of one solid bangle or a delicate bracelet on a wrist. It just looks so elegant!
Here are six of my favorites:
- Gold thin bangle
- Gold vermeil thin bangle
- Anchor chain bracelet
- Chain link bracelet
- Rounded box chain bracelet
- Sphere beaded bracelet
Earrings
Small gold hoops – My go-to earrings for every day are a pair of 14K solid gold hoops. I bought mine from a local jeweler, but this Edge of Ember pair is very similar in design. Solid gold can be heavy, but this pair is the perfect size and weight for daily wear.
Diamond earrings – You can’t go wrong with a pair of classic diamond studs. I’m a huge fan of the brand Vrai, and I especially love their beautiful bezel solitaire studs. The best part? You can customize the type of gold (14K yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold) AND the size of the diamond depending on your budget. I like a little sparkle in my jewelry, and this pair is great for both day and night.
Pearl earrings – Pearl studs are a classic. They match with every outfit and are casual yet polished enough for everyday wear.
Statement earrings – Of all the different jewelry categories, earrings are my absolute favorite. That’s why my jewelry collection consists of mostly earrings. I’m usually in my hoops, but on special occasions, I like to switch them out for statement earrings. These are my favorites:
- Drop earrings – The Sunseeker Earrings are my go-to for girls’ nights out and date nights. Although they’re not made from solid gold or vermeil, I haven’t experienced any allergies to them due to the nickel-free stainless steel earring posts. I’ve had them for about five years now, and they still look brand new!
- Large Hoop Earrings – If you’re looking for a pair of timeless statement earrings, you can’t go wrong with simple large hoop earrings. Want something bolder? Try an organic-shaped pair instead.
- Statement gemstone or pearl earrings – As much as I love classic designs, I try to keep one or two statement earrings for special occassions like weddings, anniversaries, etc. A pair of statement gemstone earrings is great to inject a pop of color to an outfit. If pearl earrings are more your style, this dramatic drop pair will take your outfit to the next level.
Necklaces
Delicate gold chain – A delicate gold chain is a must-have in my minimalist jewelry collection. I find that it elevates an outfit effortlessly. I occasionally pair it with a tiny diamond pendant I inherited from my mother.
Looking for timeless delicate chains? Here are four great options:
- Twisted gold necklace with an alphabet pendant
- Spheres gold chain necklace
- Small round diamond necklace
- Birthstone necklace
Statement gold chain – Worried thin chains might be too fragile for you? Go for a statement gold chain instead. They may be chunkier but they’re just as classy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pieces of jewelry should there be in a minimalist jewelry collection?
Minimalism looks different for everyone. What may work for me may not work for you and vice versa, so there are no hard rules about this. I wear about 5-6 pieces of jewelry daily, and my jewelry collection consists of about 15-20 items.
What is demi-fine / vermeil jewelry?
Demi-fine jewelry sits in between costume jewelry and fine jewelry. Rhodium or solid gold is plated over high-quality sterling silver pieces. Precious or semi-precious stones are used instead of crystal, glass, or rhinestones.
Which jewelry brands do you recommend purchasing from?
In addition to offering great value for gold jewelry, the brands I love are committed to using ethically-sourced and conflict-free jewelry. Plus, they’re made in a sustainable, eco-friendly way.
Check them out:
Conclusion
Are you ready to declutter and create your own minimalist jewelry collection?
In addition to helping you save money, having a minimalist jewelry collection will save you time when you’re getting ready.
My final advice to you is when curating jewelry, choose versatile and timeless high-quality pieces so they can last you for generations.
Need to declutter other areas in your wardrobe? Check out these posts: