Jewelry Lover!

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(19 posts) (14 voices)

Started 6 months ago by Magpie
Latest reply from chacha1
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Magpie
Member

I must admit I love jewelry. It doesn't have to be expensive, just appeal to me. It is almost a a bit of an obsession, I think. I do sort through my jewelry now and then, weeding out what I don't love, especially after getting a new piece. However, I still love to buy jewelry! There's always something new and shiny and gorgeous out there and when I see it, I want it!! I must admit, I love Etsy, and have bought several pieces that way- browsing the shops on Etsy is very enjoyable to me (part of the problem, I guess).

I presently own about 35 necklaces, 12 bracelets, and 50 pairs of earrings. Am I a jewelry hoarder? Am I obsessed? I do keep them neat and organized. And, I do love the pieces I keep (I give away the ones I do not). The problem is, how do I turn off wanting another piece of jewelry? Or is it okay to add to the collection...

How much is too much? And how can I be satisfied with what I have, and not crave something new?

How much jewelry do you own? And do you keep aquiring/lusting after more, like me?

Posted 6 months ago #
MSPunclutterer
Member

No, I don’t that that is excessive. Unclutering/minimalism should be a mean to an end not the end in and of itself. If it makes you happy and isn’t interfering with anything else in your life then its fine. Do you want to cut back? Maybe give yourself an allowance or a one in/one out policy to control the number or purchases.

I have about 15 necklaces, a handful of bracelets, and enough earrings to practically open a store. I wear earrings every day and like to have a bunch to chose from. I like to travel and when I do I try to find an arts and craft fair or local jewelry shop where everything is handmade. That gives me a nice portable, practical souvenir. Since I am almost always wearing something I got while traveling I found it helps save money in the long run (if I’m at a store and looking at something I don’t need but just want I’ll fiddle with the jewelry and ask my self “Do you want this pillow or would you rather by X dollars closer to you next trip.” If I resist buying the thing once I get home I’ll move the money I would have spent into my travel fund. I probably save an extra 800 – 1000 per year this way.

Posted 6 months ago #
susanintexas
Member

Hoarding, I think, is acquiring and holding onto things you do not have the capacity to care for, use or appreciate. I would not call you a hoarder at all.

The question I would ask is if the jewelry is getting in the way of something else that is a higher priority for you and those you care for. Are you spending money on jewelry that is needed for something else? Is the cost of the jewelry causing tension between you and a significant other?

If you wear it, can care for/organize it and it is not causing money problems, it's a fairly harmless habit. If it concerns you, you might want to set an annual budget, either in terms of money or number of pieces. For many things, I find the hunt even more compelling than the capture, and maybe limiting yourself to, say, four pieces a year would still give you the thrill of looking but put a reign on the acquisition as you seek the absolutely perfect piece.

Posted 6 months ago #
Another Deb
Member

Aptly named Magpie,
Better to collect shiny tiny things like jewelery than rusty dusty things like guitar amps and old boats, eh?

Posted 6 months ago #
sleepykitten
Member

Magpie, I don't wear much jewelry myself (so although I also LOVE browsing Etsy, I have to remind myself "that's beautiful, but you won't end up wearing it"). That being said, I actually love collections and I think in some ways collections can be a good counter-point to uncluttering to keep us balanced.

As an example, I am pretty sentimental and ended up collecting all sorts of weird things on my travels - not that I spent a lot of money, but I kept lots of brochures/found objects/etc. However, it got to be too much, and I decided that what I really valued the most was the transit tickets (train, subway, bus) from different cities. So now I am in the process of scanning (I can't quite bring myself to throw them all out, but this is a big step for me) the brochures and keeping only the transit tickets in physical form. The entire collection won't take up more than a shoebox, even if I keep collecting for another 5-10 years.

It sounds like your earrings are a similar thing - a meaningful collection that you've gathered from all over the nation/world. Presumably you can afford them, and they probably don't take up too much space. And they are your one "maximalist" splurge.

So I say, keep collecting, but try what Susan suggested and give yourself an allowance or a limit per year.

Posted 6 months ago #
Magpie
Member

Hey everyone- I appreciate all the ideas. I like your idea, SusaninTexas, of an annual budget. Not that I spend all that much, but it would make me consider purchases more carefully, and control my impulse to buy something pretty that feel I HAVE to have it (that adrenal rush)! Etsy is my weakness. I have some favorite shops that I check daily. Is this a bad habit? I worry about that. Because habits can lead to being obsessive, can't they?

Posted 6 months ago #
Emilie
Member

Hmm..well...I probably have more than 35 necklaces (now I'm curious to count!), and I wouldn't consider myself a hoarder. If you wear and enjoy most of it, that's not hoarding, even if you have a lot. I have put a moratorium on all new jewelery purchases, though, until I can let go of some. A concept that's helped me is "enjoy without owning". If you don't want to buy more jewelry, can you look at it from a standpoint of artistic appreciation, like you would with something in a museum? What happens when you look at jewelery that's outside your price range--are you thinking of ways to buy it, or can you just enjoy looking and move on? Also, do you buy on impulse? I tend to find that after a while, the impulse dies down. If it doesn't, then that might be a piece to consider buying.

Also, I wouldn't call a habit obsessive unless it's interfering with other stuff in your life. Like, if you're browsing Etsy constantly at work and not getting anything done, that's a problem. If you don't WANT to be checking Etsy every day, and feel that you can't stop, I see how that could also be a problem. If this is the case, maybe you could try replacing it with another enjoyable activity.

Posted 6 months ago #
pkilmain
Member

When I was working I acquired a lot of jewelry, mostly pins and earrings, but a fair number of necklaces as well (bracelets annoy me). Now that I'm retired, I find that I don't wear it all as much, esp the necklaces. I have declutter a bunch, keeping only my very favorites. But I say, if you don't meet the hoarding "criteria," enjoy your collection. :)

Posted 6 months ago #
bandicoot
Member

magpie, it sounds as though you've got the stuff organised and you love it and you enjoy wearing it.
nothing hoarder-ish about that.
for myself, once i filled the jewellery tray, i decided i was getting nothing new unless i gave something else away....that sure slowed down the purchasing.

i have spent an enjoyable couple of hours checking out elizabeth taylor's collection which is going up for auction next month at christies.
she had so.much.stuff.
i don't know where anyone would find time to wear and enjoy ALL of it.

Posted 6 months ago #
Magpie
Member

Thanks, everyone. Some great advice. Sleepykitten, I like your point that collections can be a good counter-point to uncluttering to keep us balanced. It's like giving ourselves permission to perhaps go a little overboard on something we really enjoy. I keep most of my possessions as pared down as I can, and am always looking for ways to do this. (That's why I love this site.)

I think part of the thrill of jewelry shopping is the hunt: looking for and finding something unique and handmade. It gives me a rush. I just need to set myself some limits in bothe time spent and money spent, and still have fun finding a new special piece to wear. Wearing a beautiful (not necessarily expensive) unique piece of jewelry gives me a lift, and I make sure to wear all my pieces.

Posted 6 months ago #
shebolt
Member

Magpie, only you can answer "how much is too much?". But, if your collection is organized, if everything is loved and worn, and if your new acquisitions aren't hurting your budget, you're fine.

Posted 6 months ago #
mskris
Member

My DH and kids quickly discovered that jewels in any form were a good gift for me. I have quite a bit, and I must say that I prefer the "real" stuff to any costume jewelry (mostly because I'm allergic to base metals). But a couple of years ago I put the kaibash on it - it was getting to be too much, even for me. I can only wear so much jewelry and I hated to see things just sitting in the box, even though they're organized and have their own space. The only piece I'd like to have is a Mother's ring (1 emerald, 2 diamonds), but I want good sized stones, so I told DH that it would be appropriate for my 50th birthday (a couple of years down the road).

Posted 6 months ago #
susanintexas
Member

Another recommendation is that if you have a combo of costume and expensive jewelry it might be worthwhile to inventory and identify the good stuff. I have two not obviously valuable piece. My husband won his university's scholarship fund raffle one year and the prize was $10,000 in jewelry: I chose a string of pearls. I also have some inexpensive pearls, and it would be a pity for the good ones to end up in a yard sale. My wedding ring was my grandmother's -- that should go to my cousin's son or daughter, as they are the only descendants in that generation.

My MIL IS a jewelry hoarder -- probably more than 1,000 pieces -- and her nicer bits are mixed up with the cheap ones (real pearls next to mardi gras beads) At age 90, even she can't remember what is real and what is faux.

Posted 6 months ago #
chacha1
Member

I have quite a few pieces of jewelry that I never wear. I need to go through all this and make decisions. Lots of rings, in particular - I am on a keyboard all day and rings make me crazy, then we go out dancing and rings can be dangerous. So those, in particular, need to be savagely culled.

My "good" stuff is ... wedding ring (of course); custom-made Australian opal engagement ring; custom-made necklace also with opals; a delicate ruby necklace; Brazilian aquamarine ring designed by my grandmother; and black star sapphire ring that Dad got in Asia, for Mom, when he was in the service.

I have scads of costume jewelry, some of which is good for dancing and some of which isn't. Do not know the exact quantities because I consult it so seldom, of late. I think I have more of a problem than Magpie. :-)

Posted 6 months ago #
Cassie
Member

Oh, I totally understand your situation. I don't buy jewelry, but I love to buy craft books. I had the same case as you before, I had strong desire to acquire new craft book. I can learn so many technique with them. Although I have a buying rule, usually i buy 3-4 craft books for each category (like clay, quilt, etc). But end up, there are still many, may be around 30. Then I started to realize the situation, it occupies one level of the shelf. In fact, I don't need that much because nowadays I can search through the internet, there are many tutorials or videos teaching how to craft. Actually, I don't use the craft books, I just COLLECT them. When I got less, I usually read them detaily, but when i got more, I just flipped through it. However, it is very difficult to part with them currently. But I decide not to acquire anymore.

The more you have doesn't mean you enjoy more. It is because you have less time with each one.

I ranked for the favorite of book. If one day in case I run out of space, I would part with the least favorite books.

Posted 6 months ago #
Magpie
Member

I agree that the more you own doesn't mean you enjoy things more. Quite the contrary! I believe part of my obsession with jewelry is the quest to find something I love better than what I already have, then letting the less loved item go. But where does it end? I hope one day I wake up
and say, Magpie- enough with the hunt for more shiny sparkly things. What you have is beautiful, suits you to the T, and that's enough!!

Posted 6 months ago #
mdfloyd
Member

@sleepykitten: have you considered putting your transit tickets into a nice collage and then framing it? Beats an ole' shoe box any day!

Posted 4 months ago #
liag
Member

I have no jewelry save my wedding band. I had a watch,but after retirement decided I no longer needed it and its itch on my wrist. I decided against jewelry because it was just another thing to keep up with. I do see things I like, but it's too much of a distraction from people, words, and ideas. I wear no makeup for similar reasons (and others). I would rather focus on household items and meal plans, toys and books for the grandchildren, literature. I dislike knickknacks that are just there because there is a ledge, and I dislike placing a jewel just because there is a piece of earlobe or wrist. Besides, I am not interested in punching holes in my skin! Eliminating entire categories of things has simplified my life.

Posted 4 months ago #
chacha1
Member

Well, at least s/he was in the right thread. :-)

liag/gail - I've pretty much decided that for the future, any serious jewelry purchase should be in the form of a wristwatch. I like to change out my watches, they don't bug me at work, they're not in the way when we're dancing; and while I am definitely still at the point where the thought of spending more than $1000 on ANY jewelry makes me hyperventilate, it would sure make more sense to spend money on a beautiful watch I'd wear every week than on a necklace I wear twice a year.

Posted 4 months ago #

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