Recently, I spoke with someone about her mother's buying and hoarding costume jewelry (affiliate). She was concerned that she would not be able to get rid of almost new costume jewelry (affiliate). As she discussed the issue, she became increasingly frustrated with the possibility of having to discard all those jewelry (affiliate) pieces. "What a waste of money!" She told me. So it got me thinking: where CAN you donate costume jewelry? I found lots of costume jewelry at consignment shops and flea markets where there was very little demand. So, I recommend donating the jewelry or making unique pieces with them.
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Where to Donate Old Costume Jewelry?
Below are places to donate jewelry. I included the links below.
Goodwill or Other Charity Locations:
The first place I donate jewelry is to Goodwill or other charity locations. Over the years, I have organized and downsized clients' and family members' belongings; Goodwill has been my go-to place to donate jewelry.
I Have Wings Breast Cancer Foundation:
I found an online non-profit organization that accepts donations of costume jewelry called I Have Wings Breast Cancer Foundation. You can mail the costume jewelry to them. Although I have never sent them anything, it sounds interesting. Before sending, contact them to make sure they are still accepting them.
Dress for Success:
The third place I found was Dress for Success. You can donate jewelry and clothing for women. This is a great place to give because they help other women improve their lives. Again, be sure to contact them to make sure they are accepting jewelry.
Support Our Troops(R):
Support Our Troops® is now collecting jewelry and is the fourth place to donate jewelry. They state that they will maximize the fine jewelry for the benefit of American troops and their families and that your jewelry will be handled with respect and dignity. They also state that it will go only where it is appreciated and valued. Visit their website for more details. Visit this link.
Helping Hands of America:
Helping Hands of America also accepts jewelry. You can contact them for details on what they accept and their process. While I haven't used them before, they are a Better Business Bureau-accredited business. Feel free to check them out for yourself.
Community Art Studios:
Updated 2023: Some art studios that specialize in making art from old items may also be an option for donating your unwanted jewelry.
Art Therapy Places:
Updated 2023: You can also contact the American Art Therapy Association to donate jewelry. Also, check Artzonline.org; they have a place to donate unused art supplies. They may want some of the custom jewelry for future classes.
Chemocessories:
Chemocessories is based in Manhattan Beach, California. I heard about them on Facebook. They reached out to me there when I posted this post on social media. They accept new or gently used scarves, turbans, and jewelry so they can repurpose them into pieces for cancer patients. Learn more about what they accept on their website.
StudioReMod:
Updated 2023: Studio Remod is a site I recently discovered online. Studio Remod gives old heirloom jewelry new life by redesigning and repurposing it for something new. Studio Remod’s online jewelry makeover/ redesign service was established in 2019. They have a minimum cost for transforming old jewelry, so check out their Q&A page.
Where to Sell Old Fine Jewelry?
If the jewelry is gold or silver and may have real stones, you can try selling it to a friend, family member, a local jewelry store, or a pawn shop. Here is a funny story (affiliate): at our rehearsal dinner, my soon-to-be father-in-law sold a gold ring to my uncle from Australia. I didn't know this until after the wedding.
People like to sell jewelry on eBay. They have a huge community there. This link shows you how to sell your jewelry on eBay. eBay is great for selling fashion jewelry.
Another option is selling them on your local Craigslist. But, I don't recommend having the meeting alone. And it should never be at your home.
Visit the American Gem Society to find Jewelers who may buy jewelry.
The RealReal Inc. is an online store that sells designer high-end jewelry, watches, clothing, bags, and much more. They are located in the New York City area. You can sell some pieces of jewelry on their website. I contacted them once, and they said you just need to connect with them online to view the item. If it is something they can sell, they will give you more information.
WP Diamonds is another place to sell high-end designer jewelry. If you feel you have a designer or high-end piece but don't know for sure, visit your local jeweler for them to assess the piece, usually at no cost. If you decide to get a written appraisal, you will have to pay a fee.
Worthy is an online auction option where you can sell in three easy steps. I've never used them, though. They are ranked as the best for auctions by InStyle Magazine.
Other options to sell your fine jewelry.
Poshmark is great for more trendy pieces of fine jewelry, among other things.
If you have some vintage pieces of fine jewelry, you may want to try Ruby Lane. They have a lot of unique pieces in their jewelry section.
If you have a ton of estate jewelry, you can also check out ThingsWeBuy. They purchase only high-end name-brand jewelry pieces, like Tiffany, Cartier, Designer Jewelry, Diamonds, and Watches.
At myGemma, they also sell things like designer jewelry, loose diamonds, and diamond jewelry, as well as watches.
Cash for gold USA is another option. They are great at doing secure sales.
Feel free to visit all of these jewelry sellers to decide which one is best for the fine jewelry pieces you would like to sell. Be sure to read their policies and procedures to ensure you understand when you will be paid and what you need to do to receive payment.
Tips when donating, selling, or repurposing jewelry
Now that you have found places to donate your jewelry, here are some additional tips on what to do with costume jewelry without getting rid of them.
If you have expensive jewelry pieces, before giving your jewelry, get them appraised for your IRS deduction.
It should be a specific appraisal per the IRS guidelines: "Jewelry and gems are of such a specialized nature that it is almost always necessary to get an appraisal by a specialized jewelry appraiser. The appraisal should describe, among other things, the style of the jewelry, the cut and setting of the gem (affiliate), and whether it is now in fashion. If not in fashion, the possibility of having the property redesigned, re-cut, or reset should be reported in the appraisal. The stone's coloring, weight, cut, brilliance, and flaws should be reported and analyzed. The sentimental personal value does not affect Fair Market Value. But if a famous person owned the jewelry, its value might increase." Keep in mind there is a cost for getting jewelry appraised. I found this post that will give you more information: How Much Should a Jewelry Appraisal for Insurance Cost?
If you are looking for a place to appraise your jewelry, visit The National Association for Jewelry Appraisers to find a person near you.
Want to sell jewelry? Visit our Items to Sell for Cash Today post!
Know your jewelry!
If you don't recall where you obtained the piece, you may want to visit a local jewelry store for more information. They can tell you the type of diamond, what type of gold it is, etc...
Some of the best top-resale value designer jewelry brands are Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co., and David Yurman.
Visit places online like eBay to see if there is something similar to the piece you are selling to help determine the price range you can get for the item.
Do Your Research
Be sure to research the different companies, whether you are selling a single piece of jewelry or donating a collection of pieces. Review the company's About page and its policy and procedures page, and contact them directly before taking any action.
Keep a record of what you donated.
If you feel sad about donating something, try taking a picture of it and storing it in a place where you can view it often. I like creating a folder labeled "My Favorite Things" on my computer (affiliate) to store these images, so they don't get lost.
I had a client who made a scrapbook (affiliate) of all the items she donated/sold from her mother.
How to Reuse Old Jewelry?
I have enjoyed repurposing some of my jewelry pieces. Below are some suggestions on what to do with the older, outdated pieces you may have.
Display the ones you love!
If you no longer wear them, consider buying a shadow box that hangs on the wall and frames the beautiful necklace pieces. I had this watch framed years ago.
Transform old jewelry into new pieces.
It's fun to take apart jewelry and transform it into something new and unique. This works well with the beaded jewelry pieces. You can take a necklace and unstring it. Then, turn it into earrings or a bracelet by combining it with different necklaces, placing them together with other beaded jewelry pieces. You can then give them as a gift to loved ones in honor of the person who has passed.
Create DIY displays for jewelry.
You can easily make DIY jewelry picture frame holders, like the ones below for jewelry. It will offer two purposes: to display your best pieces of jewelry and two to keep you organized. Click the links below for how-to instructions.
How to Make an Easy DIY Earring Organizer Picture Frame
Jewelry is usually used as an accessory to our outfits. But, where do you place them when you get home? My mom used to always lose one of her earrings in her purse because she never had a place to put them near her changing area. If you are similar to her, you can make
How to Make a Necklace Organizer Picture Frame
This week's home craft organizing project features another one of my picture frame jewelry organizers. This one is particularly for necklaces and hook earrings. But you can also use hooks to hold bracelets. It's a valid focal point of any room or walk-in closet. Read on to see how I made it. Stuff you need to
Tired of not being able to find your most loved pieces of jewelry? I feel your pain. I have been dealing with this issue with Clients since the early 2000s. Check out my post below!
Amazing Ways to Organize Your Jewelry
Jewelry is a girl's best friend. It can dress up any outfit and make our outfits much more dramatic if we choose to. Making it an easy-to-wear accessory for any lady looking to add a unique touch to their outfit.
You can also visit this Jewelry Amazon page to explore the organized jewelry products they have. This is an affiliate link.
When pieces look dated or worn out, transform them into something new.
If the gems are real, bring them to a jeweler and have them place the pieces into another setting or re-string the stones into another necklace or bracelet. I did this a few times with my mother's and grandmother's pieces, giving them new life. It's great to be able to wear something that belonged to your grandmother, so spend the time to update it! You can buy Jewelery Making Supplies (affiliate) online or at Michael's to help you make a unique updated piece.
I hope this post inspires you to donate some unwanted and unused jewelry in your home or your parents' home.
What do you have a lot of in your home? Are you a jewelry collector? What do you think of donating costume jewelry? Please comment below. I would love to hear from you.
Looking for ways to organize the jewelry you love? Check out this post for ideas: 6 AMAZING WAYS TO ORGANIZE YOUR JEWELRY
If you are looking for additional charities for other products you'd like to donate, please visit our charitable locations page.
Please note that these are affiliate links through Amazon. At no additional cost to you, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.
Visit our other posts to learn about donating various items!
Nancy says
Collectibles With Causes accepts jewelry donations of all types. Most of us who have a large collection often find ourselves with missing pieces of a set, or busted chains. Luckily, they accept them! Pretty simple process too, they ask for info on it then they send you shipping instructions and you get a tax form in return to use as a deduction. https://www.collectibleswithcauses.org/donate-jewelry.html
Sabrina Quairoli says
Thank you for sharing, Nancy.
Beverly harrell says
Great ideas I have some good costume jewelry my daughter won't want I give to good will all the time and would love to give to dress for success thank you
Jennifer says
Hi. Thank you so much for this site. I recently lost my mother and she has so much costume jewelry. I want it donated to someone who will want it and use it. I wish to honor her possessions. I will definitely look into your suggestions. At a time like this it is nice to find this kind of help.
Sincerely,
Jen
William Rusho says
Don't wear jewelry myself so do not know what to say, except wonderful places you listed to donate it to. Thanks for sharing.
Janet Barclay says
I love the idea of using old costume jewelry to make something else. Even those of us who aren't crafty probably know someone who is and would love to have it.
Rose M Griffith says
Another good way to declutter, that's for sure.
I just went through my jewelry for a Dress for Success event and realized that over the years I've narrowed it down to the things I wear. That was a surprise!
Seana Turner says
I've had luck with Dress for Success as well, and our local thrift shop. Good idea to make sure you get items appraised if they may have value!
Phoenicia says
Costume jewellery quickly brings an outfit to life. I own enough but drawer fulls like some women!
I like your suggestions of displaying old jewellery and making mismatched jewellery into something new.
Erica says
This is interesting timing. I found out last week that I'm getting my mother's as well as her mother's jewelry sent to me. It is kind of a weird situation because I'm probably not going to wear any of it. I'll probably just throw it in a safe deposit box, but I think my family would be horrified if I got rid of it. It is funny how we feel obligated to hold onto things for sentimental value. With costume jewelry, donation is a really good option. If it is taking up space, have someone else enjoy while potentially raising money for a good cause.
Sabrina says
I had this happen to me too, Erica. My mom passed some years ago but, before she passed she said that I must keep all the jewelry. She would call it her investment. She loved buying gold. But, some of the gold pieces were missing their match so I decided to sell those pieces and turn my grandmother's single ear ring into a ring. It looks great and I wear it all the time.
Marquita Herald says
What a wonderful idea! I've never worn much jewelry myself but I know a few ladies who literally have so much they probably don't even remember all of the pieces, so I will gladly share your article as a little hint to maybe do something meaningful with all that stuff that's just been gathering dust. Thanks for the inspiration!
Sabrina says
Thanks Marquita!
Ken Dowell says
I don't have any cosutme jewelry Sabrina but if I did these sound like pretty good suggestions as to where it can be donated.
Donna Janke says
I don't wear a lot of jewelry and so don't have much of my own. But I like these ideas for dealing with old or unwanted jewelry. The shadow box idea particularly appeals to me for things you might like to look at but are unlikely to wear. Resetting stones into other pieces is also a good way to make use of broken jewelry or use stones from a piece whose setting is not quite your style.
Sabrina says
Thanks for commenting, Donna.