Old is the new…new?

It’s Friday afternoon, and a young woman is scanning the mall for a new accessory. Anything, preferably cheap, because she can’t wear the same jewelry twice, right?

That was me in my 20s, and very little of what I bought back then remains in my jewelry box today. Now I own fewer pieces, most from genuine materials, and I wear them repeatedly with joy. The ones I treasure most carry stories, like my grandmother’s butterfly brooch.

When jewelry carries memory

In 1940, as newlyweds with very little money, my grandfather saved enough to buy my grandmother a silver enamel butterfly brooch as an addition to her jewelry “collection”; her wedding ring, two necklaces and a thin bracelet. They planned every purchase carefully, mostly out of necessity, so she was genuinely surprised. She loved that brooch and wore it often. It’s been many years since she passed away, but every time I wear it, I think of her. The taste of her raspberry jam on pancakes, her hugs and her positive outlook on life.

Research confirms what we intuitively know: possessions become meaningful when connected to relationships and memories, not monetary value. The butterfly isn’t valuable because it’s silver. To me it represents generational beliefs of hope and the possibility of rebirth and beauty even in difficult times.

Are you building a tradition or contributing to the mountain of waste?

The word “tradition” comes from the Latin traditio, meaning to hand over or pass down. It can refer to possessions, teachings or sayings. Here’s a challenging question: how much in your jewelry box is actually worth handing over to the next generation?

This isn’t about judgment but about intentionality, both for the environment and our self-worth. When we choose pieces designed to last, made from genuine materials with craftsmanship and care, we’re acquiring potential heirlooms and tangible connections between generations.

Three questions before you buy

So before your next jewelry purchase, pause and ask yourself:

• Will this matter to me in five years?
• Am I buying the piece or just the feeling of buying?
• Is this worth passing on?

A few quality pieces you genuinely love will always outshine a drawer full of quickly tarnished trinkets. And remember: people want to meet you, not your newest accessory.

Which of your pieces have a story worth telling?