P.S. I HART THIS: Spring Cleaning

Growing up in Charleston, I witnessed my elegant grandmother freshen up her Legare Street home for warmer weather – she potted geraniums on her piazza, swapped out rugs for sisal, and slipped on linen sofa covers. I have not followed suit; my own spring refresh habits are relegated to my closet. And, now that I have a lot of jewelry, my jewelry box(es), too. While everyone knows to turn over their closet for spring, most overlook refreshing their jewelry collection. Here are my tips.

1. Take Everything Out & Assess

Try things on. See how the jewelry makes you feel. You will fall back in love with those African beads you picked up on safari; they’ll look smashing layered with a timeless gold pendant necklace. An eclectic jewelry stack is so damn chic. P.S. If you have a toddler, I suggest sticking them in front of Frozen at this stage. Last year my daughter ran off with a precious strand of gorgeous heishi Ethiopian opals that I never saw again despite flipping the house over. RIP.

2. Organize Your Jewelry for Easy Access & Visibility

Once I have edited my collection, I organize it into categories. “Everyday jewelry” goes into my main jewelry box (antique) and a leather tray for easy access. I stash the fun “layering pieces” like African beads and gemstone necklaces into a nifty hanging travel case with clear pockets, making each piece visible in my closet. I highly recommend buying an additional one for travel.

3. Refresh Your HART Charm Necklace

If your HART necklace is feeling a little stale and you want to switch things up, pretty please bring it to one of our stores or events. We want your HART jewelry to evolve with you over time, hence we offer complimentary "refreshes." Last spring I was in the store when a customer brought in six of her old HART bracelets and necklaces. We spent an hour gabbing about our dogs, and rearranging the charms onto different chains. She left with six “new” pieces of jewelry. Can’t do IRL? We also offer this amazing service virtually – purchase an Alterations Bundle on our site.

4. Clean Your Jewelry

It’s amazing how a little bath will reinvigorate a piece (and your desire to wear it). We partnered with the creme-de-la-creme of jewelry cleaning companies to create our cleaning kit (available to purchase on our site). Seriously, this same brand cleans the Queen of England’s jewels. If you’re in a pinch, some Dawn, a soft scrub and warm water will do great. Just be sure to rinse off the soap residue completely after cleaning.

5. Give New Life to Heirlooms & Antiques

Do you have an heirloom charm from your great aunt gathering dust in your jewelry box? Bring it to our store or an event! We LOVE making unique pieces centered around an older piece. The juxtaposition of old and new is lovely and cool.