I had known her for more than ten years and had done a few pieces for her through the years.

Then one day she called me up out of the blue and said, “Gary, I finally went through some of my jewelry, but I don’t really understand what I have.”

So I went to her house.

She brought out two jewelry boxes that she had obviously tried to organize, but they were still kind of disastrous. You know, the chains that are kinked or knotted, so when you pull something out, they’re all stuck together.

Some pieces were from her grandmother. Some from an aunt. Some were things that had been given to her, collected by her, or things she thought were important when she was 25. And now she didn’t know  what to do with it.

I told her, “I’m here as long as you want. Let’s pick up each piece and you tell me one of three things.”

The first was easy: Do you like it, love it, and will you wear it? If yes, it stays.

The second took a little more thought: “If you don’t want it, is there anything about it you like? Or could you see using the stones?” Maybe it’s your grandmother’s necklace and you would never wear it, but the ruby stone came from your grandma. Then we put it to the side and, whether it’s now or later, make something new around that stone.

And the third pile was just as important: I’m done with this. I don’t want it anymore.

We spent about two and a half hours at her dining room table, just going through stuff with three different piles. We separated things. I photographed pieces, had all my little baggies, made notes, and organized everything as we went.

I told her it might take a week and a half because I had people to go see on her behalf.

And in this case, I took the time.

I did my process. I met with various people about various pieces. Some things were worth more as complete pieces. Some were worth more taken apart.

And when we took care of all of the things that we talked about, she had gotten a check for $12,450.

Sometimes you find value. Sometimes you find a stone you forgot you had. And sometimes you keep the stone, get whatever you can for the metal, and make a new piece of jewelry that you will love and wear around a stone that had some significance to someone.

That’s the home run.