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You might be familiar with mystery boxes. You buy a box of something — maybe it’s a Le Creuset mystery box or something smaller, like a box of knicknacks — but you won’t know the colors and specific design details until you buy it and open it. I’ve caught wind of a new trend that’s super fun, and it makes as good of a gift to buy online as it does a DIY gifting option for friends. This gift? Mystery jewelry jars.
Etsy sellers are putting together mystery “jewelry jars,” which are jars or boxes filled with random jewelry, sometimes in mixed metals, organized by type, or even a blend of new and vintage — and they’re going viral on the platform. (Etsy itself says that searches for the find are up 1,000%.) A jewelry jar is more of a category than a specific product, which is good because if it was, it would likely be sold out by now.
As someone who still wears several kinds of vintage deadstock earrings I got on Etsy a decade-plus ago, I can easily see the appeal of jewelry jars. They’d be a great gift (and the variety takes some of the pressure off, as you don’t need to find that one perfect thing) and an equally great way to treat yourself. Think of it like hunting for treasure without having to deal with finding that X that allegedly marks the spot.
Where to Find Jewelry Jars on Etsy
At this point, jewelry jars are so big on Etsy that you may have already seen some without realizing it. Obviously, you can just search “jewelry jar,” but other common keywords include “surprise jewelry box” and “mystery treasure.” Some of the “jewelry jars” on Etsy aren’t in jars at all; you’ve also got Y2K-inspired gold jewelry in classic square jewelry boxes, Halloween-themed cameo necklaces in a glass pumpkin, and costume jewelry in iridescent drawstring bags.
One unique component of these jewelry jars is that even if you buy from the same Etsy seller recommended by influencers on TikTok and Instagram, you still won’t get the exact same accessories they did. A lot of these sellers say they’ve been collecting jewelry for years, so it’s a fun chance to jazz up your own accessory collection in a unique way while supporting smaller sellers or jewelers.
How to Make Your Own Jewelry Jar
As you can see, there’s really no right or wrong way to make a jewelry jar. They’re all a little different, and that’s part of the fun. This also means that making your own jewelry jar is easy, because it can really be whatever you want.
If you’re the type of person to save your Bonne Maman jam jars with the cute red and white lids, that could be a nice option, or you could go a bit more out of the box and use an empty tea tin or Altoids container — if it can hold jewelry and has a lid, it can be a jewelry jar! If you want to keep things simple and streamlined (or if you want to make multiple jars for friends and family), you can get a 12-pack of classic Ball Mason jars at Walmart for $13.
Once you have your vessel, you have the option of labeling or decorating it (or not!), and then all that’s left is to fill it with jewelry. Use items from your own wardrobe if your accessory collection is due for decluttering, or hunt around thrift stores or small shops to assemble the perfect assortment of treasures. Whatever the end result, your jewelry jar will be uniquely yours and certainly appreciated by whoever receives it.
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