How To Repurpose Old Jewelry

You might look at your burgeoning jewelry collection and be overwhelmed by exactly how much you have. It’s great to have choices so that no outfit need go unadorned but jewelry is something that we can easily accumulate far more than we can ever need.

Whether you’re having a Marie Kondo moment, are taking a bit of a stand against rampant consumerism, or are simply downsizing, you might well be wondering what to do with piles of old jewelry.

There’s no single answer. There are quite a few options.

Some people pass down their vintage jewelry as heirloom pieces to family and friends, some prefer to send it to auction to get some money back on their original investments, and perhaps most interestingly, others make the decision to recycle and upcycle old items in their jewelry box to create new pieces.

New life can be given to old rings, pendants, bracelets, brooches, and more with a little bit of smart jewelry design.

Here are some of the best tips for how to repurpose old jewelry to create new custom jewelry.

Start With A Ring Project

Probably the best place to start for a beginner to redesign an old piece is with a ring. If you have a loose gemstone that you don’t want to get rid of, then the thing to do is repurpose it and use it to build an entirely new piece of jewelry that you can enjoy all over again.

Unless you intend to take up jewelry making as a serious hobby, the majority of these new jewelry projects will involve the help of a professional jeweler to deliver the final product, but in terms of reusing old bling to make a new diamond ring, the ring design and jewelry idea itself can be all down to you.

Rings are a great place to start because all you need to do is have a loose stone in mind and the jeweler can do the rest. Big or small, any gemstone can become a striking focal point of a new ring and if you want to make the piece even more dynamic you can source some smaller stones to use on other parts of the band. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different shapes and sizes - you can be as unique as you wish! Designing jewelry is an artistic expression so embrace it.

Rings are also a great gift idea if you are thinking of creating new jewelry for somebody else, as well as the amazing idea of creating your engagement ring or wedding band from pieces of jewelry that might mean something special to you.

Be Creative With Loose Necklace Stones

If you’re lucky, you might have a few loose stones that can be repurposed from various necklaces and pendants that you own. Vintage statement necklaces, in particular, often contain a lot of small stones and rhinestones that will inevitably become loose and go missing over time, and the piece gets consigned to the back of the drawer. Why not turn them into something else?

When you have pieces of jewelry in manageable pieces, then you have plenty of different options for what to do with the bling to breathe some life back into it and give it a second chance.

Try Downsizing

Don’t forget too, you can repurpose bigger pieces of jewelry into smaller pieces.

If you have a broken chain necklace, it may still have a long enough piece intact which means it can become a bracelet. An old string of pearls can also become a bracelet or you can use the pearls individually for another project.

Make Things More Decorative

Remember that you don’t have to turn things into disco balls if that isn’t in keeping with your personal style, sometimes less is more! Just a few different gemstones here and there can be all that you need to elevate an item and turn it into a new accessory with a new personality.

Bear in mind that with these kinds of projects make sure they are well executed, as it can take more than just gluing parts to various surfaces to make a DIY job look stylish and professional!

Repurpose Your Jewelry With Moyen & Co.

Get your jewelry repurposed by a reputable jeweler, who can take your old rings and turn them into creations of your desires. Bring in your jewelry to Moyen & Co. for a consultation and we'll help you get started on a plan to repurpose your favorite pieces into something new.