Make and Sell 10 Upcycled Jewellery Projects

Do you have a hankering for glistening trinkets and wish to turn your hobby into a small business? Or perhaps you’re constantly looking for new methods to save money while adding to your jewellery collection. Perhaps you enjoy crafts and are looking for new methods to repurpose items you already have. In any case, there are lots of repurposed jewellery projects to produce and sell.

What is the definition of upcycled jewellery?

New jewellery can be costly, and the fact that styles are constantly changing doesn’t help matters. That is why repurposed jewellery is becoming increasingly popular around the world. Repurposing old and broken jewellery that might otherwise collect dust in a drawer is more environmentally friendly than creating new jewels and metals.

Plus, upcycling antique jewellery gives it a fresh lease on life, even if it still has sentimental value. Upcycled and recycled jewellery is, of course, a popular choice among jewellery connoisseurs because it saves money and creates one-of-a-kind pieces unlike anything else.

Craftspeople and professional jewellery manufacturers sell upcycled jewellery, but it may also be made from home as a DIY project. Any jewellery fan may turn their old designs into shining works of art with the correct materials, tools, and ability. A jewellery enthusiast can even learn how to start a small business on Etsy or sell on Amazon Handmade with enough practise.

Are you looking for new ways to use outdated jewellery? Check out these ten repurposed jewellery projects that you can make and sell:

What Kinds of Things Can You Make With Old Jewelry?

Do you want to make one-of-a-kind items to add to your collection, present as a one-of-a-kind gift, or sell as a small business? Upcycled and reused jewellery has nearly unlimited possibilities.

You can upcycle jewellery to create new versions of the original piece, or you can repurpose old or damaged jewels into lovely repurposed items. A bracelet, for example, can be redesigned as a more fashionable version of itself, or the stones from several broaches might be used to create a decorative photo frame.

Old and broken accessories can be repurposed into bespoke jewellery, and there is a rising market for environmentally friendly upcycled jewellery designs. Simply discover how to sell jewellery on Etsy or other online markets, or where to sell handcrafted things locally. It’s that easy!

Ideas for Upcycled Jewelry

Looking to make a one-of-a-kind gift, save money on new jewellery designs, or maybe start a small business selling recycled jewellery? While your repurposed jewellery ideas are only limited by your imagination, here are a few to get you started:

1. Adapt Vintage Jewelry

You might have an antique vintage costume jewellery box or a drawer full of stuff. They’re still attractive, but half of them may be broken, and the majority of them are out of style. You may use vintage jewellery to embellish a picture frame or even a basic jewellery box, creating a one-of-a-kind design that’s ideal for gifting or selling.

Even if you don’t have your own collection of vintage jewellery, you can use it to upcycle other beautiful pieces. Flea markets, estate auctions, and even yard sales can have a large selection of vintage costume jewellery to choose from.

2. Repurposing Gold Jewelry

Classic gold jewellery is always in trend. Reusing old gold and scrap gold in new jewellery creations not only saves money, but it also makes for a more environmentally friendly gift.

A competent jeweller may melt down scrap gold and create brand new jewellery designs, or old and broken gold jewellery can be done up and repurposed into a trendier replica of the original.

3. Diamond Jewelry Recycle

Although diamonds are eternal, the motive for wearing them may be a different tale. You can reuse loose diamonds into new masterpieces instead of designating old gems to spend eternity in a drawer. For example, a stone from an old engagement ring can be turned into a pendant, or vice versa.

Diamond upcycled jewellery can also be a lucrative small business enterprise. Old diamonds may still demand a financial commitment, but the more fashionable designs they can produce can bring in much more money. You can recycle your own diamonds or find old and discarded gems from pawn shops, used jewellery stores, flea markets, and other local and internet retailers.

4. Repurposing Silver Jewelry

Silver jewellery is still a popular choice for many people. However, as with other precious metals, obtaining the resources isn’t always the most environmentally friendly option. Instead of letting old silver jewellery go to waste if it’s broken or out of style, you may upcycle and repurpose it into new jewellery.

Try attaching a new chain to a one-of-a-kind silver pendant or repairing broken silver pieces with jeweler’s tools. To upcycle and reuse a broken jewellery design with recycled metals, new chain elements were added to owl designs in the example above.

5. Redesign Engagement and Wedding Rings

Although an ancient wedding ring has its monetary value, the sentiment attached to it may have faded. Perhaps a family treasure simply doesn’t fit in with a modern bride’s style. The setting of an engagement ring or wedding ring can be updated to give it a new look.

Redesigning wedding rings is also a more environmentally friendly and often less expensive option than buying a new ring. There is always a market for reused wedding bands and engagement rings since people are getting married all the time.

6. Use Old Necklaces in New Ways

Upcycling and repurposing old necklaces can be done in a variety of ways. A broken necklace, of course, can be mended or refreshed with a new chain or fashionable pendant. Necklaces can also be worn as bracelets or as tiny headbands.

Obviously, replacing the broken chain is one option to upcycle a broken necklace, but the necklace’s material can also be turned into a completely new piece, whether it’s another type of jewellery or accessory, or even everyday household objects. A necklace pendant can also be used as the central stone in an upcycled new ring.

7. Earrings can be repurposed in a variety of ways

Earrings don’t usually last a lifetime. When your favourite pair of earrings breaks or your sentimental set goes out of style, what do you do? Earrings can be easily repurposed into a variety of other accessories.

By incorporating the stone into a costume ring, a broken earring can be converted into a usable piece of jewellery. Earrings can be repurposed into stunning and trendy rings by adding reclaimed embellishment to simple ring bands, which can then be sold online or at local craft fairs.

8. Repurposing Old Brooches

As individuals explore for ways to responsibly upcycle old jewellery, repurposing outdated brooches is a popular fashion trend. Over the years, fancy ornate brooches studded with pearls, stones, and sparkles have gone in and out of favour, and these out-of-style adornments frequently end up filling jewellery boxes with no future purpose.

Repurpose an outdated brooch into various accessories or decorative objects to give it a new lease on life. Brooches make fantastic fridge magnets or pendant necklaces when worn on a chain. Gathering a range of brooches with personal meaning from friends and family and putting them into one-of-a-kind bridal bouquets is a popular bridal trend.

9. Repurpose Bracelets 

Bracelets can be made out of a variety of outdated items. Upcycled bracelets created from zippers, soda tabs, and even old phone wires are frequently sold by artisans and businesses.

You can also make a unique charm bracelet out of charms, pendants, and centrepieces from a variety of other broken jewellery items, such as the one pictured above. An old bracelet’s beads can also be utilised to make a new bangle or wristband. Upcycled bracelets made from nearly any material, from jewels and beads to domestic rubbish, are popular commodities on Etsy and other online markets, and they may be bought and sold there.

10. Repurpose Your Old Earrings

Earring that are old, damaged, or tarnished don’t have to end up in the junk drawer or the trash bin. Instead, upcycling old, discarded earrings into new designs that become the latest fashion trends is a viable option for both craftspeople and entrepreneurs.

You can repurpose outdated earrings by painting them a different colour or embellishing a simple pattern with rhinestones. You might even be inspired to adorn an old set of hoop earrings with tassels, as shown in the picture above. Upcycled earrings provided fantastic gifts, as well as plenty of bling for designers in their tiny enterprises, regardless of your method.

How to Make Money from Your Repurposed Jewelry

People love to buy upcycled jewellery, which is why repurposing jewellery is such a great small business opportunity. You can sell your designs almost wherever people shop and in a number of venues once you’ve perfected the skill of recycled jewellery and developed an inventory of handmade products.

• Boutiques and resale businesses in the area
• Etsy, Amazon Handmade, and Ebay are examples of online markets
• Festivals and craft fairs in the area
• You can do this online with your own blog or e-commerce website