How to Reuse Old Jewelry

The jewelry box is cleaned out. All the earrings have been matched, silver shined up and repairs sent off to the jeweler. Now, the only thing left to do is bag up the mound of leftover baubles and throw it away. But wait! Broken brooches, single earrings, too-tight rings--all of them can find new life in your wardrobe or home. Use them for yourself or opt to make one-of-a-kind gifts.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Jewelry tools such as pliers and wire cutters
• Glue
• Soft rags for polishing

1. Decorate a picture frame, lampshade, plain box--the options are endless. Take apart that broken beaded bracelet and unstring the stone necklace. Practice making a pattern before gluing the jewels to their new home.

2. Marry an old pin or brooch to an outdated chain bracelet. Cut the bracelet’s chain in the middle. With a pliers, open the links on each side of the bracelet and attach the brooch to the chain. Play around with the fitting; you may have to lose a link or two to make it fit your wrist.

3. Collect that gold. Odds and ends of gold jewelry can add up to a good chunk of the precious metal. Designate a place for gold (include old teeth fillings and crowns!) and save it. After a bit is accumulated, consider designing your own piece of jewelry using the gold—such as a ring, medallion, earrings. You may have to use the services of a professional jeweler, who can have the gold melted. Or maybe enrolling in an adult education course on jewelry making is more your style.

4. Reinvent earrings into charms. Detach the earring from its backing. Depending on the style, attach a bracelet fastener (glue or wire) to a charm bracelet or necklace.

5. Unstring beaded necklaces, anklets, bracelets and earrings. Sort and arrange the beads. Devise your patterns and create a new necklace, anklet, bracelet or earrings.

6. Call some friends and see if they have a mound of leftover baubles. Get together and have a “one woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure” party.

Tips & Warnings

• Before tossing any old jewelry, make sure it doesn't have any value.
• Thrift shops and secondhand stores are treasure troves of jewels.