How to Find Gears for STEAMPUNK fashion jewelry

Steampunk gears

Steampunk is a counter culture that takes its inspiration from the Victorian era with a futuristic bent. Sort of what would life be like in a Jules Vern world where steam power had taken hold instead of gas and electricity. The fashion is Neo Victorian. Victorian hats, both mens and womens are popular, as well as lace up ladies boots, parasols and other vintage altered clothing. Old brass goggles or early round lens googles for men and jewelry made with clock parts and gears are part of the style. Think old brass steam boilers and high wheeled bicycles, as well as Victorian inventor-mad scientist. If you are interested in steampunk do a web search and learn a bit. My article will focus on where to find brass gears and cogs for steampunk jewelry and art projects.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 

   Most of the brass gears used in steampunk fashion come from wristwatches, pocket watches, and clocks of all sizes. Look for yard sale broken clocks that cost next to nothing. Thrift shops and second hand stores are a great source of cheap or broken and free alarm clocks and similar pieces. If it doesn't work and is free or cheap, you will feel fine tearing it apart for gears to make jewelry or buttons.

2. Another good place to look is to buy lots of small gears sold online on ebay or etsy. These are sometimes sold as watch gears to repair watches, but anymore are often sold for altered art supplies or specifically for steampunk fashion parts. If you search either etsy or ebay there are several thousand auctions and sales of steampunk items. I was surprised by the volume of stuff. My introduction to steampunk was a hip sister in law doing a steampunk Halloween costume.

3. Steampunk watch

   Lastly I have done well buying broken watches, alarm clocks and clocks in bulk from a pawn shop or watch repairman as well as a few antique shops who will hold items for me. I can buy a box of broken clocks and watches very cheaply and now they hold them for me or call me when they have some.