Bad Jewelry

Bad jewelry. We all have some.

The worst I hate to say is the stuff you get in a gumball machine. Tiny mystery metal ring with shiny cuts in it to replicate gemstones. Or the plastic rings that smell like a chemical factory. But what if you get a really sentimental piece and it just is....well, bad?

I gave someone an engraved necklace and I couldn't believe a clear film came off it after a few years. Like the silver was dipped in clear goo. Made me sad. Good thing it didn't make the recipient sad. As far as I know.

I've repaired all kinds of jewelry so I have seen the best designs with tarnish. I go to remove the tarnish and all of a sudden a silver bangle bracelet turns copper!

A prized souvenir pendant turns the person's neck a lovely shade of green. 

Earrings that make your earlobe puff up.

You get the picture. 

The bangle could be filed down to be all copper or re-coated with silver .

The back of the pendant could be coated with anti-tarnish glaze or felt.

The earring posts could be replaced with surgical steel, gold or surgical plastic. 

Sometimes it's hard to tell what is plated silver or gold. 

Silver or gold plating is a thin coating of the precious metal over another metal. For example silver plated is silver coating over brass or another alternate non precious metal. Gold Vermeil is 14k gold plating over sterling silver. Sometimes it's so hard to tell.

There are some hacks I have seen out there to fix bad jewelry problems as long as the piece is worth it to you. 

Does it bring you joy?

If so there's a company that will re-plate your jewelry.

https://www.foxfinejewelry.com/pages/gold-silver-plating

You could also have the tarnished pieces replaced with the real metals. email me at info@janinedesign.com and I can help you out.

Jewelry with bad Ju-Ju

The engagement that didn't work out. Gifts from someone who you're not friends with anymore. Bracelet from and ex. 

Why keep it around if it brings up bad memories? I understand keeping jewelry from ones who have passed but keeping around jewelry items from the childhood friend who dissed you in high school is not doing anyone any favors. 

* Donate it.

* Get it melted down. If it's precious metals this can definitely be done.

* Sell it. I can refer you to some great places that offer fair prices.

* Recycle it. See this article for recycling tips:

nation https://recyclenation.com/2014/07/recycle-jewelry/

* Drop it off at my store and I will rework it into something else. 

For example I reworked this stone from an old broken cuff to a silver pendant.

There's lots of options to do something new with an old piece or use the cash to buy something new!

Tell me what you have done to your bad jewelry?