| if you have jewelry you no longer wear, you might want to consider repurposing or upcycling it, as i have done with the pieces above. a tired or dated piece of jewelry can be given a fresh personality and a new look with the right design. also, some people don't wear necklaces but have them, so remember that a necklace can become bracelets and earrings. or a bracelet can find new life as a necklace -- it all depends on what one adds to or how one changes it. also, if you like only certain parts of a piece you own, they can be worked into a new item of jewelry. the possibilities are endless. let me know if and how i can help. |
| designed and executed by christian gollub, these necklaces are "re-do" projects using clients' jewelry that has been upcycled and repurposed. |
| rare, vintage swarovski crystal faceted ruby quartz sterling silver spacers & a sterling silver toggle clasp 20 inches total length available at $ 108. |
| recently a client came to me with a plain strand of pearls that she had inherited but "wouldn't wear like this." she asked if i could jazz up the pearls so that they would be both classic (i.e., a pearl necklace) and untraditional. this is the "untraditional classic" i designed and made for her. at 24" in length, the necklace has no clasp, no top, no bottom, can be worn any which way, and features vintage and contemporary swarovski crystal and a selection of sterling silver spacers and beads. scroll down, down, down to see the matching earrings. |
| here's the "before" -- this faceted amethyst and gold necklace was quite beautiful but very short (barely 16") and rather staid. the client didn't like the clasp and wanted the entire necklace to be given new life. |
| below is another example of a necklace "re-do" i recently completed. |
| i added faceted amethyst rondelles, crystal cubes, and a barrel clasp (client request). i think this necklace has more personality and sparkle. now at 24", it definitely has more breathing space, and with the added elements (and length) it doesn't look as heavy as the "before" necklace. if you count the amethyst rounds, you'll notice two are "missing" from the necklace. that's because they became "cousin" earrings. |
| the "re-do" below had been a simple cinnabar necklace -- red, red, and more red. i love cinnabar, but the necklace needed more punch and style to bring it into the 21st century. i added a variety of crystal and sterling. again, with no top, no bottom, the necklace can be worn any which way. more red? more crystal? just adjust! this re-do was a challenging and enjoyable project, and i thank my client -- you know who you are! -- for the honor and the opportunity to work with her late mother's cinnabar necklace. |
| the original cinnabar necklace was 30", a length the client considered ideal. adding new elements to the necklace would obviously make it longer, so i suggested making two necklaces out of the original, all the while keeping each new necklace at 30". the cinnabar was the inspiration and starting point for both necklaces, but the results were quite different. compare the second necklace (below) to the one above. in my humble opinion (!!!), both are attractive and fun, but each has a strong and unique personality. |
| i named this necklace east-west fusion. |
| this one i called asian industrial. |
