What is upcycling jewelry?

The ethical and ecological dimensions when making a purchase are now an important subject. At the house of 58 Facettes, they are part of the values that matter to us. One of the solutions to limit our impact when purchasing jewelry that is totally to our taste if we do not find it directly on old pieces is to transform them to give them a new lease of life.

L'silver, the gold jewelry that sleeps at the bottom of our drawers can be declined endlessly, using the necessary know-how.

Upcycling is a concept that is particularly close to our hearts and which is omnipresent within 58 Facettes and its partner workshops.

What is upcycling?

Upcycling allows everyone to reuse their jewelry that is not worn or that we simply no longer like in order to give them a second life: it is therefore a question of transforming the jewelry, by keeping only the materials or by retaining part of its structure. Once this transformation has been completed, we find ourselves with a piece of jewelry that is like new and made to our liking. 

By using existing materials, we effectively save the energy necessary for the extraction, refining and transportation of the material, while creating a unique object, a better version of itself!

What can be upcycled? 

In the workshops, gold is worked in all its forms and colors and is infinitely recyclable, as long as its grading corresponds to that of the jewelry (the vast majority 750/1000). THE precious stones are also in the spotlight. They can be worked on, left as is. Emerald, diamond, topaz, jade, tourmaline... Our partner creators and jewelry workshops know these precious and fine stones like the back of their hand and have the expertise necessary to enhance them and make a unique piece of jewelry while retaining the sentimental value of the item. jewel.

Upcycling adapts to any type of jewelry. A gold earring from an incomplete pair can very well evolve into another piece of jewelry, a ring, for example, or even a pendant. The possibilities are limitless.

The transformation process

 What do you want to find in your new jewelry? What is important to you to keep? Do they have carte blanche to work with the material? All these questions will enable the jewelry designers to be able to design the jewelry of your dreams. Thinking about upcycling jewelry is the first phase of the process, if not the most important, in the same way as the phase of transforming the jewelry itself. It’s a real co-creation between you and the creator specializing in upcycling!

He will discuss with you the desired piece of jewelry, or even, if necessary, the drawings so that you can plan ahead. All this also allows you to clarify your desire, if it was currently still a little vague, and to validate the project. This may be thesecond-hand to add stones to enhance the current ones, completely review the design, etc.

Then comes the production phase: It involves the know-how of the craftsmen. Depending on the wish, they will loosen the stones and melt the gold, to make the new model, or if a part is preserved, take it and include it in the new elements, with the usual techniques of creating a piece of jewelry.

A second youth will therefore give your jewelry and you will be able to wear it like new jewelry!

Some of the creators present on 58 Facettes already offer “upcycled” jewelry, take advantage of it or take inspiration from these transformations that are both creative and respectful of the history of jewelry.