Upcycling a jewel, what is it?

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

The silver, the gold of the jewels which sleep at the bottom of our drawers can be declined to infinity, by employing 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 jewels that have not been worn or that we simply no longer like in order to give them a second life: it is therefore a question of transforming the jewel, keeping only the materials or keeping part of its structure. Once this transformation has been carried out, we end up with a jewel like new and made to our liking. 

By using existing materials, we actually save the energy needed to extract, refine and transport 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, provided that its titration corresponds to that of jewelry (very large majority 750/1000). The precious stones are also honored. They can be worked on, left as they are. Emerald, diamond, topaz, jade, tourmaline... Our designers and partner jewelry workshops know these precious and fine stones like the back of their hands and have the necessary expertise to sublimate them and make them into unique jewels while retaining the sentimental value of the jewel.

Upcycling adapts to any type of jewellery. 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 would you like to find in your new jewel? What is important to keep in your eyes? Do they have carte blanche to work with the material? All these questions will allow the jewelers to design the jewel of your dreams. Thinking about the upcycled jewel is the first phase of the process if not the most important in the same way as the transformation phase of the jewel itself. It's a real co-creation between you and the creator specializing in upcycling!

He will discuss with you the desired jewel, even if necessary the drawings so that you can project yourself. All this also allows you to clarify your desire, if it was still a little vague for the moment, and to validate the project. This may be an opportunity to add stones to enhance the current ones, completely review the design, etc.

Then comes the production phase: It involves the know-how of craftsmen. According to the wish, they will remove 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 creation of a jewel.

A second youth will therefore be given back to your jewel and you can wear it like new jewellery!

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