The re-invented jewellery that I find to be the most common are brooches and stick pins. Stickpins were first used in the early 1800s to secure a man’s cravat. Originally, the pins were smaller and quite dainty, but the pins became longer and the tops more ornate as the century progressed. The pins were straight or might have a have a barley twist to it. They could be gold or a base metal. They came with a clutch or bottom case to keep the stick in place and to protect the wearer. Of course, women also started to wear stick pins to keep their lace scarves in place or, towards the end of the 19th century in particular, as lapel pins, as hat pins or to decorate jackets. Stick pins are not a commonly worn item any more. So what happened to them? Some were turned into rings, brooches and earrings. The ring below is set with the top of a former stick pin. It is a lovely garnet with a gold snake surround and a raised engraved head.

Antique garnet with a snake border, now a ring

Then we come to brooches. Again, brooches were once a commonly worn piece of jewellery, ranging from large statement bejewelled pieces worn on an evening dress to small mourning lockets set in jet worn on day clothes. Brooches are just not worn as much as they were in the Victorian era but they can be very beautiful pieces so it is a shame to just leave them in a drawer.

Antique amethyst gold brooch/pendant

Sometimes, a brooch is converted into a pendant just by adding a bale or jump ring to the top of the piece. This allows the item to still be worn as a brooch if needed. The amethyst and seed pearl brooch above has been simply altered this way.

Art Deco gold, pearl and diamond pendant, converted from a brooch

Some brooches have the clasp and pin removed altogether and chains attached either to the top or the sides, as with this art deco pendant. One reason for the complete removal of the pin and clasp in this case is that, had they been left attached, they would have been visible at the back of the pendant when it is being worn, which was not the case with the amethyst brooch above.

A final re-invention is to convert the brooch into a ring, though this is really only possible with small brooches. The photo at the top of the post shows an amethyst brooch converted into a ring.