Heirloom Makeover: 10 Creative Ways to Repurpose Your Mother’s Old Jewelry

By Sophia Young

Jewelry is often passed down through generations as heirlooms, with sentimental value that can never be replaced. However, sometimes the style or the fit just isn’t right for the younger generation. Or perhaps the jewelry has become worn or damaged over time. Instead of letting it sit unused in a jewelry box, why not turn it into something new and beautiful?

We’re here to suggest a few creative ways that you can repurpose your mother’s old jewelry and uniquely honor your family’s history.

1. Transform an Old Necklace into a Bracelet

If you’re not a fan of wearing necklaces, but Mama has a beautiful string of pearls or a pendant you love, use it to create a bracelet that you can wear every day. All you need to do is carefully measure and cut the necklace, then attach a clasp. You can keep the original design intact or play around and add a few charms and colorful beads to make it your own.

2. Repurpose a Brooch as a Pretty Hair Pin

Older brooches with intricate details or brightly colored gemstones make beautiful hair pins. Find a piece of fabric or ribbon to match the color of the brooch, then sew it onto the backside. To ensure the pin stays secure in your hair, you can glue on a bobby pin or safety pin for extra support. This is an ideal way to add a touch of vintage glamour to your everyday look.

3. Make a Brooch Out of Old Earrings

If you have a pair of earrings that are too delicate to wear, consider using them together as a brooch. They’ll make a beautiful statement piece when pinned to your lapel or onto a scarf or hat. You’d have to remove any clasps or hooks and attach them to a metal brooch bar. This is an easy way to bring new life to old earrings and show off your style.

4. Turn a String of Pearls into a Headband

This creates an effortless look that is perfect for any special occasion. To make a pearl headband, start by cutting the string of pearls into two equal pieces. Use a metal clasp to join the strands at one end, then wrap the other end around your head and add more clips to secure it. You can also make this look work by adding colorful ribbons or feathers.

5. Upgrade Your Engagement Ring

Mommas often save engagement and wedding rings for their daughters. If the ring is slightly outdated, you don’t have to sacrifice tradition. You can put your own spin on it by making a few modifications. You could add a delicate halo of diamonds around the center stone, get a special engraving on the band, or even get creative and reset the diamond into another shape or design. This way, you get to keep the sentimental value of your mother’s ring while giving it a modern twist that makes it truly your own.

We have been giving ideas on turning one form of jewelry into another. But did you know you can remodel jewelry pieces in other ways, too?

6. Create an Ornament Out of an Old Pendant

For a stunning but unwearable pendant, why not turn it into a one-of-a-kind Christmas ornament? All you need to do is attach the pendant to a metal hoop and add colorful ribbons. You can incorporate some tiny beads or charms for an extra special touch. Hang this lovely ornament on your tree every year to make the holiday season more jolly and meaningful.

7. Make Your Own Wall Art

Heirlooms come in all shapes and sizes, so you can take advantage of the unique pieces that your mom has kept for years. Craft a memorable display piece for your wall by arranging old earrings, necklaces, and brooches into an artistic design. You can use special pins to attach them to a board or canvas or frame them with a shadow box. Channel your creativity and show off the beautiful jewelry passed down in your family for generations.

8. Bedazzle a Belt

Embellish a plain belt with your mother’s sparkly jewels. You can simply hot glue the pieces onto the strap or attach them with beading thread for a more durable look. Brooches look especially great when placed at the front, like a buckle. A jeweled belt will put an extra touch of fab to any outfit and will surely draw compliments whenever you wear it. Truly an excellent addition to your awesome wardrobe.

9. Amp Up Your Shoe Game with Extraordinary Shoe Clips

Adorn your shoes with some of Mama’s prettiest jewels. You only need two metal shoe clips or slides and a few pieces of vintage jewelry. Place the jewelry between the metal slides, then attach them to your shoes for an extra touch of elegance. You can also use this technique with brooches, which provide more coverage on larger shoes.

10. Bookmark Your Page with a Jewelry Charm

This fun project will add a little shine and sparkle to your favorite books. Get a metal bookmark, then attach the charm of your choice onto one end with beading wire or jump rings. Or you can also make use of an old pendant or brooch by looping a piece of ribbon through it and tying the ends together. Now you can keep track of where you left off in your reading and admire the art you’ve crafted with your mother’s jewelry.

Wrapping Up

Heirlooms are much more than just sentimental keepsakes. You can let your creative juices flow and repurpose them into something you can wear, display, or use in your home. We hope our ideas have inspired you to breathe new life into your mom’s jewelry collection and come up with something truly wonderful.