Creative Uses to Repurpose Broken Stones and Beads in Jewelry

All jewelers and beaders eventually break a stone or a bead, and finding interesting uses for them is an inspiring exercise in creativity. Instead of discarding these fragments, you can repurpose broken stones and beads into stunning accessories. Each broken stone holds a story and can become part of a new piece of jewelry with a new story to tell. Three jewelry artists share some of their favorite uses for these unconventional materials.

Testing and Inspiration

When I asked what happens to broken stones in her studio, Kristen Baird joked that they go into a plastic container of sadness and tears. But really, she says she uses them as testers. They offer a low-stakes way to discover how hard she can strike a stone, or what sandpaper grit will scratch it.

Occasionally, her “bin of fails” provides inspiration to the next generation of gem lovers. Last Christmas, a 7-year-old visitor was intrigued with a large lemon quartz ring similar to the one shown here. She says, “It just so happened that I had one with a chip on the edge, so I told his mom, I’ll donate the gem if you pay for the setting.” Kristen confesses that this was a win/win all the way around: The little gem lover was happy with his new ring, mom got a beautiful gift at a bargain price, and the gorgeous citrine got an extra life.

Embrace the Imperfections

Richard Salley highlights the cracks in broken stones. He was originally inspired by the lyrics of the Leonard Cohen song “Anthem” that ends with, “There is a crack, a crack in everything, That’s how the light gets in.” Richard frequently sets the broken pieces with a sparkling stone between them.

Richard also repairs cracked stones with gold foil in the Japanese tradition of Kintsugi. This technique is traditionally used to mend treasured pottery by adding beauty to the cracks. Embracing the imperfections allows for new creative possibilities.

Make Something New

Whether you have unwanted stone fragments from a lapidary project or crushed broken beads, stone chip inlay is the perfect technique for using these leftovers. Julie Sanford says creating your own deep bezel frame and filling it with colorful stone chips or crushed beads is a satisfying way to create your own works of wearable art.

American stone chip inlay is typically attributed to Southwestern Navajo jewelry artists. The technique dates back to the 1970s when epoxy resin became available. It began as a way to make the most of special materials such as turquoise and coral when they were in short supply.

Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Using your creative eye and basic techniques, damaged stones and beads can be repurposed to make captivating jewelry. Broken materials, once considered unusable, can be incorporated as focal points or accents. This creative take on jewelry making breathes new life into forgotten treasures and allows you to create jewelry that’s absolutely unique.

How do you repurpose stones and beads in your jewelry? Let us know in the comments!

Further Reading: Trash to Treasure: Two Ways to Use Broken Gemstones and Beads in Fresh Jewelry Designs