London blue

Transform vintage jewellery into Michelle Nazar's designer-style pieces!

Michelle Nazar, MJ Designer

Inspired by designers Diane Metta and Chantal Laren of Dicha, who incorporate vintage jewellery pieces into contemporary designs, this beautiful necklace was created by combining a rhinestone bracelet with gemstones to form a one-of-a-kind accessory. The deep hue of London blue topaz briolettes make a striking contrast against sparkling crystals and gleaming pyrite.

Necklace

1. For this project, we've used a 20.3cm three-strand vintage rhinestone bracelet. Cut the bracelet 2.5cm away from the clasp. Thread a 3.8cm length of silver trace chain through either side of the centre strand and connect the ends with a 4mm jump ring, so that the chain forms a loop. Disguise this by attaching a piece of antique leaf chain with jump rings.
2. Cut 40.5cm of 0.18” beading wire, attach with two crimps to a link in the chain loop and add crimp covers. Thread on an 8mm rhinestone rondelle and a 20mm pyrite nugget. Repeat twice so that you have three nuggets and rondelles. Slip on two nuggets, then repeat the rondelle and nugget sequence twice more.
3. Thread a 7.5cm length of antique leaf chain onto the wire, then double it up and pass on again, on the last link. Slip on a pyrite nugget, followed by a rhinestone rondelle and another nugget. Thread on 6.5cm of leaf chain, double up and thread on the last link as before.
4. Add a nugget, followed by a rhinestone rondelle and another nugget. Finish by threading on a 10cm length of leaf chain, doubling up and passing on again, on the last link. Attach with two crimps to the vintage bracelet. Secure the loose bracelet end to the leaf chain with jump rings, gathering it up slightly to form a curved shape.
5. Wire wrap a London blue topaz briolette with 0.26mm half hard silver wire, threading on an 8mm rhinestone rondelle and a 6mm grey pearl. Attach with a wrapped loop to the bottom of the leaf chain. Repeat and fasten the second drop two links above the last briolette.
6. Wire wrap a pyrite onion briolette, threading on an 6mmrhinestone rondelle and a 3mm faceted pyrite round, and secure three links above the previous briolette. Wire wrap another London blue topaz briolette, adding an 8mm rhinestone rondelle and a 3mm faceted pyrite and attach to the top of the leaf chain with a wrapped loop.
7. Pass a 20mm silver cone onto a head pin, followed by a 6mm grey pearl and attach with a wrapped loop to the bottom of the next length of chain, between the last two nuggets on the wire strand. Wire wrap a topaz briolette, threading on an 8mm rhinestone rondelle and a 6mm grey pearl, then attach with a wrapped loop three links above the cone. Wire wrap another London blue topaz briolette, adding an 6mm rhinestone rondelle and a 3mm faceted pyrite round, then fasten to the top of the chain.
8. Slip a 20mm silver cone onto a head pin, followed by a 6mm grey pearl and attach to the bottom of the last length of chain on the pyrite nugget strand. Wire wrap a topaz briolette, threading on an 8mm rhinestone rondelle and a 6mm grey pearl, and secure with a wrapped loop three links above the cone.
9. Cut a short length of silver wire and make a wrapped loop at one end. Thread on a 3mm pyrite round, trim and form another wrapped loop. Repeat with 20 more beads and link each eye pin onto the previous one to form a 15cm chain. Attach this just above the nuggets on the main vintage bracelet with a 4mm silver jump ring. Drape the chain twice around the nuggets and fasten with a jump ring to the central length of leaf chain, then continue draping the remainder and fasten the end to the next leaf chain.
10. Thread a 20mm silver cone onto a head pin, followed by a 6mm grey pearl and attach with a wrapped loop to the centre of the double draped length of chain. Cut 5cm of crystal chain and secure to the handmade 3mm pyrite strand with a 4mm jump ring. Drape the crystal chain and fasten to the central leaf chain with another jump ring.
11. Cut another 5cm of crystal chain and attach with a jump ring to the double draped part of the handmade chain, near the central leaf chain. Drape and attach the crystal chain to the shortest length of leaf chain. Finally, thread a 20mm silver cone onto a head pin, followed by a 6mm grey pearl and fasten with a wrapped loop to the centre of the draped crystal chain.