Beyond Silver and Gold: Unique Jewellery Material Suggestions You Must Try

For thousands of years, people have been adorning themselves with lovely trinkets. Since it’s a way to truly reflect who you are, your jewellery should be special and unique just as your personality! Although gold and silver, diamonds and pearls have long been the favourites, there are various other options of materials you can give a try to express this uniqueness.

Resin

Jewellery created from resin is perfect for those who want to express their individuality but also display a sense of elegance. The synthetic resin’s adaptability allows for nearly infinite design possibilities. The crystal clear material is transformed into a show-stopper by the addition of tiny details like flowers, pearls, or glitter.

There are two main distinctions between the epoxy resin and polyester resin: the first is the appearance, and the second is the curing time. Epoxy resin, which has a gorgeous, crystal-clear surface, and as such it’s quite impressive for making resin jewellery such as a stylish bangle designer made you can purchase online and other accessories due to these qualities. Easy to mould and decorate, you can find them in any colour you can imagine, and with a wide range of details and unique swirls.

Quick-drying and incredibly tough, polyester resin is also a fantastic choice. Moulded components, such as those used in boat construction or profile plates, are the primary applications for this material. In addition, UV resin is another option worth considering especially if you’re into DIY projects but don’t have time to wait for the material to cure entirely.

It cures in just a few minutes under UV light from a specially designed lamp, and it doesn’t require any additional mixing. But you can only cast very thin layers at a time. However, this should not be an issue, as jewellery and accessories are typically small and thin, unless we’re speaking of large earrings, long bracelets and bangle designer jewellery made to turn heads and complete your every outfit.

designer bangle
source: dinosaurdesigns.com.au

Wood

Try something new and different, like wood jewellery, something you might not have considered previously. A person who has never tried wearing it has missed out. Anything from big, hanging earrings to a wooden diamond ring can be crafted from wood. Jewellery crafted from wood is a great investment because it can be worn with a wide variety of different looks.

The earthy texture works wonderfully with a carefree natural beauty look, while the warm tones complement the colours and patterns of fall. Given its neutrality, it can even be combined with seasonal whites. Furthermore, wood is wonderful for people with sensitive skin because it is a natural substance. Those with metal sensitivities won’t have to worry about any adverse reactions, as it is hypoallergenic. Wooden jewellery is sometimes very light, making it easier to wear, especially when accessorized with long, hanging earrings.

wooden bangle
source: azuro-republic.com

Polymer Clay

Polymer clay is a popular art medium due to its malleability, flexibility, and ease of use. Same as resin that can be used to create designer bangles and bracelets, pendants and earrings, as it’s a modelling material. It can be baked in the oven and features polymers, resins, dyes, and fillers. This material is not clay at all but rather a synthetic plastic called polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Anyone from aspiring young artists to seasoned pros working with different artistic mediums has found a use for polymer clay. In addition to being consistently soft, it can also be baked in a regular oven without losing its shape or colour. It comes in a wide variety of shades, some of which are metallic, fluorescent, and even “stone.” It’s versatile enough to stand in for a wide range of materials, including stone, semiprecious stones, porcelain, wood, and glass.

Polymer clay is a go-to for a wide variety of uses, including but not limited to jewellery, home décor, scrapbooking, simulating semiprecious stones, and sculpture. Millefiori, caning, mica shift, mokume gane, and other methods benefit from the saturation of the colours, allowing for miniature versions of these designs without sacrificing precision or colour.

clay polymer bangles
source: sarahmaker.com

Glass

Historically, glass has been a staple of jewellery for millennia. Glass, on its own, lacks colour and brilliance and is quite brittle. With the right ingredients, though, it can take on new life and last much longer. Indeed, many glass pieces are cut and coloured to resemble conventionally cut and polished gems, and some even feature optical effects that may be mistaken for the real thing.

They can be used as adornments or focal points in jewellery designs. Nonetheless, this is not a fraudulent technique so long as consumers are informed that the pieces are made of glass. For instance, there is a type of ceramic with the appearance and properties of glass, used as a glaze on pottery and for various purposes. This substance was famously utilised by the ancient Egyptians as a substitute for turquoise.

Imitating the look of a jet, there is black, opaque glass that was popular throughout the mid-Victorian era. Natural jet (another amorphous material) actually feels warmer to the touch than glass, despite the fact that glass normally feels warmer to the touch than the jewels it may represent.

glass bangles
source: pinterest.com

Recycled Plastic

Many issues with conventional materials are solved by using recycled plastic. The novelty of donning a handmade recycled jewel, the ease of manufacture and the numerous moulds and shapes available, the nearly infinite colour and pattern combinations imaginable, are all benefits you can expect to reap with this choice. Finally, the one-of-a-kind nature of each piece of precious plastic jewellery makes it ideal for creating meaningful, long-lasting bonds. Plus, by recovering recyclables, you’ll be doing your part to alleviate the world’s garbage problem. Metals like gold, and silver require a lot of work, time, and sometimes even human lives to extract. Your new recycled plastic ring will not only be fashionable, but will also serve as a powerful example of the potential of trash.

recycled plastic jewellery worn on fingers
source: craftscouncil.org.uk

Mia Hadson

Mia is a passionate blogger. Her obsession with beauty, health and shopping started young. Her philosophy is based on simple things, regardless of whether it is about applying makeup, decorating a room or cleaning a home. She believes simplicity is the basis of beauty and she implements this ideology in all spheres of her life.