5 everyday materials you probably didn't know could be turned into jewelry
Jewelry made of gold or silver? Some designers seem to think that's too boring - and turn to highly unusual materials instead. How about concrete earrings, bracelets made of laminate and moss rings for a change?
Jewelry that matches with the city
Pearls made of concrete - just the thing for the urban working woman, or perhaps for fans of bare walls. For her pendants, earrings and rings, Berlin-based designer Miriam Arentz mixes and pours the concrete herself. Concrete jewelry is certainly the epitome of understatement. The light grey color is also a good match for every outfit.
Jewelry that makes you feel smart
Wearing a favorite book around one's neck isn't really an option - but Jeremy May has the perfect solution. It takes the British designer eight weeks to whittle rings, pendants and bracelets for book-lovers. He even reads each book to inspire the shape he'll give to the piece of jewelry.
Jewelry that makes you ride
At first sight, you'd never think this necklace used to be a bicycle chain. Lina Lundberg takes the chain apart, and puts it together again with real pearls - an entirely new composition. The Swedish designer had the idea one day when cleaning her bike. The unique necklaces cost up to 700 euros ($784).
Jewelry that takes the floor
You've just finished laying a new laminate floor, and have some material left over? British designer Bethan Laura Wood uses bits of multi-colored wood laminate to make bracelets. Blocs of laminate are cut up and smoothed. The result is a piece of jewelry that looks nothing like the top surface of a floor.
Jewelry that brings you back to earth
Who, if not a native of Iceland, would ever have this idea? Designer Hafsteinn Juliusson embeds moss, which is available in abundance in home country, into silver rings. It's supposed to stay fresh for about 12 weeks. The unusual experiment aims to connect people with nature.