Wednesday 8 July 2015

Necklace to Bracelet and back to Bracelet to Necklace

While I don't accessorize very much - 
I rarely wear my wedding ring - 
I do enjoy jewellery and accessories from time to time and always on others!

But most likely in the case of many, 
there are items that I enjoy having in my jewellery tray and admiring.

Chaine d'ancre silver necklace in the very small size

I also like to try on different pieces with my outfits 
which are terribly boring as
 I don't wear many prints and tend to save those for scarves.

I have this necklace which is a simple and classic design that has been around since the Greeks had used them in their motifs back in the B.C. days.
It displays classic symmetry that the ancient Greeks liked so much -
 it's an oval that is split in half and linked to symbolize eternity.


As a necklace, it is a good staple to have and can be used in daily wear or for a nice lunch date.
But for some reason I would wear it around the house but
 I could never commit to it when I actually left home.
Who can explain these odd quirks?

But like so many of us, I want to either use and cherish my items or they become clutter no matter how valued / valuable the object was.


 I love bracelets. 
While I am very simple in my manner of comportment, 
I love a bracelet stack and throw away any minimalist tendencies when it comes to bracelets.
I was playing with my necklace and double wrapped it and realized that if I got rid of a few links 
( 5 in my case ) then I could wear it as a bracelet.


So I took it to a jeweler and had them drape it around my wrist and confirm with their professional expertise that the amount of links taken out would work as a bracelet. 
This is a commitment as I won't be able to wear it as necklace with the new length but the jeweler will be able to put back the links if I choose to wear it as a necklace again.

My newly configured bracelet


In my previous post, 
I tried on a carnelian Byzantine ring in the quatrefoil/ four leave clover that went with my Alhambra bracelet also in carnelian.

I absolutely adore the quatrefoil motif as mentioned 
in the previous post and 
would collect every stone in both yellow and white gold if I could!


To satisfy my craving for an Alhambra necklace without having to actually buy one, 
I got a chain from another necklace that wasn't too long but 
long enough to turn my bracelet into a necklace.

My bracelet turned into a temporary necklace with a chain extender
As a necklace is generally seen from the front, the chain satisfies displaying the motif.

I also have a shorter chain by a couple of inches and it changes the drop of the necklace to hug the neck.  
You can purchase extenders at most jewelers and I find them so useful in changing the way you wear your items.  
It could also make a necklace become a long chain necklace and 
is a way of maximizing the jewelry you already own.

You could use them to turn necklaces into a double wrap bracelet or triple wrap even but the extender would be more noticeable on the wrist.

I hope you look through your accessories or 
take some pieces to your jeweler and 
see how you can make the most of your collection.

34 comments:

  1. LOVE THIS POST. You know I have it bad for jewelry these days, so how could I not? Love the H bracelet on you, especially love that you repurposed it back when it was a necklace. Also think it is genius what you did with your VCA bracelet. I want one of those SO bad and yet I hate a bracelet that moves around too much. Do those stay put if you have links removed? I am wondering if I should just save for a single VCA Alhambra motif, either in onyx (black like my heart!) or turquoise (to die for, in my humble opinion, especially in yellow gold). I honestly think I would wear it daily! My ultimate piece would be a 10-motif in YG and Onyx but I am going to have to win the lottery for that to happen. It's so great when you write about jewelry. I vote you do it again soon! xx

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    1. I am happy you enjoyed this Jill! But I must say I wear my bracelets often. I say get the bracelet but get a chain to double as a necklace BC the necklace doesn't work as a double wrap oddly. ( I have tried.) interestingly because of the handwork each bracelet is ever so different in length, I like movement but you can get them to adjust it with taking out a link. I say get the turquoise as its a coloured bright neutral. X

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    2. Naomi, I've noticed when it comes to the bling, Jill doesn't have a 'simple manner of comportment'...I'm glad you have her attention.

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    3. I love the zip necklace which is pretty convoluted so I can't say anything!!

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  2. I wish I could get into jewelry a bit more because my hubs wants to buy me some and I'm like whatever. I always go for clothes, scarves, bags instead but I think he'd enjoy buying me another ring or something. I do adore the Hermes bangles but he doesn't think they are fine jewelry, which is nonsense because I think they are spectacular.
    I'm with you on quatre foil I love it!
    You've been very creative with making your jewelry work for you and you have amazing taste. Okay I'm going to think about what I should ask for next anniversary, pass on any ideas to your jewelry-dumb friend here please. XO

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    1. We all have our weaknesses and things that just don't resonate. I think because you have an interesting wardrobe with different elements you musn't feel the need to accessorize so much maybe? I usually only wear block colors and rarely have a print and feel properly monastic at times. I like the bangles too and the handiwork on the enamel is quite intensive and I say it's jewelry if you say so but honestly if your husband offers you a piece of jewelry by jove - take it woman!!! ;) xx PS I see you in alhambra especially as you love quatrefoil too!

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  3. I too love bracelets and enjoy wearing them more so than necklaces - not sure why though. You found a good solution for your lovely chain necklace, which makes it less "clutter" and more "accessory".

    I recall as a young girl my father had a friend in Hatton Garden who would provide my father with spectacular rings for my mother's Christmas presents in exchange for my father making him suits. One day, I was with my father picking up my mother's latest present, and I remember the jeweler friend was called away for a few minutes to answer a query in his shop downstairs. He excused himself and left the room. Dad and I were astonished to see he'd dropped a bag of diamonds in his chair. They were just laying there, which made us both feel quite uncomfortable actually. When he returned and we told him about it, he treated the news as if it was no big deal. We got the distinct impression that it happened to him all the time. I could not even guess at how valuable that little baggie of diamonds was.

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    1. For me necklaces always get entangled somehow with my hair!

      Oh I love those stories about the diamond district where people are so nonchalant about stuff. My friend apprenticed there and apparently - apart from the recent burglary - things like that rarely happen and each diamond has its own fingerprint so the diamond trade wouldn't touch it themselves. But I wish I had a skill I could barter diamonds with!!!

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    2. I had not considered necklaces getting caught in hair, but that is a good point.

      The story I told of the baggie of diamonds happened long ago (back in the late 70's or early 80's), and as you say, since then I'm sure there are strict measures in place to prevent losses and theft. And talking of that latest heist, I was shocked (as was my sister) to discover that one of the people arrested had been in her house the previous day giving her an estimate for some plumbing work. My sister has known the family for several years and was blown away to have seen the man on the news. Talk about three degrees of separation!!

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    3. Considering what plumbers charge I'm surprised he was bothered to rob BC they make good money he he. That's crazy though and I'd have still been shocked now!!

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  4. I love the bracelet/necklace conversions. Very clever! I'm very lazy with jewellery most days. I wear my diamond "push gift" earrings (rarely take them out), my schlumberger ring and a tank francaise watch. They are all waterproof and quite indestructible. I'd love an Alhambra piece but first need to make sure I'm not too lazy to put it to good use. I saw the Iris Apfel movie today and maybe that will inspire me to up my game!

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    1. Love all your classic elements and they are items you never get bored with which is important! waterproof is key. I can't wait to see the Iris movie too.

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  5. I must get out my jewels and play.

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  6. Hi Naomi... I really love your necklace conversion.. the bracelet looks so pretty on your wrist. The quartrefoil shape is beautiful ....My husband always complains that I never wear my jewellery! I wear the same old bits every day!.... I am always leaving my ring all over the place as my hands get hot or I am cooking! I should have a good look at mind when I get home and look for some conversions! I loved this post! xxx

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    1. People think it is odd I don't wear my wedding ring religiously and I go through phases of stacking it on and nothing at all but I now make an effort because it seems a waste otherwise but I do agree that head is not conducive to wearing jewellery at all. I hope you find a piece you can play and convert when you get back home xx

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  7. I am quite superstitious about wearing my wedding ring/not taking it off. But,really, jewellery sort of just defeats me. I don't wear much, and it's always the same things - my Dad's old Rolex from way back, some combination of my H enamel bangles and some ear studs.I like your H necklace very much: very brave of you to have it chopped. Can't go wrong with a bit of H...xsue

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    1. I only got it chopped BC they assured me I could change it back! But having said that I have worn it a few times already so it's a good sign. I just never got into the habit of wearing my ring as I got married in summer and I am afraid I might lose it too...I am liking silver again as I get older and find H does a simple usable range for non teenagers nor hippies ;) x

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  8. Very clever! Too often we have bits and pieces we don't wear for one reason or another… and funnily enough I tend to do the same thing with my pearls - I often put on the necklace and then take it off again. I think if I'm going out to dinner (or something) in a dressy dress, and put on the pearls it is so classic and formal that I just want to take them off again. Don't feel the same way with the bracelet, which doesn't feel quite so uptight maybe? Conversely I will often wear the necklace with casual clothes.
    I do need to wear the necklace more often though…. love the way you turned your bracelet into a necklace though. It does look good… love the chain d'ancre so much. I just have to make do with the scarf though :)

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    1. What heidi said.
      I have so many lovely things I just don't wear- need to get a chain extender for my Tiffany bracelet

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    2. I like nice jewelry with casual clothes. It offsets it better and I like it when people don't know if it's costume or not. A necklace does make you hold yourself differently. I also love the chain motif too!

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    3. Cilla, an extender will do wonders and you can play around for the right drop too

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  9. I tend to buy jewellry and then forget about it. I remain faithful only to my perl earrings and pearl necklace. The bracelet and necklace you wear is such a passpartout, it looks great with everything, it is really elegant and the Greek motiv is soooo elegant. Have a great day

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    1. I love pearls and I wouldn't mind a pearl bracelet...a string of pearls doesn't suit me which I'm sad about BC I just love pearls.

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  10. All of my good jewellry was stolen after i moved back to the States, so i am sort of 'gun-shy' about getting anything new. I just wear decent costume jewellry these days. I did have my good diamond earrings on when the house was robbed, but they got my Cartier tank watch. No insurance, as i had just moved in. :-(

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    1. I lost two items of jewelry and it just stung so badly. Mind you this was my fault and one was an accident. But still. In Asia, they say that losing jewelry is a cost do something worse won't happen!

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    2. Yep, I feel everyone's pain here, so much got thrived two years ago that hadn't been valued for 20 and....60 years - ugh.

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    3. The pain is a rather unique form and I think that's partly the reason why I calmed down with jewellery because of that sting.

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  11. I tend to wear BIG BOLD STUFF.................but you gave me an idea about the husbands wedding ring which he does not wear because of his work...........CONSTRUCTION.Your new bracelet link reminds me of GUCCI............they used that design years ago!

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    1. Yes the chain was s superstitious way of linking yourself and was for marriages and unions. I do love your enthusiasm for accessories but I could never pull it off!

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  12. I'm one of those types who doesn't get jewellery, I wear my wedding stuff about twice a month but at heart I'm a simple unemebellished type. That said, what you've done here is lovely, like you I'm better at admiring the things on others.

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    1. I wore my wedding ring last month and months before that. But I am trying to declutter and maximize my stuff otherwise I might as well go live with the Amish at my rate!

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  13. Your jewelry makes such a great gift idea being so unique. :)

    Rajsi | silver necklace online

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