How To Make Your Own Bicycle Jewelry

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I love making and finding jewelry that is made out of non-traditional materials which is why I really like the whole concept of bicycle jewelry: making beautiful jewelry out of old and new bicycle parts! Bicycle jewelry is popular not only with the biking crowd, but also with people who enjoy wearing something a little different and funky. The really cool part about making jewelry from bicycle parts is that a good design can serve as a really great piece of jewelry while still being completely recognized as something that belongs on a bike!

A common bicycle chain can be used to make all sorts of bicycle-themed jewelry!

If you haven’t looked at a bike in a while then you might be a little surprised that there is anything worth making jewelry out of, but on close inspection a bicycle is really completely made up of hundreds of very small parts, many of them shiny and metal very unique looking when considered on their own. The skills needed to make jewelry out of bicycle parts vary depending on what you’re making, but some of your beaded jewelry skills such as working with wire and metal and attaching clasps are all very useful. For more advanced bicycle part jewelry you could find yourself welding pieces together, cutting and shaping metal and even applying different metal polishes and finishes.

There are several basic bicycle parts that many pieces of jewelry can be made from:

Bicycle Chain Jewelry: This is clearly the most obvious part of a bike which can be used to make jewelry. There are lots of bike chain bracelets, chain necklaces, chain keychains and all sorts of jewelry pieces made from new and used bicycle chains. There are even bicycle chain bracelets made out of sterling silver. If you’re going to go the used chain route you may need to soak the chain in a degreaser or use some other method to make sure it is clean and safe to wear.

Bicycle Gear and Cog Pendants and Necklaces: The next most obvious part of a bicycle to be used in jewelry would have to be the gears and cogs and little round items that can be found all over most modern bicycles. Some gears are too large to be used or worn comfortable, but some are just the right size for running a chain through them or attaching to a chain.

Bike Spokes, Valves, Bolts and Other Pieces for Earrings: Some bicycle gears, washers, bolts and even valves all have a unique and modern design element to them that can really make a piece of jewelry stand out. I’ve learned that pretty much any single hardware piece can somehow be attached to an earring hook for an easy and funky way of spicing up your wardrobe.

The challenge of using bicycle parts not intended for jewelry is a big part of the fun. The wide appeal and recognition of bicycle parts means that any jewelry you make could sell well if you had the right crowd. Bicycle jewelry can appeal to young children and older people who remember their first bike and much of the jewelry I’ve seen that is made out of bicycle parts could be considered just as masculine as it is feminine.

If any of you have made your own bicycle jewelry please let me know and give us a link so we can check out what you did!