Comments on: Question of Legality on Repurposed Jewelry

By: Drakestail Jewellery

Drakestail Jewellery — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 16:26:52 +0000

I don’t think there’s anything illegal about deconstructing and reconstructing jewellery of any sort. I would make sure to point out to potential customers that it’s repurposed or recreated, whichever terminology fits your branding. Just be as transparent as possible about it, and make it a part of your business’s story. A lot of people like the idea of recycled items.

By: Donna

Donna — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 19:30:02 +0000

I asked a friend of mine who sells for a company that has a catalog and now on line about this. The jewelry has the name of the company on the back. She said that after she sells her product to me, that I can do whatever I want to the parts.

By: Penny

Penny — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 23:30:00 +0000

I do this all the time. New and old pieces. I have taken apart my own jewelry, redesigned it and sold it. I think the other commenter is right, once you purchase it, it’s yours to do what you want with it.

By: Anne Mulligan

Anne Mulligan — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 16:39:32 +0000

Well, put, Sarah.

I’m sure there’s nothing illegal about using parts, since you could simply resell the jewelry if you wanted to. To me, creatively, there’s a question of how much you’re actually changing the original item. I’ve seen jewelry on etsy (bird and branch necklaces, especially) that is labeled “handmade” although it’s made from a kit. I had a seller get very offended when I said that, to my mind, this is not what “handmade” means.

By: Sarah S.

Sarah S. — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 19:17:44 +0000

I am not a lawyer, but my understanding is that in the US, copyright does not apply to jewelry – as like clothing it is considered a “useful” item. Trademarks and patents may apply. Additionally, there is something called the “doctrine of first sale” that basically states once you buy an item you own it and have the right to make changes and/or resell it. Think of it like buying a stock car and then retrofitting it to be a hotrod. You bought it, so you can do what you like and you can resell it.

Now, aside from legalities, there are other questions:
Do you know what that Chinese jewelry is made of? Is it actually safe for the re purposing? If it was originally an earring component meant to dangle away from the body, is it safe to use it as a pendant with constant skin contact?
Who is your clientele? Do they want that type of mass produced item? If so, are they willing to pay handmade prices for the changes you made to it?

Personally, I prefer not to do this type of repurposing, at least not for the focals. I find they don’t usually fit my aesthetic anyway. I will use some of the complementary beads out of a piece, if they look nice and complement the more unique focal I want to use. But I almost never buy a piece just for that…