Recycled silver rings, pendants and bracelets

Looking for pieces made in recycled silver? Here are some you can buy online, from a well-known and trusted site

"Fair trade" and "environmentally friendly" are terms you often hear nowadays in connection with food and clothing, but not so much when it comes to jewellery - apart perhaps from conflict diamonds. However, if you're not looking to buy a diamond ring but you are searching for an eco-aware piece of silver jewellery, then the best routes to go down are either (a) buy a vintage piece, or (b) buy something made from recycled silver. As the phrase suggests, recycled silver is silver that's already been used for another purpose before being made into a ring, pendant or whatever. It might have started life as another piece of jewellery, but it's more likely to have begun its journey as an electronic component, catalyst or in photographic film (although the latter sector is declining due to the advent of digital cameras!)

Recovering the silver from old circuit boards or photographic film and turning it into jewellery makes perfect sense, and such jewellery would make the ideal gift for the eco-conscious woman in your life. I've done some browsing and found that you can buy recycled silver jewellery online, at Amazon.com - read on, and see what you think. The items I've picked are in the capsules below and right.

The stand-out brand when it comes to recycled silver on Amazon is Carolyn Pollack. She and her husband Bill started their company in the 1990s; all their pieces are produced on-site at their New Mexico HQ, giving employment to around 200 skilled craftspeople. Many of the pieces they produce have a strong Southwestern feel, but in a fresh, modern way. These pieces are made using traditional stones such as turquoise, lapis and jasper, in carved/oxidised silver settings that enhance rather than overshadow the stone. I was particularly attracted to the sterling silver "Jewel Illusions" serpentine ring; the claws holding the stone in place are reminiscent of a frog's toes holding on to a piece of vegetation (or maybe that's just me LOL). The "Te Amo" silver heart rings shown would also make a fab gift on Valentine's day, as would anything made with a soft, rose-coloured rhodonite or rhodochrosite stone.

Available on Amazon

	Carolyn Pollack Sterling Silver Jewel Illusions Serpentine Ring Nothing evokes the strength and power of the earth like green serpentine! From the Jewel Illusions collection by Carolyn Pollack, this bold ring is securely encased in a twist ...
	Carolyn Pollack Sterling Silver Peridot and Lavender Plazuela Ring Lavender and peridot ring combines beauty, sculptural silver and natural gemstones all in one! A stately fleur-de-lis silver motif frames a green peridot stone against the ... Only $103.00
	Carolyn Pollack Sterling Silver and Copper Peach Moonstone Ring Enjoy Western romance anytime! Slip this on your finger and be transported to the old West, when women combine rugged individualism with femininity for a unique romantic ...
	Carolyn Pollack Sterling Silver Pastel Illusions Picture Jasper Ring A strong and striking jasper ring from the Pastel Illusions collection by Carolyn Pollack. Beautifully framed with gleaming sterling silver fan shapes, the clear brown-green ...

As you can see, there are a lot of rings to choose from in the Carolyn Pollack range, as well as a few pendants! In case you were wondering: if you see the word "enhancer", an enhancer is a pendant with a bail that opens up and clips shut, allowing you to attach it to your favourite beaded necklace as well as threading it on a conventional chain - very versatile! Carolyn Pollack is also the designer of Loving Family silver pendants, which are a complete departure from the Southwestern theme.

And finally, there are some stunning bracelets/cuffs in the Carolyn Pollack range. When it comes to buying bracelets, it's always worth taking a minute to check out the dimensions given in the listing, and using a tape measure (or piece of string and a ruler) to work out the size of your wrist and/or compare the dimensions given with those of a bracelet you already own which is a good fit.

	Carolyn Pollack Sterling Silver and Rhodonite Filigree Te Amo Heart Ring Te Amo, Spanish for "I love you", is Carolyn Pollack's most romantic designer jewelry collection! A bold pink rhodonite heart-shaped cabochon is gracefully set in a gallery ...
	Carolyn Pollack Sterling Silver Soft Rose Rhodochrosite Ring This rosy ring is filled with romance! The soft rose hue of the natural rhodochroscite gemstone will warm your heart and alight your passion in this beautiful sterling silver ...
	Carolyn Pollack Sterling Silver Vibrant Earthtones Inlay Ring Finely detailed sterling silver frames a multi-channel inlay of tiger's eye, blue turquoise and red coral gemstones for a ring that's elegant and eye-catching! Split shank ...
	Carolyn Pollack Sterling Silver Natural Hues Illusion Geometric Enhancer From the creative mind of designer Carolyn Pollack, a trapezoid enhancer in the dusky tones of the great desert of the Southwest. Smoky quartz is surrounded by sterling silver ...
	Carolyn Pollack Sterling Silver and Copper Rodeo Romance Cuff Bracelet Sterling silver blossoms surround luminous shades of pink gemstones in this elegant cuff bracelet from renowned designer Carolyn Pollack! A large, round rose quartz cabochon ...