The world of Steampunk is beginning to emerge into the mainstream from the various, underground circles where it has long been a well-kept secret.

Steampunk fashion is now appearing on the catwalks and beginning to catch the eye of the media and it will be interesting to see if the whole movement will evolve or whether its followers will forsake it once it hits the high street.

There is so much to Steampunk, from the classic books of Jules Verne and HG Wells to the “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” Graphic Novels of Alan Moore, art, role playing games, clothes, but for me its Steampunk Jewelry that I love the most.

I have been making my own Jewelry for quite some time and have always been interested in vintage pieces, the remnants of yesteryear. So when I saw that there was a whole new way to reappropriate the past and give it a modern context, via Jewelry – I was in heaven!

As a main component, I’ll buy old watches and timepieces anywhere I can find them but the bulk of my material has come via the Internet. Over the past year the cost has been increasing as sellers realize that there is a market for vintage watches (broken at that) and instead of listing “Watches for repair or parts” they are now rebranding them as “Steampunk” and upping the prices.

I love to take these old timepieces apart and discover the treasures they contain.

A lot of the time, you find plastic workings from modern watches, but often when you find a watch that was made pre-sixties, you will find tiny rubies that are used as bearings because they are so resilient.

When you look at the workings of these old watches you can only marvel at the craftsmanship that has gone into making them. It is little wonder that all these intricate pieces have inspired another art form, Horological Collage, which uses watch parts to create pictures. This translates beautifully into Steampunk Art and some of my favourite pieces utilise this technique.

Once I have an abundant supply of vintage watch parts to fashion into Steampunk Jewelry, it’s simply a question of finding the best way to reappropriate the cogs and movements and it’s never long before inspiration strikes.

I love the fact that I’m giving something so skilfully made, which was sadly discarded as junk, a new life.

Surely that is the ultimate form of upcycling!

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