Dead computer hardware doesn’t have to end up in the scrapheap. And, it really shouldn’t considering the toxic materials and precious metals inside most computer equipment.
A few artists and craftspeople however, have found a unique way to breathe new life into dead computer hardware–jewelry.
This gallery showcases computer jewelry from Violets new Vintage and 2Roses Jewelry. From bracelets and cuff links made from circuit boards to necklaces and rings full of resistors, these beautiful, unique creations illustrate a very creative way to reuse old computer hardware.
Read an interview with the artists behind these amazing piece of jewelry in the TR Dojo blog.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Description from 2Roses Jewelry:
“The first of the HiTec Series. This necklace uses non-conforming military circuit boards salvaged from missiles (don’t ask).”
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Description from 2Roses Jewelry:
“Recycled electronic components (i.e. resistors, diodes, chip sets etc) combine to add color and texture to this necklace. Components are set on tubes of varying diameters and length.”
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Description from 2Roses Jewelry:
“This is the initial piece in the Hi Tek series, and the result of a grant we received from a large electronics manufacturer. The concept behind this piece addresses the transitory nature of value. The components used in this piece have a combined value of well over $10,000. Because they had been deemed “non-conforming” (they don’t meet specification) their value immediately became zero. By using the components in a piece of jewelry value is reinstated. Its all in how you look at it.”
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Description from 2Roses Jewelry:
“This piece was named in honor of Buckminster Fuller. A “Quadruple Buckey” is hacker slang for a keyboard maneuver that requires four keys to be pressed simultaneously often with considerable difficulty.”
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Description from 2Roses Jewelry:
“This piece was named in honor of Buckminster Fuller. A “Quadruple Buckey” is hacker slang for a keyboard maneuver that requires four keys to be pressed simultaneously often with considerable difficulty.”
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Description from 2Roses Jewelry:
“This was a limited edition commissioned by a corporate client for Christmas gifts to their clients.”
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Description from 2Roses Jewelry:
“These are fabricated from recycled military circuit boards. Many military spec boards use 24kt gold circuitry (as these do). Set with cz.”
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Description from 2Roses Jewelry:
“A number of our interests converge in these earrings. Recycled circuit boards, lenticular plastic and white light laser refractive foils. When worn, these constantly change color and shift focus.”
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Description from 2Roses Jewelry:
“Here is a story about found objects in the 21st century. The gold discs on this ring are actually experimental photo diodes that were developed for use in Cat Scan machines. The original cost of developing the diodes was over $30 Million dollars. Approximately 300 diodes were produced. When it became clear that they would never perform to expectation the project was terminated. The diodes immediately went from having a very high value to no value, back to value as a piece of jewelry.”
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Description from 2Roses Jewelry:
“The gold discs in the earrings are actually experimental photo diodes that were developed for use in Cat Scan machines. The original cost of developing the diodes was over $30 Million dollars. Approximately 300 diodes were produced. When it became clear that they would never perform to expectation the project was terminated. These are two of the original 300 at a cost of $100,000. each plus .12\u00a2 for the acrylic.”
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Description from 2Roses Jewelry:
“We just hate to throw anything away. So there we were looking at a huge stack of old computer floppy disks. What a marvelous material this turned out to be. The disk part itself is a very tough and durable polyvinyl film that has an incredible reflective quality.”
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Photo credit: 2Roses Jewelry
For more information on circuit board jewelry from 2Roses Jewelry, please check out 2roses.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Photo credit: Violets new Vintage
For more information on circuit board jewelry from Violets new Vintage, please check out VioletsNewVintage.etsy.com.
Bill Detwiler is the Editor for Technical Content and Ecosystem at Celonis. He is the former Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and previous host of TechRepublic's Dynamic Developer podcast and Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Previously, Bill was an IT manager in the social research and energy industries. He has bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Louisville, where he has also lectured on computer crime and crime prevention.
