Techy Jewlery from Repurposed Computer Gear
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California 
on 11.20.08
Jewelry by MoxRogers
Etsy.com is a hotbed for creative reuse of junk. Even the quickest of peeks in the shop reveals artists making waste into treasure. Fortunately, artists are also repurposing computer parts that would otherwise be e-waste.
One such artist is Audrey Rogers (aka Mox) who is designing jewelry for a much bigger purpose that simply salvaging junk.
Rogers creates simple, lovely accessories from computer parts salvaged from computers. Her mother was recently diagnosed with lymphoma, and sales from the jewelry go to offsetting medical expenses. Saving computer parts to create jewelry to save a life – I’m not sure what could be more huggable.
Computer pieces being made into something beautiful is actually all over Etsy. Here are a few more jewelry designers who are repurposing fragments of electronics.
each earring is made by hand using the resistance of electronic devices
from computers. I love how these apparently unestetic pieces are surprisingly beautyful and colorful, and offer so many possibilities as to forming various shapes and forms. the components are welded together and then thoroughly polished. the earring hooks are in sterlng silver.
My main goal lately has been recycling and incorporate found object/material into my jewelry making them unique. Since computers play a major role in our daily lives with documentation, communication and making our lives a little simpler I decided to use the keyboard keys to form a different function. The function of adornment and fashion.
These cute little earrings are super lightweight; made from up-cycled computer parts & other tiny metal tidbits. A dark green color, with a funky silver pattern; these are just they way I found them in the pile of old computers & other junk. Stainless steel ear-wires. Your funky earrings will arrive in a recycled craft box, tied up with a ribbon; ready for gift giving. Free note-card included.
Finding items like this is a surefire way to accomplish several things at once. First, reduce the environmental impact of electronics. Second, help out independent artists. Third, gain an accessory that is totally unique and no one else will have. And fourth, possibly find a gift for someone else that is sure to be a memory maker.
More on Recycled Accessories:
Groovy Gift Baskets from The Groovy Mind
Recycled Rubber from Tires, Ready-to-Assemble Bags by Modulab
Tanvi Kant's Recycled Necklaces
Virgin Atlantic Recycle Seat Covers into Worn Again Bags
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Many of the components inside of old computers are toxic waste, containing lead, cadmium, mercury and other poisons.
Treehugger has covered this many times, including this story:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/10/e-waste_in_india.php
I would be very skeptical of putting random metallic bits of computers on my skin, especially when the the person selling them to me is a hobbyist who doesn't seem to have any background in what these pretty bits contain.
Umm wow this is not exactly the best idea. Old electronics can and do have toxic substances in them. Including but not limited to;
Lead
Chromium
PCB's
Arsenic
Barium
Cadmium
Selenium
Dichlorobenzene
Solder Flux
Silver Solder
Thallium
And that's just a start. I would NEVER expose my self in an intimate manner to electronic components as jewelry. Also keep in mind these electronics in many areas are now considered hazardous waste and that's why landfills can no longer take them and you want people to wear them?
You both bring up very valid points of concern. And you're right, it is important to consider issues of toxicity when purchasing jewelry that uses old computer parts.
However, not all computer pieces contain toxic materials, and many designers have been using safe computer components for jewelry for quite some time.
But you're right - it would be very wise to double check with the designer before making a purchase to ensure no parts with toxic materials are used in the piece.
Perhaps you didn't read or understand what Ricardo P. said. If you checked with, even if you double checked with a designer having no knowledge of toxicity, and the designer said, "Yeah, sure. No problem," would wearing the designer's jewelry then be perfectly safe? Of course not.
Toxicity is not an issue for let's just pretend.
Also, if every piece of electronic gear was chopped up into tiny pieces and turned into clever pieces of jewelry that was saved for a time but ultimately lost or thrown away, would that "reduce the environmental impact of electronics" (as you claim) or merely disperse and postpone the disposal of it?
"Finding items such as this" would accomplish none of the goals you mention. Buying them, however, might accomplish one or two of them.
this kind of jewelry has been ugly for 30 years
Whilst I applaud any and all reuse of computer waste I think the problem is a magnitude or two bigger than this solution.
I understand the concern, and will not claim that wearing these, or ANY piece of jewelry is as safe as hugging a freshly brushed kitten. Just a few points, from my side, though: a)in my area, the facilities for e-waste recycling are rare if not non-existent, b)the portion of the jewelry that your skin is in closest contact with (the hook, in the case of the earrings shown) is new, commercially available jewelry material for hygiene and safety reasons, and c)wearing most of the stuff that's made with any attention paid to it at all is safer than wearing most lipsticks (many of which contain lead that ends up being unintentionally eaten by the wearer) or typing on a keyboard. As for the comment about the aesthetics of them, I promise I won't force you to wear them. To each their own :)
I fully comply with the concerns in the previous comments. As an artist you should be aware of the materials you choose to work with, especially using jewelry since it is worn on the body having skin contact.
Speaking for myself and my work; as a metalsmith I am very cautious of the metals I use as well as the process that goes through my creations. The majority of the sterling/fine silver I purchase is recycled (Hoover and Strong, Rio Grande) and I collect my scrap metal to use in another project, for casting or it's saved to be refined.
Most metalsmiths do require the use of certain chemicals, gases and products in their creative process but some of us are trying to find new ways to be "greener" in our studios as much as possible. I am always up for new suggestions :)
For reference the solder I used is lead/cadmium-free, silver was recycled and only computer parts I use is the plastic computer keyboard key.
If you're a little nervous about computer components being toxic, you might want to try aluminum. My "Bracelets with a Conscience" found at www.AnnMadeArt.etsy.com are made using post-consumer soda can tabs (they're washed and then super cleaned using an industrial ultra-sonic jewelry machine). Not only are they chic and funky, they remind others how important it is to resuse and repurpose and why not do it with a little flair.