How to Make Broken China Jewelry Pendants — No Soldering Required

Turn broken or chipped China into beautiful jewelry pendants!

This easy craft is a great way to transform a vintage plate from your grandma or aunt into a cherished keepsake. Or, pick up a few patterned plates from the thrift store. This project comes together with a few simple tools and a no-solder method that works well for beginners.

Supplies

• A patterned saucer or plate (not glass)
• 1/4-inch adhesive foil tape
• Sandpaper or a sanding block
• E6000 Adhesive 
• Glue on pinch bails for jewelry (bails to match your foil tape)
• Work gloves
• Safety glasses
• Tile snips (optional)
• 2mm Satin cording or necklace chain

How To Make Broken China Jewelry Pendants – 4 Easy Steps

STEP 1:

To start, you’ll need to break your plate into small pieces. You can do this in a couple of ways. The first is to place your saucer or plate on a towel, fold the other half over the top, and smash the plate into pieces with a hammer. This works great if your china plate has an overall pattern.

Reminder: Wear protective gloves and safety glasses!

The second option is to use tile snips to score, then place the plate between the grippers to snap pieces away. This is not an exact science, but it does give you a little more control.

For a better look at how to use tile snips, check out this short video from Ace Hardware: How To Use A Handheld Tile Cutter.

There is a third option: Purchase a Dremel with a Diamond Cutting Wheel. Your China plate could still break in unexpected places, but a Dremel offers more control over the cutting process.

STEP 2:

Once you have your pieces, use sandpaper or a sanding block to smooth the sharp edges.

STEP 3:

Peel off the backing of your adhesive foil tape and guide it around the edges of your pendant. Then smooth the tape edges over the front and back of your pendant for a finished look.

STEP 4:

Glue a pinch bail to the back of your pendant using E6000, and add it to a necklace chain or satin cording.