Over the years, I have purchased many pieces of vintage jewelry that have some wear on the enamel. Many of these pieces were relegated to my jewelry box, where I couldn’t throw them away or use them. It wasn’t until I bought an interesting vintage Christmas brooch that someone had already repainted but in a rather lurid green that I got the idea to re-enamel. So I went to the big craft store in town and weaved my way past the men who were buying little pots of enamel paint for their model soldiers and vehicles.

Now I buy my little pots at a local model shop and have been the only woman there so far. But don’t let this discourage you. Enamel pots are not only available in khaki and army brown, but also in bright colors that are ideal for jewelry. Gather your paints, brushes, kitchen paper, and newspaper first.

Clean the jewelry you want to paint and let it dry. Use a freshly moistened cotton swab for this.

Place on a piece of newspaper or a piece of kitchen paper.

Be sure not to smoke as the paint is flammable and use in a well-ventilated room.

Use small craft brushes and clean afterwards with a towel.

When open, stir the paint well before using and a little goes a long way.

Paint the area and let it dry, then paint again; gives a good color that lasts longer

Match the original paint and you may have to mix different paints to match the color.

Or you can experiment and paint new shades to be a bit more modern.

However, experiment with some junk jewelry before painting a more expensive piece.

A great way to recycle jewelry that has small chips or the plate has worn off. But be careful, it can be addictive.

Have fun!