Ridgefield, Conn.—Mined + Found has released a fun-filled collection of childhood toys turned into fine jewelry.
From jacks to spinning tops and tic-tac-toe boards, the “Play” collection includes a variety of sculptural pieces that not only look like nostalgic toys, but work like them too.
Almost all of the 23 pieces are kinetic or have a playable aspect to their design.
When creating a new collection, Jennifer Breznen, owner and creative director of Mined + Found, said she is always drawn to two themes—mechanical objects and antiques.
The way things click, shift, and come to life, and how beautifully objects were once designed and crafted stand out to her, she said, adding, “That naturally led me to antique and vintage toys—especially tin and aluminum playthings, which often paired the most vibrant colors with clever, simple mechanisms.”
A highlight of the Play collection is the “Prize Bubble” locket that functions like a Gachapon, which is a type of vending machine similar to a gumball machine that dispenses plastic prize capsules.
The lockets use borosilicate glass as the dome, paired with 14-karat yellow gold, diamonds, and a variety of colored enamel offerings.
A diamond-encrusted button opens the locket to display the many toys seen throughout the collection, like the “Chance” stud earrings depicting dice or the “Continuum Whistle” pendant that works like a whistle.
“Play is meant to bring a sense of joy and lightness to the everyday—each piece a not-so-subtle reminder that delight, curiosity, and whimsy belong in even our most ordinary moments,” said Breznen.
“While the designs definitely carry nostalgic themes and silhouettes, they’re not meant to inspire living in the past. Instead, they serve to suggest that we infuse the present with a sense of playfulness and wonder—carrying the past forward in a way that enriches the present.”
The collection is crafted in 14-karat yellow gold, except for the “Fortune Dice” which are also available in sterling silver, with diamonds and a variety of enamel colors.
However, it isn’t all about games, Play also includes “Lucky Star” hoops, pendants, and studs that can be paired with the playful pendants, earrings, bracelets, and charms.
The Play collection ranges from $875 to $10,000.
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