More often than not, Steampunk jewelry is handmade, as these items are not mass produced in a factory. There is a lot of handwork involved. These ornaments incorporate a lot of brass, bronze, copper, and antiqued or oxidized metals, which include gunmetal, brass, and silver. The metals that go into these items are on the darker side, not a lot of shiny gold and silver.

Jewelry is often rather bold looking. It involves unusual rings that look heavy as well as ornate. There are a lot of chains and other metal pieces like cogwheels from clocks, keys, brass fittings, and buttons as earrings. Some classic jewelry will fit in nicely, also. Steampunk-style necklaces, pins, broaches, watches, bracelets, earrings, and cufflinks have become prominent in the jewelry-making industry.

There are several sites out there that sell this type of jewelry and about as many sites that will custom make your pieces, or teach you how to make your own Steampunk jewelry. Your steampunk attire can be further enhanced with jewelry that's creative as well as intricate.

If you decide to create some of your own steampunk trinkets, here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Start with Gorilla glue to glue metal to metal. And after it dries spray with sealant or resin.

• Practice by producing your own and unique steampunk cell phone cover. Match it with your garments. You might paint it a dark- metal color; adorn it with Victorian style or other antique, metal pieces, such as clock faces, cogs, gears, and vintage watch parts.

Just make sure you aren’t tearing Uncle Louie’s prized antique pocket watch apart to find these parts. Thrift stores are a good place to come upon some metal items that will fit into the theme.

• Chokers or necklaces can be made using a chain, lace, or velvet ribbon. Add a pendant, pin or cameo, which is typical of Victorian times. This is where those old chokers that were out of fashion will work well.

• Produce a pair of steampunk earrings or cufflinks by using old pairs that have a flat surface. To these apply an assortment of old-fashioned keys, small locks, lockets, clock hands, antique pocket watch parts, dials, small springs, vials, or antique typewriter keys. I would keep in mind how heavy the earrings will come out, and use something on the lighter side to produce them.

• If you would like to include gems in your steampunk jewelry, make sure they were around being used during the steam age. Some of these were diamonds, agate, carnelian, ruby, garnet, and turquoise. They carved cameos from conch shells, and painted small portraits on ceramic pendants.

These are just a few ways to make your own charming and unique items. Steampunk jewelry is very functional, unusual, romantic, and scientific, with an antique look. Some of these vintage jewelry designs, the cameo for one, have remained in style throughout the years, and one would expect it to continue. Get your imagination going and put your own spin on steampunk jewelry. Anything from the Victorian period is an excellent place to start.