A Reimagined Hatpin

Around the turn of the 20th century, ladies began favoring hats over bonnets, and thus the popularity of the hatpins soared. While the pinhead of the hatpin could be simple to quite ornate, the function of a hatpin is for keeping a hat pinned to the head. The pin is quite sharp, enough to pierce through thicker felts and leathers. There were even local ordinances in the early 20th century that the tip of one’s hatpin must be covered so as to not injure others!

Of course nowadays, it is not common nor in fashion to wear a pretty hat for daily life. I have had a beautiful mabe pearl hatpin in my jewelry box for years which has gone unworn. I decided to turn it into a ring so that I could actually enjoy wearing it. I simply snipped off the sharp pin tip with a pair of jewelry pliers, and bent the metal around my finger to form a ring. While crudely fashioned, it wears beautifully. And because it’s not soldered, I can adjust it to wear on different fingers. Now I am on the lookout for hatpins at flea markets and resale shops!