Vienna Business Owner Making It Big With Used Shot Gun Ammunition Jewelry

VIENNA, Georgia (41NBC?WMGT) – If you’re looking for a unique gift this holiday season, how about handmade jewelry from used gun ammunition? Spent Rounds Designs out of Vienna makes one-of-a-kind jewelry from used shotgun shells.

“Spent rounds. I don’t believe you can get a name that is more relevant to the product,” Andy Thompson said.

Andy came up with the idea to make jewelry from used shot gun shells three years ago.

“I thought he had lost his mind,” his wife Tonya said. “I said, ‘Oh my goodness, what are you thinking?'”

But it turned out to be a great idea. What started off as a small business in their garage has turned into something bigger.

“Every door that needed to be cracked has been literally knocked off the hinges,” Andy said.

Andy and his employees hand make the jewelry in his shop. After a bit of polishing and putting on the finishing touches, these one-of-a-kind pieces are ready to be sold. And that is his favorite part.

“The most gratifying thing for me is to watch the reaction when they walk up,” Andy said.

“It’s something you can’t find anywhere.,” shopper Krystal Montford said.

“It’s very unique. It’s very original,” shopper Gail Graham said.

“They don’t recognize it sometimes to start with,” Tonya said.

But once they get it, they love it and business is really picking up. Hundreds of retailers across the country are selling their jewelry.

“I just want it to grow beyond our imagination,” Tonya said.

And that may happen, but the Thompsons say they’re taking it day by day.

“We continue to be blessed every single day,” Tonya said.

“I don’t think its anything that I could have dreamed up or conceived myself,” Andy said. “I really believe its been a blessing.”

A blessing that keeps on giving, one round at a time.

Spent Rounds Designs is going green. All the jewelry is completely made of recycled material. Click here for more information on products and pricing.