History of Charm Bracelets

The custom of wearing charm bracelets datesand the charm bracelet grows along with them,
back thousands of years, and though thereflecting hobbies and personal experience. A
materials and designs on them have changed, thecharm bracelet can hold a small replica of a
concept itself has never gone out of style.graduation cap, wedding bells, or lockets with
This form of jewelry initially had a religouschildren's photos.
function, and dates back to the prehistoric era.Charms are also a popular gift because of their
According to Elizabeth Florence, president of theaffordable price. An intricate silver charm can be
Jewelry Information Center, "The first charmobtained for less than ten dollars, though it is
bracelets were probably worn by the Assyrians,possible to spend hundreds of dollars on a charm
Babylonians, Persians and Hittites from 500 to 400made of 18K and set with gems.
B.C. Those charms were made of lapis lazuli, rockItalian charms, a genre in and of themselves, do
crystal and other gems and were inscribed withnot dangle from a chain like traditional charms.
small designs, such as figures of gods, man andInstead, they are soldered onto flat links which
animals. They were immediately associated withsnap onto an extensible bracelet. They are
special powers."embellished with letters, symbols, pictures or
As time passed, charms lost their protectivestones, or have enamel pictures painted on them.
spiritual functions and became fashion jewelry.Charms can be snapped on and off these
The 1890's saw a renaissance of charms,modular bracelets to create new configurations to
especially in Victorian England, where elaborate andmatch different moods and outfits. They are
intricate jewelry was in vogue. Queen Victoriatraditionally made of stainless steel or 18k gold.
helped popularize the trend by wearing a charmItalian charms are of the same standard size and
bracelet of small lockets holding family portraits.the resulting bracelet can be customized to fit
WW II caused another revival of charm braceletsevery wrist; a small size holds 17 or less links, a
in America in the 1940's and 1950's, as soldiersmedium 18, and a large 19 or more.
stationed abroad picked up charms as souvenirs inThere are different companies which produce
the European cities they visited and brought themItalian charms, but all brands can be interchanged
home for wives and girlfriends. The fashion trendon the same bracelet. The basic "starter" bracelet
continued well into peacetime.of blank links costs approximately five dollars, and
Charms still remain a popular jewelry item, asthe charms cost fifteen dollars and up. China also
personalized keepsakes in an increasinglymanufactures Italian charms, and while these are
mass-produced jewelry market. Popular themespopular (and, as with most Chinese goods, very
include horoscope signs, birthstone charms, travelcompetitively priced), some consumers report
souvenirs, and family keepsakes. Many womenoccasional oddities such as reversed images and
start collecting charms when they are children,poor fit.