| The wearing of charms may have begun as a | | | | History |
| form of amulet to ward off evil spirits or | | | | |
| bad luck. | | | | Designed in Italy, the Italian charm craze |
| | | | caught on and even soccer players wore these |
| In ancient Egypt charms were used for | | | | bracelets featuring their country flag. In |
| identification and as symbols of faith and | | | | the 1990s, American tourists noticed the |
| luck. Charms also served to identify an | | | | style and brought it back to the United |
| individual to the gods in the afterlife. | | | | States where the fashion caught on and has |
| Medieval knights wore charms for protection | | | | remained popular.[citation needed] |
| in battle. Charms also were worn in the dark | | | | |
| ages to represent family origin, religious | | | | How they work |
| and political convictions. | | | | |
| | | | A starter Italian charm bracelet consists of |
| Charm bracelets have been the subject of | | | | eighteen blank links. In order to create a |
| several waves of trends. Queen Victoria wore | | | | personalized Italian charm bracelet, these |
| charm bracelets that started a fashion among | | | | blank links are replaced with individually |
| the European noble classes. Soldiers | | | | designed Italian charms. Italian charms are |
| returning home after World War II brought | | | | flat, modular links that hook together. While |
| home trinkets made by craftsmen local to the | | | | traditional charms dangle, Italian charms |
| area where they were fighting to give to | | | | feature individual pieces soldered flat onto |
| loved ones, American teenagers in the 1950s | | | | the surface of the link. |
| collected charms to record the events in | | | | |
| their lives. Although interest and production | | | | Italian Charms are compatible across brands |
| waned through the latter part of the 20th | | | | due to standardized sizing. The modular |
| century, collectors eagerly sought out | | | | design means that the charms on an Italian |
| vintage charms. Due to the movie Pirate Of | | | | charm bracelet are interchangeable. An |
| The Caribbean, the fashion in winter 2006 is | | | | individual Italian charm can be switched out |
| bracelets with little charms of swords, | | | | for a new look or to better suit the mood or |
| crosses and skulls. | | | | changing interests of an individual. |
| | | | |
| Italian charm bracelets | | | | Styles |
| | | | |
| In 2001, a new fashion was launched for | | | | An Italian charm bracelet can be assembled in |
| Italian charm bracelets, in which the charms | | | | many styles. Italian Charms can be grouped to |
| are snapped onto the body of the bracelet | | | | follow a theme such as family, a specific |
| rather than dangled from it. Italian charms | | | | color, career or hobby. Also, since there are |
| are flat, modular links that hook together to | | | | many types of Italian charms, an Italian |
| form an Italian charm bracelet, keychain, or | | | | charm bracelet can feature a combination of |
| other accessories. While traditional charms | | | | styles. This may include laser Italian |
| dangle, Italian charms feature individual | | | | charms, photo Italian charms, hand-painted |
| pieces soldered flat onto the surface of the | | | | Italian charms, authentic licensed Italian |
| link. Some high fashion names such as Louis | | | | charms, deluxe-link Italian charms and dangle |
| Vuitton and Juicy Couture have begun issuing | | | | Italian charms among others. |
| their own collectible Italian charms. | | | | |
| | | | Materials |
| n Italian Charm bracelet is a series of | | | | |
| individual modular links hooked together on a | | | | Italian charms are most often crafted using |
| stretchy band to form a single Italian charm | | | | stainless steel backing and a gold-plated or |
| bracelet. A typical Italian charm bracelet is | | | | 18 karat gold charm face. The face of the |
| comprised of eighteen Italian charm links. | | | | charm (which features the design) is soldered |
| Each link features an Italian charm face | | | | or glued to the stainless steel link. The |
| (design or image) soldered onto the actual | | | | charm itself may feature synthetic or genuine |
| Italian charm link. | | | | gemstones as part of its design. |
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