| Traditionally, there are several times in a woman's | | | | charms. Women today often wear a single charm |
| life when she can receive a charm bracelet; once | | | | from their collection on a bracelet, or as a |
| as a young girl and once for her marriage. In the | | | | pendant. Collections are often beautifully displayed |
| past, when a woman married, she was given a | | | | in a shadow box, or hung from ribbons on a |
| charm bracelet to celebrate her future. A charm | | | | bulletin board, mirror or frame. Vintage charms |
| bracelet with wedding bells or a marriage | | | | make wonderful gifts. For a recently married |
| certificate was later filled with charms | | | | bride, each guest could gave the bride an antique |
| representing the honeymoon, anniversaries and | | | | charm representing one of her, or the couple's, |
| the birth of her children. This bracelet was | | | | interests or experiences. For another bride, she |
| frequently referred to as a "Lifetime" bracelet, | | | | could do the opposite, using the antique charms |
| growing over the years to one day be passed | | | | as personalized thank-you gifts for her |
| onto her daughter, so she could continue the | | | | bridesmaids. Yet another idea would be that a |
| tradition of charm collecting from generation to | | | | woman could treat herself each birthday to a |
| generation. Charm bracelets were passed on from | | | | charm with some relevance to the preceding year |
| mother to daughter, either as a new gift or as a | | | | of her life; and she could start the same tradition |
| family heirloom. The daughter then added her | | | | for her young daughters. Charms have become |
| own charms to the bracelet, including ones that | | | | popular as a way to express individualism, |
| represented her favorite hobbies, interests and | | | | because no two bracelets are alike. Hobbies, |
| beliefs. As the daughter matured, so did her | | | | crafts, work-related, and sports-related charms |
| charm bracelet, increasing not only the number of | | | | can be easily found, as well as those pertaining to |
| charms, but also in sentimental value. To a | | | | pets and animals of all kinds. There is a huge |
| woman who lived during the 1930s, 40s and 50s, | | | | selection of charms available today, with a charm |
| charms, usually worn in multiples on a link bracelet, | | | | for every season and every reason. Many |
| were of great personal significance. A charm | | | | women find collecting charms addictive, and will |
| bracelet became a chronicle of a woman's life; a | | | | include a many bracelets in their collection. The |
| time capsule that represented her loves, her | | | | ease of removing and replacing charms make for |
| interests, her travels, and her experiences. These | | | | endless combinations. A bracelet can be fashioned |
| sentimental, yet precious objects told her story, | | | | to correspond with any mood or occasion. |
| and preserved it for generations to come. A | | | | Charms have recently seen an increase in |
| woman most probably received her first charm | | | | popularity, especially with celebrities. They've given |
| as a young girl; perhaps a ballerina or a flower. In | | | | their stamps of approval, as many Hollywood |
| her teenage years, she may have received the | | | | personalities have been photographed with their |
| additions of a love token from a sweetheart, a | | | | charm bracelets on. Designers, like Pandora |
| souvenir from a school trip, a jeweled | | | | Jewelry, have produced their own collectibles, and |
| mortarboard for graduation. Charms | | | | the sky is the limit in terms of both options and |
| commemorating her engagement, wedding, first | | | | price. Early charms were typically quite |
| home, children--all the major milestones of her | | | | inexpensive, however some of the charms |
| life--followed in line. With the mid-century trend for | | | | available today can vary from under $10 to |
| travel enabled her to see much more of the | | | | several hundred dollars each. Pandora Jewelry |
| world than her mother and grandmother had. | | | | invented a new system for charm bracelets and |
| Perhaps a small cruise ship charm told of her | | | | necklaces, which added a new dimension in |
| honeymoon trip to the islands; or an Eiffel Tower | | | | collecting jewelry. This unique jewelry line |
| charm of a romantic weekend in France. She | | | | established a foothold in Northern Europe as one |
| could spend many a cocktail party explaining the | | | | of the most successful jewelry businesses to |
| numerous exotic travel mementos on her wrist. | | | | date. Since 2002, Pandora Jewelry has brought |
| Like many women of her day, a little pearl | | | | hope and opportunity to jewelers across North |
| typewriter signified that she had a job outside the | | | | America. Each item in the Pandora collection is a |
| home. She might have also enjoyed sports (golf | | | | handmade Danish design in sterling silver and 14K |
| and tennis) and was loved the arts, particularly | | | | gold. Various pieces of our line are handcrafted |
| painting and theatre. A woman might have added | | | | with colorful precious stones and cultured pearls. |
| other charms to her bracelet simply for their | | | | Lewis Jewelers is proud to carry the full line of |
| beauty. Compared to the flat, stamped charms of | | | | Pandora Jewelry. Pandora bracelets, Pandora |
| modern times, vintage charms are | | | | charms and Pandora beads are only a part of the |
| three-dimensional, highly detailed, and often | | | | collection. For more information, Lewis Jewelers, |
| jeweled -- tiny works of art in their own right. | | | | 2000 West Stadium Blvd., Ann Arbor, Michigan, |
| There's been a new trend for collecting vintage | | | | 48103, 877-88-LEWIS or visit the website. |