| If you enjoy collecting jewelry withpersonal | | | | |
| significance or giving it as gifts, consider | | | | * Make sure the site you're ordering fromhas |
| Italian charms! They are the most affordable | | | | a money-back guarantee and check any customer |
| way to create apersonalized bracelets with | | | | comments posted on there. |
| unique meaning. | | | | |
| | | | * It's important to order charms that |
| And, there is an amazing variety to choose | | | | arecovered with protective epoxy. |
| from. | | | | Otherwisethey'll rub off! If the site |
| | | | doesn'tstate whether they are or not, ask |
| Whether you love dogs, cats, or wantsomething | | | | them. |
| signifying your family or hobby, it's all | | | | |
| there! And, unlike their classic | | | | * You'll find that many site sell |
| danglingcounterparts, Italian charms link | | | | |
| together to form a flat bracelet; for a | | | | "18kt gold" Italian charms. |
| moresophisticated look enjoyed by women of | | | | |
| all ages. | | | | Well, with very few exceptions, it's a |
| | | | gold-tone and not sold 18kt gold. Just make |
| It's no surprise, then, that tens ofthousands | | | | sure that if you're paying 18ktgold prices |
| of women each year collect Italian charms and | | | | ($18+ per charm) that you indeed getting 18kt |
| give them asgifts. How to get started? | | | | gold. Again, nearly all sites sell 18kt |
| | | | gold-tone |
| Easy! | | | | |
| | | | (or gold accented) charms. Why pay $18for |
| Whenever buying for yourself or as a gift, | | | | the same product if you could get for under |
| the first thing you need todo is get a | | | | $3... and even for $2, andsometimes $1/charm? |
| "starter bracelet" containing blank links. | | | | |
| Then, get an additional 4-5 charms to | | | | * A note about care: Even stainless steel |
| startthe bracelet. The recipient can | | | | charms can change colorwhen exposed to |
| easilyreplace blank links on the starter | | | | chemicals, cleaning solutions, and solvents. |
| bracelets with the charms you give them --and | | | | Avoid chlorine and any harsh chemicals. |
| any others they get in the future -- to | | | | |
| develop a unique bracelet overtime. | | | | What about the Chinese-Made Italian Charms? |
| | | | |
| The Secret to Selecting Quality Italian | | | | Yes, a lot of people ask thatquestion. Very |
| | | | few merchants admit it...but, nearly all |
| Charms | | | | Italian charms sold on the Internet are |
| | | | manufactured in China. |
| When looking to buy Italian charms, | | | | |
| it'simportant to consider quality. | | | | Now, what about charms that say |
| Indeed,there are so many places selling these | | | | |
| things that sometimes it's difficult | | | | "imported from Italy?" Well, that's nice, |
| toseparate the good from the bad. | | | | but did you know that manyof these places |
| | | | simply buy Chinese-made Italian charms |
| Here are some things to watch out for: | | | | through an importcompany in Italy. So, yes, |
| | | | they're "imported from Italy" butif you think |
| * Make sure they are made of stainlesssteel | | | | you're getting a handcrafted Italian |
| (the place where you buy them should say | | | | product... think again! They're still |
| that.) If you really want to get technical, | | | | manufactured in one of thethree main |
| ask themwhat grade of stainless steel their | | | | factories in China. |
| charms are. | | | | |
| | | | Which Charms are Great For Gifts? |
| They should know, especially if they claim to | | | | |
| sell "direct",because on the manufacturing | | | | Well... really, all of them! Charms that are |
| end stainless steel has exact grades. | | | | especially popular are, in noparticular |
| Usually, it's a number (like 304) followed | | | | order: 1) Heart charms, 2) Ribbon (esp. pink |
| bya letter. You'd see them labeled as 304Lor | | | | ribbon) charms, 3) |
| 316. | | | | |
| | | | American flag, 4) Flowers, 5) Family and I |
| * Charms marked with a logo or brand-nameon | | | | love my kids-type charms, 6) |
| the back are considered higher quality. | | | | |
| | | | Birthstones, 7) Various words and phrases... |
| You never know, but generally avoid links | | | | like "DREAM", "Familyof 5", "Child of GOD", |
| that are "blank" /have no logo on the back. | | | | etc. |
| What aboutcharms that say "Stainless Steel" | | | | |
| on the back? Well, I've seen a few that were | | | | 8) Religious charms, like crosses, etc. |
| definitely | | | | |
| | | | As you can see, the possibilities are |
| NOT stainless steel... so use caution. | | | | onlylimited by your imagination! |