Charm bracelet

A charm bracelet is an item of jewelry worn around the wrist. It carries personal “charms”: decorative pendants or trinkets which signify important things in the wearer’s life.

History
The wearing of charms may have begun as a form of amulet to ward off evil spirits or bad luck.

During the pre-historic period, jewellery charms would be made from shells, animal-bones and clay. Later charms were made out of gems, rocks, and wood.

For instance, there is evidence from china that shells were used for adornments around 75,000 years ago. In Germany intricately carved mammoth tusk charms have been found from around 30,000 years ago. In ancient Egypt charms were used for identification and as symbols of faith and luck. Charms also served to identify an individual to the gods in the afterlife.

During the Roman Empire, Christians would use tiny fish charms hidden in their clothing to identify themselves to other Christians. Jewish scholars of the same period would write tiny passages of Jewish law and put them in amulets round their necks to keep the law close to their heart at all times. Medieval knights wore charms for protection in battle. Charms also were worn in the Dark Ages to denote family origin and religious and political convictions.

Charm bracelets have been the subject of several waves of trends. The first charm bracelets were worn by Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, and Hittites and began appearing from 600 – 400 BC.

For example, Queen Victoria wore charm bracelets that started a fashion among the European noble classes. She was instrumental to the popularity of charm bracelets, as she “loved to wear and give charm bracelets. When her beloved Prince Albert died, she even made “mourning” charms popular; lockets of hair from the deceased, miniature portraits of the deceased, charm bracelets carved in jet.”

In 1889, Tiffany and Co. introduced their first charm bracelet — a link bracelet with a single heart dangling from it, a bracelet which is an iconic symbol for Tiffany today.

Despite the Great Depression, during the 1920s and 1930s platinum and diamonds were introduced to charm bracelet manufacturing.

Soldiers returning home after World War II brought home trinkets made by craftsmen local to the area where they were fighting to give to loved ones. American teenagers in the 1950s and early 1960s collected charms to record the events in their lives. Screen icons like Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Crawford helped to fuel the interest and popularity of charm bracelets.

Although interest and production waned through the latter part of the 20th century, there was a resurgence of popularity after 2000 and collectors eagerly sought out vintage charms. Inspired by to the movie Pirates of the Caribbean, bracelets with little charms of swords, crosses and skulls were introduced as a fashion trend during Winter 2006.

European charm bracelets
Since 2002, a new trend for European charm bracelets has emerged in both Europe and North America. These modular bracelets consist of a chain onto which different beads or ‘charms’ can be put. The charms are made from gold, silver or Murano glass and are interchangeable to allow the wearer to create their own look. These beads can be sculpted to simulate anything from animals to people. There are literally thousands of beads available for these bracelets as beads can be created to reflect any interest or category.

They appeal to a diverse customer base due to the wide range of beads available. The cost of the beads can be as low as $20 each. The price range can extend into the hundreds of dollar range since beads can be crafted of gold, platinum, and diamonds.

Coin-chain-char-bracelet

A Completed PANDORA Charm Bracelet
Originally introduced by Danish jewellery company Trollbeads in 1976, this style of bracelet grew in popularity and today there are many brands available. In the UK the most successful brand of European charm bracelet is Pandora and Love-links, though Biagi, Zable, Reflections by SimStars, Chamilia, Soufeel, Novobeads, Oriana, and Trollbeads are also very popular in the US. A key feature of the actual beads is that they are compatible with all major bead bracelet manufacturers. A Novobeads bracelets can be worn on a Pandora bracelet and vice versa.

These bead bracelets are fully customizable as the clasps for the bracelets and necklaces are not included when purchased. There are many options for these as well. There are even options for anchor slides which help secure the bracelet.

This current fashion for modular jewelry builds on the success that ‘Add A Bead’ jewelry had in the 80s.

Italian charm bracelets
A charm is a small ornament usually dangling from a bracelet or chain. However, the Italian Charm Bracelet is configured differently. While each charm is separate and interchangeable, it lies flat against the wrist and is interlocking to the next charm, similarly to an expansion band. A charm-link connecting tool is available to change the charms, but fingers seem to work just as well.

the artilce from. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charm_bracelet

Pandora Charms

The Pandora jewelry brand is an expansive and internationally renowned brand of jewelry, which was originally founded in Denmark in 1982. Since then, Pandora jewelry has come to be sold in more than 80 countries and in more than 10,000 different stores. Their line of charms consists of more than six hundred pieces, with charms available in sterling silver, 14k gold, and two-tone options, with components also being produced with glass, wood, or enamel to create stylish and variable options in color and design. Some charms incorporate pearls, or other precious or semiprecious stones, all cut and fit precisely to bring out the artistry and the desired visual effect of the particular charm. With Pandora, there is a tasteful and attractive item of jewelry for every occasion, and your collection will afford you an array of ever-changeable combinations; you can put together a Pandora charm bracelet for a dinner party, then perhaps change a flower charm to an occupation charm when you go to work—or to a suitcase charm when you travel. Your personal tastes, and your imagination, impose the only limits on what can be expressed through Pandora’s unique and stylish line of charms, which are guaranteed to attract admiring attention.

Pandora’s line of charms includes charms for every relationship; you can buy a charm for your mother, your aunt, or your grandmother on Mother’s Day. You might purchase a charm for a friend in honor of the birth of a child—or to wish they themselves a happy birthday, or simply to commemorate your mutual friendship. Pandora offers stylish and aesthetically pleasing charms in support of noteworthy social causes, such as the ongoing struggles against breast cancer, poverty, or hunger. Pandora charms are not simply a platform, however; they are a means of personal expression, and as such these charms are widely varied in shape, color, and composition; some are simply representations of favorite animals, of fairytale creatures, or of elements of nature. There are Pandora charms which carry symbols or sentiments of personal importance, and others which show off one’s occupation, avocation, or favored travel destinations. One can always purchase individual letter and number charms, and spell out a short but sweet message that they wish to convey to the world—or simply keep close to their hearts, as a constant reminder of something personal and special.

  

Through Shealia.net, you will find access to hundreds of charms, all of them completely compatible and aesthetically matched with the Pandora charms line. Shealia offers a full range of Pandora charms, including full options in silver and gold, charms with and without stones, and charms with attractive, colorful components made of wood, glass, or enamel. There are charms which dangle, charms which feature personalized zodiac signs, charms that show off your hobby or romantic attachments, matched sets, and even completed charm bracelets. Mix and match your Pandora charms from Shealia to create a unique and highly personal expression that feels like the genuine you, while expressing itself tastefully and artfully to those around you—or start putting together fully Pandora-compatible charm bracelets for your friends, family members, and loved ones, and show them how much they mean to you with something that is just as uniquely them as your charms are you.

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http://www.shealia.net/blog/pandora-charms/