Charm Bracelets: A Quick Guide for the Young at Heart

Historically charm bracelets stemmed from various traditions such as wearing symbols of faith, luck, or amulets believed to ward off evil spirits. Charms were used to identify family origin, religious and political views, and were sometimes believed to identify an individual to the gods in the afterlife.

Early Charm Bracelets
Charm bracelets have been popular since early years in Egypt to ward against bad spirits. As the trend for jewels and accessories began their popularity increased. They became more popular in the Victorian era with the popularity of lockets, worn both as necklaces and on bracelets. The availability of gemstones as charms increased their popularity as well and gave colorful accessory options to the upper classes. Most commonly found in gold during this era, many had engraved charms with initials or a message from a loved one.

Charmed! The Hip Factor
Charm bracelets are popular in most metals, but the affordability of silver has made these bracelets a fashion trend as well as a collector's item for travelers. During the 1950s & 60s it was common to create charm bracelets as a record of a one's adventures and taste. This popularity waned until the latter part of the 20th century when Italian charm bracelets began gaining notice from tourists.

Now both styles have increased in popularity and tourist stops once again have charms available with symbols of the area, such as the Eiffel Tower from Paris or a double-decker bus from London. Charm bracelets make good gifts for young teenagers and the elderly and all ages in between. Charms are charming. There is nostalgia factor and hipness that is difficult to place but always fresh.

Types of Charm Bracelets
Most charm bracelets use traditional dangle charms, and many use gemstones in this fashion. The Italian charm bracelets changed this tradition by incorporating flat discs into a link-style bracelet. These discs may be personalized and changed as a person's style or tastes change. Use of modular stainless-steel backings attached to a gold-plated or 18 karat gold charm face on a stretchy band allows for standardized sizing for these bracelets so that the charms are easily interchangeable.

Charm bracelets are more common and are increasing in popularity due to such innovations beyond the traditional dangle-charm style. Another example of this innovation is the Pandora charm bracelets, which offer a variety of gemstones and beads of metal or glasswork and varying detail. The design uses a variety of modular beads and spacers, allowing for individualized bracelets designed by the wearer or giver.

Other kinds of charm bracelets are simple chain bracelets with a single charm such as a gemstone that has a special meaning to the recipient. These are not necessarily meant to be added to as one travels the globe or as tastes change; rather, they are considered complete at the time of giving while still classified as charm bracelets.

The variety of charm bracelets available today offers the wearer options from casual to formal with all the color and creativity of the imagination. Simple delicate designs are available as well as solid chunky bracelets built to withstand daily wear and use. Sure to please those of any age bracket, charm bracelets offer the variety necessary to make the perfect gift.