Designer Jewelry Experts

Posts Tagged ‘sterling silver charms’

There are very few types of jewelry that really go out of style, however it can certainly happen. Charm bracelets are a traditional and classical favorite for women of all ages and they are always in fashion. Understanding a bit about the history of charm bracelets as well as their modern styles will help you understand just why they continue to be classical jewelry additions to anyone’s collection.

Charm bracelets were first used in the times of the Egyptian Pharaohs, dating back to around 1450 BC. These types of charm bracelets were not just used as a fashion statement but they also had a significant religious meaning as they guided the wearer to the afterlife. These were typically gold charm bracelets, often with stones, gems and small iconic types of charms. Typically only the wealthy rulers worn this type of jewelry, but they were predominantly men.

From the Egyptians the custom or charm bracelets spread to the Roman Empire, however they were used slightly differently. Different groups of people wore different charms to identify each other without having to say anything publically. The early Christians often wore fish on bracelets to signify their faith in a safe and secret manner.

Almost all superstitions came out of the Middle Ages, and charms and charm bracelets were worn as a way to keep the wearer safe. All types of good luck charms were developed at this time to ward off evil and to bring prosperity, safety and health.

This trend for charm bracelets to be used in a quasi-mystical way continued up to the early 1900. Generally charm bracelets were found in all different households and were not exclusively worn by the rich since charms could be made out of a wide variety of objects.

As charm bracelets became more common, the traditional all gold bracelets gave way to silver charm bracelets, which were often less costly for the average person to wear. Silver bracelets were just as elaborate as their gold counterparts and were adorned with a wide variety and type of charms.

Switching the charm bracelets from a way to pacify the superstitious to a fashion piece of jewelry is directly credited to Queen Victoria. As early as 1837 she was photographed with very fashionable and stylish charm bracelets, which soon became a fashion essential.

Today charm bracelets are still very much in fashion. The new modern styles of charm bracelets are right in keeping with the designs of other types of jewelry, plus there are traditional favorites for those that love the classics. Regardless of what type of bracelet or charms you select, the fact that they are both personal and individual make this type of jewelry far more than just a fashion trend.

Amber is article writer for CharmsToTreasure, with greater than 15 years working experience within the jewelry and charm industry. Amber has published many articles providing enlightening information on gold charms, sterling silver charms, and gold and silver charm bracelets.

Deciding on what type of charm bracelets are the best match requires knowing a bit about how the two different types of charm bracelets are made. In general charm bracelets can be handmade or machine made, with options of coming with or without charms also included.

Buying charm bracelets with charms can keep the bracelet in a specific theme, but it is also less personal and individual than developing your own collection. Both silver charm bracelets as well as gold come as pre-set bracelets complete with charms, or as just the bracelet itself.

Most charm bracelets are machine produced from long lengths of chain that is then cut and specific types of ends attached depending on the clasp to be used. In most cases one end will be some type of circle and the other end will have a clasp. The ends may be attached by hand welding or they can be secured by a machine on a production type of line.

The chain itself is then cleaned through a process of submerging in trays of cleaning solution and then tumbling for a period of time in a machine. This provides both a buffing action as well as a polishing finish, leaving either silver charm bracelets or gold varieties sparkling and dazzling.

Silver charm bracelets and even gold charm bracelets can also be completely handmade. These are very beautiful bracelets where each and every link is designed by a person and then attached to the chain by hand until the bracelet is complete. The time involved in making these bracelets is a key factor in the somewhat higher cost of these handcrafted items.

Handmade bracelets are less perfectly uniform than those made by machine, but each also has its own special charm and characteristics. Handmade charm bracelets can also be customized as to size, perfect for those that standard bracelets don’t fit.

Not surprisingly, charms themselves can be handmade like some charm bracelets or they can be mass produced through jewelry manufacturing by machines. Since handmade items tend to be more expensive, most charms in jewelry stores and online are machine made unless specifically labeled as made by hand.

Adding those little bits of color and dazzle to each charm can be done by hand or by machine, adding a lot to both styles of charm bracelets. Knowing how charm bracelets are made and what options you may have with regards to your bracelet will help you choose the best combination for a gift or for yourself.

Amber is expert writer for CharmsToTreasure, with greater than 15 years working experience within the jewelry and charm industry. Amber has published many articles providing enlightening information on gold charms, sterling silver charms, and gold and silver charm bracelets.