The Story of Charm Bracelets.
Charm bracelets make for delightful gifts because they can be customized with charms that mark special moments in the wearer’s life. For decades, gold and sterling silver charm bracelets have been a favourite accessory of both men and women.
If you have always heard of charm bracelets and are wondering what they are actually and what makes them so unique, read on for a short history of this sentimental gift, and the symbol that each charm carries:
History
A charm bracelet is a piece of wrist jewellery that is typically adorned with ‘charms’ or precious stones. The first charms used during the age of the Egyptian Pharaohs were precious metals and stones. Bracelets adorned with shells, and with mammoth ivory have also been found in Africa and some European countries. It is said that the citizens of ancient Egypt wore charm bracelets as part of their preparation for the afterlife. Charm wrists were coveted back then because the citizens believed that it will help the Gods guide them to their correct status level in the afterlife.
Aside from the use of charms in the preparation process for death, they were worn by kings and knights during the Middle Ages to protect themselves in battle. Back then, belts were also adorned with charms to represent one’s profession, family origin, and political standing.
In the early 20th century, charm bracelets had a significant change of purpose when Queen Victoria ignited the use of charm wrists as a fashion statement among the American and European middle and upper class. Queen Victoria was fascinated with charm bracelets and owned several of them. She not only loved wearing them but also loved giving them as gifts and personalizing each piece to fit the liking of the recipient. Since then, charm bracelets became a way for the European and American noble class to show off their fortune.
In 1889, luxury jewellery store, Tiffany and Co. introduced its first charm bracelet which had a single heart-shaped charm dangling from it.
Nowadays, charm bracelets remain a sought-after fashion accessory for many celebrities and people of different backgrounds. Jewellery manufacturer Pandora creates charm bracelets that offer a unique twist to traditional charm wrists, with round-shaped charms that are threaded onto wire bracelets and circular bracelets. What remains the same is the freedom of the wearer to add charms of different colours and style to represent something important to them.
What do charms mean?
There are types of charms that have religious meanings, and there are those that represent luck and love. Below, we will cover the main types of charms and the meaning behind them:
Special occasion themed charms
Charms are often given as gifts on a person’s birthday, wedding, graduation, and anniversary. They symbolize the beauty of the occasion as well as the personality of the recipient.
Charms for luck, inspiration and love
The roots of charm bracelets tell us about wearing charms for protection. Nowadays, you can find charms with hamsa designs that represent the “Hand of God”. Hamsa charms are worn to create an atmosphere of protection and luck around the wearer. Horseshoe charms are another popular charm type for people who want to add a symbol of protection to their charms collection. Another classic example of a lucky charm is a four-leaf clover charm, which represents hope, luck, faith, and love. Four-leaf clovers are believed to provide protection against mischief, which the Celts thought to be a common source of bad luck.
Religious symbols charms
Christian symbols such as the Sacred Heart, the Cross, Dove, and Mary are worn as a sign of faith. This type of charm is believed to bring blessings and provide protection to the wearer.
There are many places online that sell charm bracelets and it’s important you do your research before buying so that you find one that fits your price but also has the level of quality that you’re seeking.
