Charm bracelets are lovely, aren't they? They do not really seem much--in fact a lot of people take them for granted, but they can transform your arm significantly. It is more than just a bracelet, especially when one takes the time to tell a story with their arm piece. But before we touch on one's personal telenovela, let us go back to the past learn the history of these arm candies.
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| photo from here |
Going Back in Time
Most jewelry worn in the past were prescribed to ward off evil spirits. The charms or charm bracelets were worn as a talisman or amulet to get rid of bad luck and while today's jewelry are made from expensive elements, they used to be made from products that were readily-available in that time: clay, shells and animal bones.
- More than 75,000 years ago, charm bracelets that were made from shells were found in Africa.
- In Germany, 30,000 years ago, charms made from mammoth tusks were found
- In Ancient Egypt charms played a significant role. They were mainly used to bring luck. But they were also utilized as symbols or identification, especially to identify a person to the gods when they reach the afterlife.
- The same was true in the era of the Roman Empire. Charms were worn by Christians to identify themselves to other Christians. At the same time, the Jewish scholars were found to wear charms as amulets. They would write passages of the law, hide these writings in the charms and showcased them as amulets on their necks (close their hearts).
- In the Dark Ages they were strong identifiers or symbols that marked your familial origin or religious and political backgrounds.
- In the Medieval Times, knights would wear charms to bring protection to themselves when they are set to go to battle.
The Rise of a Star
As actual bracelets, first evidence may be traced back to the Assyrians, Persians, Babylonians and Hittites (as early as 600-400 BC). But the popularity of these unique jewelry may be credited to Queen Victoria who was well known for her love of charm bracelets. It became her signature and when Prince Albert passed away, she wore a mourning charm and it became quite popular then. It allowed loved ones to bring a part of their deceased with them, after they leave this world.
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| photo from here |
In 1889 Tiffany and Co. succeeded in making a true mark in the history of charm bracelets when they released the iconic charm bracelet. This, still famous link bracelet, is a single chain that showcases a dangling heart. It was sensational then and it remains to be a sought after piece, for women all over the world, to this day. And it just continued to become more glamorous, from what it was back in the ancient times when charms were made from bones and clay, because in the 1920s and 1930s, the lovely jewelry started to come in designs that were made in platinum and were speckled with diamonds.
The Collectibles
Today, charms are known as collectibles. A simple chain bracelet is dressed with design charms that carried a symbol or message to the wearer. When soldiers are sent overseas to fight in war, they often returned to home with locally sourced charms that they presented to their loved ones. This continued to the modern times... individual wearers would decorate their bracelets their charms in order to tell a story or define themselves. This became especially true when the European "tubular" charm bracelets broke the market. The bracelet or chain is fitted with beads or charms made from gold, silver or Murano glass.
It is amazing how a seemingly simple piece of jewelry can hold so much history. The charm bracelet bring with it a unique "charm" and that is exactly what we support here at The Charm Boutique. We encourage women to make their own statement and to tell their own story through charms...
Be charming and be beautiful...
The Charm Boutique
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