Charm Bracelets: An Introduction For Novices

It's been a while since I first started this blog and I thought it might be good to do a short introduction to charms and charm bracelets in general, especially a bit of history and basics of collecting charms. If you're a beginner then some other good posts to get acquainted with charm bracelets might be my styling for Christmas post or the Cleaning and Caring post.

Charm bracelets have been around since ancient people first figured out a way to string bits of rock, bone and twigs to wear as body adornment. However, these ancient charms were not worn for decorative purposes alone; each charm carried a certain symbolism special to the wearer. Charms could be worn as amulets, lucky charms or as healing objects.

Bracelets that Tell a Story

Jewellery has borne witness to important events throughout history. Bracelets, neck pieces and head gear have provided rare insights into the life and times of generations before us. The practice of using jewellery to mark significant events has become even more entrenched in modern times, and the low-key charm bracelet is the accessory best suited for accumulating a lifetime of stories on one’s wrists.

Charm bracelets appeal to women and young girls because of the ease with which the wearer can customize the design and personalize the jewellery. There are countless choices when it comes to charms, including animals, graphic emblems and alphanumeric symbols. The charms on a bracelet can be a collection based on a single theme representing hobbies or special interests or a hodge-podge of charms inspired by special moments in your life. Look to Pandora's themes, particularly the occasions theme for some really good ideas that can mark a milestone or special occasion in your life.

There aren’t any rules when it comes to building a charm bracelet because the key is to put together a piece of jewellery that is meaningful to you. The charm bracelet is, possibly, the only piece of jewellery that grows with you. Charms can be added on or older ones replaced to express new interests or portray new experiences.

How to Express Yourself with Charm Bracelets

The base bracelet could be a simple chain, a strand of durable leather or a metal-based band that would serve as the foundation for the links. Traditional-style charms typically dangle from the base bracelet through fixed or non-fixed links while the charms for European-style bracelets are hollow beads that thread through the base bracelet. The charms are interchangeable and bracelets can be layered to create the look of statement jewellery.

The key is to choose the bracelet that is compatible with the theme and the style of charms you intend to collect. Consider starter sets from Pandora that come with a base bracelet and a set of three or four charms. Add charms as the mood inspires you. If you are the organized type, add charms according to a planned theme such as one memento for each birthday. You can use spacers to set off each charm or string them continuously until the base bracelet is completely covered.

A charm bracelet can be as simple or as elaborate as you fancy. It is a very personal type of jewellery that evolves and changes with you. Let your charm bracelet tell the story of your life.

Building The Perfect Fairytale Charm Bracelet

My two nieces have been visiting recently and that’s meant one thing – endless Disney movies! They were also admiring my charm bracelet and it got me thinking about what the perfect fairytale charm bracelet would look like. This would make a perfect birthday present (if only a few charms to get the girl’s started) and really put anybody right in the magic of charms and charm bracelets. So here’s my take on what I would put on the ultimate fairy tale themed charm bracelet.

Step 1: Add in the stories

Fairytales are great stories full of wonder and imagination – so add in some of the most iconic fairytale charms from Pandora. Here I’ve selected the Fairytale Castle Charm, the Frog Prince Charm, the Fairytale Mouse Charm and the Fairy Tales Book Charm – all instant reminders of the Fairytale genre! This will instantly make the bracelet an obviously fairytale themed charm bracelet, but there are still a few more charms ideas we can add to push up the level of magic and imagination of the theme!

Step 2: Add in a bit of nature

Almost all fairytales have a strong element of nature in them. Even modern fairytales like Frozen and Brave feature stunning scenic shots of nature. It also play an important part in the stories as this is where you’ll find the troll, elves and magical beings residing. So, for our charm bracelet a touch of nature is certainly warranted. Here are the Tumbling Leaves charm, the Birds and Branches charm (a personal favourite), the Pink Rose Garden silver fixed clip (floral clips are a great idea to add nature to your charm while still keeping the fairytale charms center stage) and the nature spirit charm. Look for a bit of colour as well, like the forest green faceted charm or even a wood charm if you were lucky enough to snag one before it got retired.

So now the bracelet is looking pretty magical and mystical – a perfect gift for a young girl to start her charm collection, and its sure to be something she’ll cherish and remember forever. You don’t have to get all of these charms by the way, just a couple will surely be enough to astound any young mind. The only thing left to do is add a bit of sparkle – a must in any bracelet!

Step 3: Add a bit of shine!

Again, we want to keep the fairytale charms the focus of the bracelet, and it would be best not to overshine them with any sort of huge cubic zirconia piece or pave ball. I’ve picked out a few smaller dangles, clips and spacers that should add just the right amount of sparkle to the bracelet to complete it. Here is the Symbol of Protection hanging charm, the Pave Inspiration Spacer and the Pave Star Clip, all great neutral additions to any budding bracelet.

So good luck out there for anybody who’s thinking of building a special fairytale themed bracelet! If you have any other ideas that have worked well then shoot it over and feel free to send me a picture of your gorgeous creations. If you’re stuck for ideas the Pandora Fairytale section is another great place for ideas.