Italian Charms

Italian Charms And Italian Charm Bracelets

Mention charm bracelets and most people immediately think of chain bracelets with dangling charms. However, Italian charm bracelets are much more easy to wear and practical for every day. These are made from Italian charms which link together to make up a flat, stretch-type bracelet.

The trend started in Italy around a decade ago and has recently taken parts of the US and the rest of the world by storm. Made of bright, shiny stainless steel, the bracelet looks like silver, is totally unique to the individual and is perfectly suitable for wearing while at work, playing with the kids or for a night out – Italian charm bracelets are much more versatile in their wearability than the traditional charm bracelet since there is nothing to snag on clothes or to keep banging on the table.

The Italian charms may have gold, colored enamel or gemstones attached to them, in designs from symbols and letters to flowers and cartoon characters, with pretty much everything else you can think of in between.

Charms In History

Charms in some form have been around for thousands of years, when the ancients used them as protection from evil spirits and to mark a person's place in society or, as we still do today, as decoration.

Ancient charms may have been made from metal or precious stones, carved into shapes and engraved with symbols or words of meaning. They would have been unique, made for a particular person, right up until fairly recent times when the Industrial Revolution introduced machine made items.

Queen Victoria made bracelet charms popular as a fashion accessory during her reign. Wartime was also a popular time for charm bracelets, as soldiers brought back charms for their loved ones from places they had visited. Carrying on into the 1950s, charm bracelets were the height of fashion as girls and women started to add charms to denote important events throughout their life and these charm bracelets started to become family heirlooms.

The bracelets, which became known as Lifetime bracelets, had charms added at major events throughout a woman's life. They were, and often still are, passed from mother to daughter for her to continue creating it. As such, some bracelets become so laden with charms wearing them is almost impossible.

Weddings were a popular time for a mother to give her daughter a charm bracelet, either her own or a new one containing just a symbol of marriage, such as a pair of wedding bells. The bracelet would then progress with the marriage, adding charms for notable anniversaries, births of children and so on.

Italian charm bracelets are a relatively new take on the traditional charm bracelet. It is too early to tell if they will have the same lasting appeal as their older counterparts, but the ease of wearing and ready availability would indicate they are a welcome addition to the charm bracelet family and will continue to be collected.

Much of the manufacturing of Italian charms is done by hand. Fine ribbon-like strips of gold are cut to shape via molds and are then hand soldered to the links. The links are washed, rinsed and machine dried, followed by a polish. Then the stones and enameled designs are carefully added.

Creating Italian Charm Bracelets

The types of Italian charms that can be put together are endless. A bracelet can have letters to spell a word, a series of symbols that reflect a hobby or personality, a zoo full of animals... the list is restricted only by the imagination.

Joining the links of an Italian charm bracelet together is a simple task, though tools are available from most charm retailers to help with the joining process. Italian charms have spring-loaded clasps which are pulled apart and then pushed together before releasing the clasp. The simplicity of the process means a bracelet can be changed as often as required, in the home, with no special skill needed.

As well as the basic bracelet, the original item of charm jewelry, it's now possible to add Italian charms to watches and necklaces. A complete watch can be bought to start and the strap links replaced as required with charm links.

A charm necklace has a starter Italian charm attached to a special necklace link, which can be swapped or added to with new charms. There are even key chain starter packs, with a clip on one end and the ring to attach the keys on the other.

Italian Charm Bracelet Sizes

The actual bracelets come in three standard widths, and Italian charms of the same size by different designers or manufacturers are compatible, so any number may sit together in one chain from any source.

Italian charm width determines how wide the actual bracelet is, not a width that will vary the length of the bracelet, so you could say the link width refers to the link height. The three widths are:

Small – 6.5mm (¼ inch)
Medium – 9mm (5/16 inch)
Large – 13mm (½ inch)

Medium is the most popular width and, as such, has the largest choice of charms available. Small is for a more discreet bracelet, or is popular for anklets and for children. Large Italian charms make a statement, or may be more suited to men.

The amount of Italian charms needed for a complete bracelet varies form person to person, according to the size of their wrist and how tight they want the bracelet to be. For wearing the bracelet while building a collection of charms, blank links are available.

As a rough guide, the amount of links needed are:

Teen: 14-16
Lady: 15-19
Man:19-21

As well as the standard links, some places sell larger sized links to make bracelets more unique. For example, there are double-height Italian charms which joins two bracelets at the center, known as a mega link. Or there are double width links to make a center piece to the bracelet.

Buying Italian Charms

The popularity of Italian charm bracelets mean that charms are available all over. There are numerous websites to find charms if there is not a local store selling them, some dedicated purely to the charms.

So, a whole bracelet of charms can be quite an investment. To get started, buy several Italian charms along with a blank Italian charm bracelet and replace the blanks over time. More Italian charms can be added either by the owner or as gifts at birthdays and special occasions as people buy them to help a bracelet along.

Most charm retailers will provide a whole blank bracelet with a purchase of two or three Italian charms so it easy to get wearing one straight away. They also sell starter bracelets for anything from a couple of dollars up to around $15 and these come in many designs. Italian charm starter bracelets can be simple, plain steel in either shiny or matte or they might have a light, etched design, gold edging or gold-plated link faces with the edges left showing the steel.

Most Italian charms are static, that is, they have the design enameled or soldered to the link. However, many are reminiscent of the traditional charm, having dangling pieces. There is a center piece attached to the bracelet link, with a small charm then attached by single chain-type link.

There is no need to stop collecting once a complete Italian charm bracelet is formed, it can be extended to a double width by adding a double-height center link (mega link) which can join two bracelets into a double chain bracelet. Or, one can be created to be worn and one to be kept as a keepsake or for special occasions.

Italian charms can be mixed-and-matched too, so the same bracelet need never worn twice. The ease of joining the links means it's simple to change the links for different occasions or even to match an outfit!

'Official' Italian charms come from a wide range of manufacturers and are marked with the manufacturer's name. Some well known ones are Zoppini, Puzzle, ReFlorence, Roma, Nomination, Italia, Unodomani, Casa d'oro, Talexia, GP Firenze, Brunoz Zanetti and Boxing. All of these brands are fully compatible with each other and will fit together perfectly.

Where to find charms

If no local jewelry stores stock Italian charms, an Internet search for “Italian charms” will provide literally hundreds of places to look, and absolutely thousands of charms to search through, with absolutely any design theme you can think of.

If you are really into Italian charms and know you friends and family are/would be too, then think about hosting jewelry party. As well as being a fun social event and an opportunity to earn or little extra cash, it's a great way to introduce people to Italian charms and to see what all the new designs are and get hold of them for yourself!

There are many wholesalers online, but there also party planning companies, who will ensure there is no need to order stock that won't be sold or your friends won't like. A party pack includes samples and catalogs, from which orders are placed. Look out for Zedora and the Manuel.Zed range of charms, which were specifically designed by Zoppini for the purpose of home jewelry parties.

Giving Italian Charms As a Gift

Italian charms bracelets make a fantastic gift. Birthdays and special occasions make perfect opportunities for buying someone charms to build up an existing bracelet, but buying a starter bracelet is also a lovely idea for someone who has not yet become enamored with them – and of course, then there is always opportunity to buy them further charms on future birthdays!

When buying charms as gifts, there are several ways to go about choosing a charm.

Does the recipient have a special interest or hobby that could be represented?
What is their favorite color?
What is their birthstone (for birthday gifts)?
Are they the type to want a picture of their pet on it?
If they have already started a bracelet, do they have a particular theme?
Are they an avid collector of hippos/stamps/toys/candles/flags...?
Is there someone or something special they might like symbolizing on it?
Have they just passed a special milestone or life-changing event that could be marked with a charm?

Whatever the occasion, the almost rabid interest in these things mean there is certain to be a charm to fit most any occasion or reason for purchasing a charm and for any age group.

Teenage charms

Teenagers will also love to receive Italian charms as gifts since they are aware of the trend but buying them for themselves regularly is probably a little out of their budget.

Teens love lifestyle symbols – cell phones, symbols of beauty accessories, shoes and bags, the latest craze in cartoon characters, Internet related charms such as the '@' sign, “cute” things like a pair of lips, flowers, heart shapes and Hello Kitty, or Italian charms with short phrases written onto them.

Charm Chicks are another type that appeal to teens – a set of three charms which make up a little person lying around the wrist. One charm has a head, one the top of the body and a third for the legs and feet. These charms are a lot of fun, as the Charm Chick can be dressed to match the bracelet wearer and can change her outfit just as often!

Event and occasion gifts

Just a few special gift ideas might include: · pair of ballet slippers on passing a dance exam · a key for first home purchase/getting a drivers license · one reading 'mom' on Mother's Day · a birthstone on birthdays · a college badge for either starting college or graduating · romantic symbols for Valentine's Day · a set of flowers to represent an everlasting bouquet for the flower lover

A daughter's marriage is still a perfect example of a bracelet gift occasion. More modern and wearable than the traditional style of charm bracelet given from mother to daughter, today's bride can create her bracelet throughout life in the same way as they have done in the past and wear it with pride.

This charming man

Men are not omitted from wearing Italian charm bracelets. The steel material means that the links are just as suitable for either sex and charms are made with sporting themes, patriotic and military symbols which men might like. They can also wear dedications to their children or spouse on their bracelets, for example, by using their initial.

CUSTOMIZED ITALIAN CHARMS

Many places offer a service to customize charms with a photograph or special words, which could make a very nice gift. Alternatively, an individual might like to have one made as a special memory of someone lost, a favorite pet or a memorable time.

Customized charms can include reproduction of a photograph or specified words and phrases. If the requirement is just words, or a black and white image, then they can be laser etched onto the charm. Otherwise, enamel or inks can be used to create the image.

Naturally, these are considerably more expensive than a mass-produced charm, but are a unique and lasting gift or special item of jewelry.

Also falling into the customized bracket are medical ID charm bracelets, which allow for all of the important details to be put onto a stylish accessory. http://www.isntthatcharming.us sell the Medi-Links (TM) Italian charm bracelet which can include all of the required medical information over several links. Depending on the amount of information needed, there might well still be links free to add standard charms to brighten the bracelet up.

ITALIAN CHARM BRACELET CARE

Looking after Italian charm bracelets is pretty easy, though the usual rules of taking care of jewelry should be followed, such as not wearing while washing dishes, swimming or handling chemicals.

Being made from stainless steel, tarnish and rust are not something to worry about. An ordinary jewelry polishing cloth is usually all that is needed, to give it a rub and shine.

Italian charm bracelets should be stored carefully, to prevent damage to any charms. If it's going to be kept in a jewelry box, put it in a soft pouch to prevent scratching against other items. Or buy a bracelet box of the kind that can be bought from any jeweler to lay the bracelet down flat.

LASTING TREASURES

The beauty of an Italian charm bracelet is it's ability to change according the owner's desire for change or need for something different. Italian charms purchased the day before can be linked to ones owned for years and the whole piece still works, since they are made to fit together effortlessly.

For personal pleasure or for handing down a generation, the Italian charm bracelet is a piece of jewelry for everyone.