Charm bracelets are extremely popular and fashionable right now and make excellent gifts. But there’s a lot of choice out there, so it’s important to know you’re making the right decision. Your local independent jeweller is a great place to start when it comes to charm bracelet advice – and they’ll also have a variety of different styles in stock to help you get it right, too!
Hanging charms
Charm bracelets have moved on a lot from the days when you needed to take each individual charm to your local jewellery shop to be fixed onto the bracelet. What’s more, once the old fashioned hanging charms had been fixed onto the bracelet by a local jeweller, they stayed there, too.
Nowadays, charms have little clasps attached which means that they can either be fastened to bracelets which have large links, or to ‘sweetie’ style bracelets, and can be moved about as you add to your collection or simply fancy a change. Your local jeweller will stock both types, so you can compare the two and see which you prefer. And if you have any of the old-style charms which need to be fixed to a bracelet, your local independent jeweller will still be able to help with this too – just pop along to your local jewellery shop, and they’ll attach them for you!
Bead charms
Bead charms are exactly as they sound – large metal, precious-stone or glass beads which can be threaded onto silver, gold or leather ‘snake’ style bracelets. They still feature a variety of designs – from animals to plants, buildings to vehicles and even coloured beads – but each charm has a hole through the middle to allow it to be strung onto a bracelet bead-style. The Kit Heath charm bracelet range is a popular choice, stocked by your local independent jeweller. Kit’s sterling silver range features elongated beads inspired by the seaside and nature – you might find some looking like the jaunty deckchairs you often get at British seaside resorts, pretty pebbles and shells, or even a Union Jack!
Ready-made charm bracelets
If you want to get your collection off to a good start, or want to give a gift which features more than one charm, your local jewellery shop will offer ready-made collections.
Most makes of charm bracelet will offer bracelets with two or three complementing charms included; these often have a theme, so if you’re buying a birthday or anniversary gift, for example, you may be able to buy a charm bracelet which is relevant to the occasion. Similarly, if you want a memento of a special holiday, you should be able to find you a set of charms to reflect the holiday destination; just ask your local independent jeweller, and they’ll be able to help you find what you’re looking for!
