Do you have charm bracelets tucked away?  Well I do:  Mine, my mama's and my grandmother's.  I thought that collecting charms was a thing of my distant past, but as my oldest granddaughter approaches her teen years, I have occasion to think again!   Looking around, I am impressed by the innovative cable bracelets and bead charms on the market today (SilveRado is my fave) in sterling, gold, Morano glass and crystal.  They are a quieter and less likely to snag fabrics than the bracelets of old- huge plusses!   With my interest reawakened, I also became curious about where and why charm collecting  began.

Considered a necessity by the people of ancient Egypt, charms were collected and worn as protective talismans during life, and served as identity markers in the afterlife.  Around the world, people of different cultures have followed similar practices for health, religious and social reasons.  But during the Victorian era, as the public became more educated and superstition waned, charms began to be used in another way altogether- as decoration!  Queen Victoria herself set the style by wearing multiple charm bracelets laden with photo charms of her children, Prince Albert's watch fob, etc, and the fashion took off!  As the trend gained momentum, charms began to be mass produced in more affordable materials and were attainable by the general public in 14K gold, sterling silver and gilded pot metal.  During the wars of the 20th Century, soldiers searched for bracelets and commemorative charms for their sweethearts back home. Cities, vacation destinations, special events and popular icons commissioned charms for sale to the public, and collecting became a heartfelt pass-time for millions. One at a time, carefully chosen- what fun!