Charm Bracelets In Times Past

Charms can be said to have originated as early as the Stone Age, with the simple process of our caveman ancestors picking up an oddly shaped rock off the ground and carrying it around with him as a trinket against those who would do him harm.

Later on, in places like ancient Egypt, these charms and bracelets came to have other purposes. Like the cavemen had before them, they used charms to enhance their luck. But the Egyptians expanded on that theory, using them for various other magical and religious reasons as well. One of which was something unique to Egyptian culture. Their society's own take on the practical use of charms included wearing them to establish identity in the afterlife, as they aided any number of gods in the process of guiding the bearer through the underworld. The last thing anyone ever wanted to do is wind up in the wrong place after death. How little things have changed in that respect.

In European countries, during Medieval Times, we can also find evidence that charms were used as amulets for keeping away dark and evil spirits. The common theory that seems to run through most cultures of using them to dispel bad luck also came into play here. Brave but superstitious knights would wear charms in wars to protect them from harm or death.

During more current times, they have become more of a fashion statement or simply objects with sentimental value for the wearer. They started being worn as a simple fashion trend that began in Europe. But people would also use them as gifts for their loved ones, as they could easily be personalized with names, places, dates or anything that would mean something specific and special to the one receiving the charm bracelet. It is also now a very common thing to teach children how to make these bracelets from found objects. Items as simple as some string with cheap beads attached to it can come together to make a wonderful bracelet.

In 2002, a new trend appeared all across the world - customization. Since that turn in the road, you can customize your bracelets with interchangeable parts to allow for more personalization. These many different charms come in silver, gold, platinum, diamond, or special glass. You can add your own choice of beads to your bracelet and truly make it something that's unique to you. This quickly became a popular way to go. Who doesn't want their very own piece of jewelry that no-one else in the world can wear?

These charm bracelets can cover a wide range of prices. Silver charm attachments can start from around $35 US, but for gold and diamond attachments, beads can go as high as $1000 US. These beads are also made available to be used as necklaces or other jewelry, such as rings and earrings to allow for matching sets. Biagi, Troll, Pandora and Chamilia beads are some of the more popular brands offering these customizable jewelry. Also some higher end couture brands have started offering their own charm bracelets like Louis Vuitton and Juicy Couture which can go for hundreds of thousands of dollars. This latest development has tempted counterfeiters to create their own fakes to sell to the demanding public for a much lower cost but also a far less desirable quality, stealing from the strong branding that has been created by famous couture companies. What a long way that charms have come over the centuries.

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