Originally, charms were not merely forms of decoration but symbols of magic. The Bronze Age’s jewelry movement spawned the use of delicate, sophisticated materials for jewelry making, like rock crystal and semiprecious gems, which were often engraved with intricate designs, usually referencing a form of magic or a special power. The Egyptians were one of the earliest peoples to wear charms, and they wore them specifically as a form of protection from evil spirits and to guard loved ones who had deceased.
Up until the Industrial Revolution, charms were normally customized and only worn by the wealthy. But the spawn of the machine age brought about large, effective machines and mass production, which, for charms, meant more consumers among a wider class of people. Queen Victoria was another reason for the spike in popularity—she used to wear a charm bracelet with lockets containing pictures and locks of hair from her husband, Prince Albert. The use of charms also increased after World War II, when veterans would come home with charms from cities they had liberated.
Today, charm bracelets are still very popular. Attaching charms to a chain (usually a bracelet) customizes the piece of jewelry for the wearer, and can be added to as life experiences accumulate. There is such a wide array of charms to choose from, and each charm means something different to each person. For example, a heart charm could symbolize a newfound lover, a meaningful friendship, or simply a pretty addition to a piece of simply ornamental, non symbolic jewelry. It is all up to the wearer. How would you wear your charm bracelet?
