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Charms go back as far as the Neolithic era where man would
pick up an unusual stone or piece of wood and carry it with him
to ward off his enemies. Elaborate jewelry made of precious
stones and metals emerged during the age of the Egyptian
Pharaohs. It was during this time that the first recognizable
charm bracelets and necklaces first appeared.
Like people of many ancient civilizations, the citizens of
ancient Egypt lived very short lives by today's standard - 30 to
40 years on average. With so little time on earth, they
obsessively prepared for a prosperous life after death. Charm
bracelets played a significant role in the preparation process.
Charm wrist and neck bracelets were not only coveted as
protective shields and signs of status in this life, they were
also worn as ID tags to help the Gods guide the wearer and
his/her possessions to the proper status level in the afterlife.
Kind of an "if found, please return to" note from home.
. . . When In Rome
During the Roman Empire Christians would pull the "ichthys"
(fish) charm from underneath their garments to identify
themselves to other Christians to gain entry into secret,
forbidden worship activities. The Jewish scholar of that same
time would write passages from Jewish law on tiny slips of
parchment and carefully insert the slips into a small, golden
amulet that was worn around his neck. This of act reverence and
piety was meant to keep the law close to the heart.
. . . Knights, Fights and a Little Extra Protection
Fast forward to the dark days of the Middle Ages, and we find
that charms and amulets were put to use by knights and kings.
They were most often used with incantations to wreak havoc on
the occupants of enemy castles and protect warriors in battle.
Charms were also worn on belts to represent family origin,
political standing and profession.
General wearing of charms began to lose favor with the wealthy
classes during the Renaissance as mass produced books emerged
and superstitions faded. However, charms and amulets were still
widely used by people of lesser means and education. The role of
the charm remained relatively unchanged until the early 1900s.
. . . The Queen of Charm
In the early 20th century, the bracelets of Queen Victoria
ignited the next big wave of charm wearing. It was at this stage
that charms had a dramatic change of purpose. They went from
being practical tools to becoming decorative fashion jewelry.
Small lockets, glass beads and family crests that hung on
bracelets and necklaces were all the rage.
The
Italian
charms and bracelets guide will help you find the right type
of bracelet for your wrist. Find great information about the
manufacturers of charms like
nomination charms and
inexpensive italian charms.
. . . The Greatest Generation
The end of WWII saw the explosion of charm jewelry as we know it
today. Soldiers leaving Europe and islands in the Pacific
purchased little handmade trinkets as gifts to bring home to
their sweethearts. Native craftsmen fashioned small bits of
metal into little replicas of items common to the locale.
Enterprising jewelers in the States quickly picked up on the
trend to create charms for all occasions.
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