A Brief & Pretty History of Charm Bracelets

Back much further than any of us can possibly remember ancient Persians used precious stones engraved with images of gods or animals as amulets. They believed wearing these ‘charms’ would ward off evil spirits.

Fast forward to the 19^th century and charm bracelets become an elaborate accessory worn by the Victorians. Queen Victoria encouraged this fashion trend by wearing bracelets filled with miniature lockets. Inside each were pictures of the royal family.

Today charm bracelets run from simple designs to very elaborate jewels that can be personalized, running anywhere from a few dollars to a few thousand dollars. Though even with expensive bracelets, if you add to them charm by charm or bead by bead, the cost is very manageable. What results are gorgeous pieces of jewelry that reflect personal style.

Now I definitely know charms have no magical powers after being cut off in traffic by a rather unpleasant fellow on my way to work, and I have some serious bling on my wrists! I do, however, appreciate the significance they hold in my life. 

Each charm bracelet I create and add to is completely and uniquely me. My husband, my boys, and my friends and family add to my bracelets at birthdays and Christmas, or simply to show me they love me!

Stunning beads and charms from top designers like Thomas Sabo, Baci and Troll Beads have brought the charm bracelet into the 21^st century with stylish designs. Their jewelry lines offer quality and beauty and a way to add pizzazz to any outfit, whether casual or formal.

Charms offer a personalized way to say 'thank you' to bridesmaids. Siblings can create a bracelet together as a special mother's day surprise. Almost any occasion is a perfect excuse to start building a memory that can be added to for years to come.

#1 Independent Thomas Sabo Retailer

Terri & Rhonda with Thomas Sabo distributor Phillipe in Vegas

Don't worry, we won't break into a rousing rendition of 'We Are The Champions,' but... we really are the champions! The announcement was made this week. For the second year in a row, our tiny shop in Willow Park Village achieved top jewelry sales across Canada for Internationally Renowned German Designer, Thomas Sabo. Imagine, us! #1!

The Girls with Thomas Sabo rep Shannon

We're smiling so big you can barely see the glimmer off the Thomas Sabo jewelry display, and that's saying a lot. Our selection is second to none, often being able to provide discontinued charms and pendants to our customers. But that's not all.

Photo via last.fm

Katy Perry has been named the newest celebrity spokes person for the acclaimed brand. She brings a hip and trendy vibe supporting the unique style that is Thomas Sabo.

The gorgeous sterling silver charms and pendants, and the watches, can be worn as stand alone pieces or combined to compliment each other. The designs dress up formal wear or play up the latest fashions. Thomas Sabo collections are released twice yearly to coincide with major fashion shows in Paris, Milan and NY. The Spring 2011 collection has been unveiled and will arrive in store early February. Plan to be dazzled!

We Love Honeysuckle

So we looked around the shop and realized, we love the 2011 Color Of The Year! Everywhere we looked, Honeysuckle was popping up. Here are some fun and stylish ways to bring this wonderful color into your everyday.

Looking around, we realize the color blends beautifully with so many other hues. It truly is versatile and gives our winter landscape a colorful boost.

Freshwater Pearls ~ Affordable Sophistication

Real friendship, like real poetry, is extremely rare - and precious as a pearl. Tahar Ben Jelloun

Pearls have always been regarded as a valuable and precious gem. Once only adorned by royalty and the elite, pearl cultivation in the 1900’s made pearls an affordable luxury. Though considerably less expensive than other types, freshwater pearls come in a wide variety of subtle colors, shapes and sizes.

Pearls are an organic gem created when material, such as sand or tiny rocks, is introduced inside the shell of a mollusk. Cultured pearls are made by inserting an irritant into the shell, commonly a piece of shell from another mollusk. Then a layer of protective material called nacre is formed over the irritant and the resulting ball of luminous nacre eventually becomes a pearl. This process can be anywhere from a number of months to quite a few years depending on the mollusk.

Freshwater pearls occur most commonly in the rivers of Scotland, Ireland, France, Austria, Germany, and the state of Mississippi in USA. Although harder to come by, round freshwater pearls are the most valuable. Most are baroque pearls, meaning they are irregularly shaped. Fresh water pearls are typically shaped like tear drops.

Recreating Classic Looks

Style is deeply personal, but most of us are inspired by the fashion represented by celebrities and others we admire. Here are a few notable influencers of style that made pearls a desirable accessory.

Coco Chanel believed too much money killed luxury and was the first designer to offer ‘costume’ jewelry acceptable to the elite. She loved to create using artificial pearls and would often design jewelry that hosted dramatically large and colorful versions of the gem. Chanel made pearls chic.

Who can forget the moment in Breakfast At Tiffany’s when Audrey Hepburn entered wearing a little black dress and beautiful string of pearls! Audrey Hepburn made pearls glamorous.

Fashion Icon Princess Diana often wore understated pearls with quite dramatic evening gowns and outfits. Princess Diana made pearls a lasting classic.

A pretty string of freshwater pearls can easily adorn a sophisticated outfit for evening or a classic look for daytime. They even work with your favourite pair of jeans and cashmere sweater. Experiment with the look, they truly are a versatile and beautiful gem.