Charms and Beads History

People have used charms and beads in jewellery since the beginning of human history. From the early use of stones and seeds through to the creation of jewellery in precious metals and gems, charms and beads have been used to bring good luck, ward off evil and symbolise beliefs.

From very early days beads and charms have come in and out of fashion; charms were very popular with the Victorians, soldiers coming back from war brought trinkets back home to be used as charms and throughout the 1950s and 1960s American teenagers exchanged beads and charms for special occasions, to commemorate events, celebrate relationships, friendships, birthdays and anniversaries.

Modern Beads

Starting in Europe in the 1970s with the Danish Troll Bead, charm bracelets have continued as a popular fashion, more recently becoming the personalised jewellery phenomenon that we know today.

One of the most popular brands is Pandora. Women all over the world wear Pandora bracelets with the Pandora charms telling their own unique and special stories of birthdays, weddings, holidays and other special occasions. Unique hand-crafted charms hang from bracelets and necklaces, each one signifying a special event or moment in life.

Pandora Jewellery was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1982. Today, they are a global company and their jewellery is sold in shops all over the world.

How it Works

You start with the bracelet chain and then choose which beads and charms you want to add. You can start with as few or as many beads as you want. The beads and charms are made of silver or silver with gold highlights and are full of romantic, fun, fascinating, and unforgettable details.

The beauty of a bead charm bracelet is the fact that you can add to or change your collection over time. You can start with two or three beads, opting to buy more in the future to add to your bracelet or necklace or, you can suggest to friends and family that they buy beads or charms for you as gifts too.

Some of the many different occasions that can be marked with a Pandora bracelet include:

Special birthdays - family and friends can buy special beads or charms that have a significance, or perhaps club together to buy one of the more expensive ones. This is a lovely way to be reminded of loved ones as the bracelet will represent many happy thoughts.

Weddings – a bracelet would make a great gift for bridesmaids and flower girls at a wedding. A few well-chosen charms would have a special meaning as well as ensuring the special day was remembered for years to come.

Family events - these bracelets are ideal for celebrating different events within the life of the family. Charms are available in such a wide range of styles that there is bound to be something that is of significance, for instance a football bead might represent the sportsman in the family while a baby girl bead might mark the occasion of the birth of a new daughter.