Why Wear Italian Charms?
Italian charms are the latest and most popular trend in the jewelry industry. The trend began in the mid 1980s in Italy. The craze spread so fast that soccer players have been known to wear bracelets that reflected their country’s colors. The trend spread to the United States after American tourists became enamored with the style.
An Italian charm starter bracelet consists of 18 blank individual rectangular links. Standardized sizing allows for each piece to be interchangeable with any Italian charm. Unlike traditional charm bracelets that dangle off a chain, the Italian charm bracelet allows for a complete look that can be changed depending on the wearer’s mood and/or changing interests.
Charms can reflect any part of your individual personality. However, the most general charms represent that of what the interests, hobbies and career of a person may be. Each link can be replaced so that the bracelet can reflect a person’s changing interest. Each bracelet can be created through any theme that the individual can imagine. Common themes include color and family.
The original charms were made by permanently soldering or etching a design onto the surface of the stainless steel. More recently, the most common charms are made through an enamel process that allows for full color. This enamel process can be quite expensive though, so it is used only for charms that will be sold in large quantities. However, even though thousands of different charms are produced in large quantities, Italian charm bracelet owners desire more individualized charms. The popularity of the bracelets has prompted a necessity for a less expensive form of production.
Laser technology has been found to be an inexpensive yet reliable method of creating charms. This type of charm is manufactured by a laser permanently etching the design onto the surface of the steel. Laser charms are the least expensive charms to purchase. However, laser technology has also allowed for individuals to customize a charm to their specific instructions. Custom charms are a bit more expensive but not totally unfordable.
A more expensive method of customization involves the use of photography. A photograph can also be used to create a charm by using two methods. The first method mounts a photograph onto the link and then seals it. The second way is dye-sublimation. This method transfers the colors of the photograph to the link.
Although the original trend involved only bracelets, the craze has spread to other merchandise. Fans of this growing style can now get key chains, anklets, earrings and necklaces.