Charms have been worn for thousands of years, not just for their decorative appeal, but often to symbolise good luck, love and spiritual forces. During prehistoric times, charms were made from shells, animal bones and clay. Later charms were made out of gems, rocks, and wood. The pharaohs of ancient Egypt believed their charms would pass with them into the afterlife. Knights of the Middle Ages wore charms on their belts to identify their status and ancestry. During the sixteenth century, talismans would be carried into battle to ward off evil and bring good fortune to their owners. Queen Victoria invented the charm bracelet as we now know it and her appreciation of these jewels quickly spread throughout European nobility. Charms reached a new height of popularity after the Second World War when service men would bring charms home to their sweethearts from all over the world. With people longing for connection with each other, charms became a way to express feelings and preserve memories. By the 1950s, every girl had a charm collection, with each new bobble commemorating a life milestone. Charms remain a popular jewelry item, as personalized keepsakes feel more intimate in an increasingly mass-produced jewelry market. Popular themes include initials, horoscope signs, birthstone charms, travel souvenirs, and family keepsakes.
This14k gold R charm is perfect to add to your charm collection to be worn daily. It's larger size makes it perfect to wear solo but would also look great layered with friends. Shows light wear consistent with age. *********** In celebration of the 10th anniversary of Ariel Gordon Jewelry, we’re so proud to introduce Heritage by Ariel Gordon, a collection of vintage and estate jewelry curated by Ariel to bring new life to these treasured pieces. “It felt inspiring and motivating to me to stop for a moment and reflect on all the different reasons that people have worn jewelry throughout the years - the heritage of the industry that I'm a part of. I get a lot of satisfaction thinking about the sustainable life cycle of jewelry and that I'm bringing new life to old pieces. I design my own collection to live forever and be heirlooms so it's so exciting that I'm getting to honor these pieces in the same way. It's a fantasy of mine that 100 years from now, someone will discover one of my pieces, and it would have the same special meaning to them—with the stories and memories it's collected over the years.” To curate this assortment, Ariel scoured trade shows, flea markets, private collections, and beyond to find authentic, one of a kind jewelry. Every piece in the collection was purchased by Gordon in person so she could fully vet the quality and authenticity. |