The historical custom of wearing charm bracelets dates back millenia, and though the materials and designs on them have changed, the concept itself has never gone out of style.
This form of jewelry initially had a religous function, and dates back to the prehistoric era. Based on data from Elizabeth Florence, president of the Jewelry Information Center, charm bracelets were first worn by Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians and Hittites from 500 to 400 B.C. Those charms were created from lapis lazuli, rock crystal and other locally-available gems and were inscribed with symbolic designs, like figures of gods, humans and animals. They were closely associated with magical spiritual powers and served as protective talismans.
As time passed, charms diminished in religious significance and became fashion jewelry instead. The Victorians of the 1890’s spurred a renaissance of charms, due to their love of elaborate and intricate clothing and jewelry. Queen Victoria helped fuel the craze by wearing a charm bracelet of tiny lockets holding family portraits.
A second revival of charm bracelets occured in America in the Second World War era, as soldiers stationed...