After the motherhood rings and necklaces, and the pandora add-a-bead bracelets, now we get the charm necklace. Like the add-a-bead necklace, the charm necklace is a fine chain to which charms are added. Every birthday or Christmas can bring a new charm for the necklace and it will become the biography of the person who owns it. Or at least the record of the life everyone thinks the wearer has had.
The charms for a charm necklace can be like the charms used on the old charm bracelets, but there are newer charms that have a larger hole integrated into the charm design. The larger hole allows the charm to be added to the necklace directly, without using the jump ring that is required for charm bracelets. Thus you can have representative charms for the people in your family, your vocation and hobbies, and for the important events in your life strung on a fine chain. The charms all fall together, but can be separated and displayed as each is explained. A new charm can be added as each present-giving occasion rolls around, or you can buy charms that appeal to you and make up a necklace for yourself.
Charm necklaces come in sterling silver and in some weight of gold. Cheaper chains may be silver or gold plate, but if the necklace is to be worn often, the plated chains will not stand up to the wear and tear or skin oils. For a necklace intended to be worn at least weekly for a lifetime, get the best chain you can afford and postpone getting charms if necessary. A chain that tuns the wearers neck green or red will not lead to the addition of more charms but to the garbage.
Many charms for charm necklaces incorporate a small crystal or enamel to bring a touch of color to the charm and the necklace. Enamel charms can add a rainbow, both litally and figuratively, to the necklace. It is conceivable that you could make a charm necklace based on the color of the charms, although this would be rather unusual: all green charms on a silver charm necklace, or red charms on a gold charm necklace. That way the choice of charm necklace to wear with an outfit would made as with other jewelry, to compliment or contrast. You can also change out the charms on the necklace at any one wearing, leaving certain ones at home when necessary.
The next time you are out shopping, check the jewelry stores and jewelry counters of department stores for charms for charm necklaces. You will be surprised at the number and quality of the charms available, and they may inspire you to start a charm necklace. Because they are not attached to separate rings of the chain or worn on the wrist, the charm necklace does not make noise, which will suit many who will not wear a charm bracelet for that reason.
Finally, a way to document the important things in your life in a form you can wear, the charm necklace.
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