| The origins of charms and charm bracelets go back to | | | | really took off. Soldiers away from home collected |
| very ancient history when charms were worn to | | | | small items to remind them of lost comrades, of places |
| please the gods, to ward off evil spirits, or to gain entry | | | | they had been and as gifts for loved ones back home. |
| into the afterlife. | | | | Gradually charms came to be a means of collecting |
| The carrying of charms to ward off evil dates back to | | | | and storing personal memories. |
| the Neolithic era in which hunters would carry | | | | Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, charm bracelets |
| interesting stones and trinkets for good luck. | | | | became a particularly popular gift for girls reaching |
| The Babylonians are believed to be the first people to | | | | particular milestones in life, 16th and 18th birthdays, |
| wear charms on a bracelet around 700 BC. | | | | engagements and weddings and their owners would |
| However, archaeologists have found examples of | | | | then add charms that marked other significant |
| charm bracelets in the tombs of the pharaohs in | | | | moments, such as the birth of a child or children or an |
| ancient Egypt going back as far as 1450BC and | | | | anniversary. |
| mostly worn by men. The charms were used to ward | | | | Often charm bracelets assembled over a lifetime |
| of evil spirits, protect loved ones when the moved on | | | | would be passed on from mother to daughter. |
| to the afterlife, to improve fertility and to ensure | | | | Today, though some still use them to mark significant |
| prosperity. | | | | events, they are used by all sorts of organisations, |
| It is known that in the Roman era, Christians, fearful of | | | | from charities to religions, as well as being fashion |
| religious persecution, would carry small charms in the | | | | items. |
| shape of a fish to identify themselves to each other. | | | | Most recent has been the fashion for making up bead |
| The Greeks and Romans also carried charms, usually | | | | charm bracelets to suit the wearer's tastes, outfit, |
| out of superstition or respect for their gods and the | | | | favourite colours, or if they are interested in the |
| ancient practice of carrying something symbolic | | | | meanings of gems to either protect the wearer or |
| includes soldiers going off to war carrying a lock of | | | | promote a particular wish, from attracting prosperity or |
| their wives' or sweethearts' hair. | | | | love, or helping the wearer to greater mental clarity or |
| During the middle ages, charms were worn by knights | | | | focus. Particularly popular are bracelets containing |
| to signify rank and family origin but charm bracelets | | | | collections of the famous Venetian murano glass |
| really became popular in the UK and Europe during the | | | | beads, sometimes mixed with silver engraved beads. |
| reign of Queen Victoria, largely among the aristocracy | | | | We may believe we are no longer superstitious but |
| as displays of wealth since only the wealthy could | | | | the multitude of websites and books on charms, and |
| afford to have specially made items in precious | | | | on gemstone and colour meanings, suggests that |
| materials such as gold and silver or set with | | | | somewhere inside we still turn to tokens or talismans in |
| gemstones. | | | | times of stress. |
| It was in the Second World War that collecting charms | | | | |