Vintage Charm Jewelry

Victorian Puffy Hearts on Original Sales Card

Kyria-d — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 07:10:18 +0000

I sometimes wonder if Puffy Heart Charm Bracelets (yes they do deserve caps - grin) are the most popular because they represent the joy of love - or because they sound so incrediblely nice to wear…

Here is the first example of an old advertising card with the original heart charms on it that I’ve ever seen.

Victorian Puffy Hearts on original card

prime example of an original advertising card from circa 1900 with puffy heart charms

Long Ago and Far Away

Kyria-d — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:24:14 +0000

Back in the day, (i.e. before I was old and/or wise enough to know that actions had consequences), a small dog approached me on the street where I was visiting my parents. I had been on the road touring for several years, and planned to continue (best laid plans…) When he saw me, he sat up but didn’t touch - as if afraid of rejection. After he’d had a bath and food, collar, flea meds, shots and I had posted missing dog notices all over the neighborhood, I started to look for an apartment. By this point if someone had answered the lost dog ads I would have claimed I gave birth to him myself. All this was to the good as my S.I. was tired of the road. Unable to find an apartment that would take a pet we bought a small condo - a bic house (like a bic pen or lighter - use it up, throw it away.) Twenty five years later, I am still there. Smidgen enriched our lives for sixteen years, and I’d give almost anything to have him back. But I have another street dog now, as loving and bratty as the first, and two others - pound puppies - in the gaps. I did go out on tours and leave him with family in the house, and as much as I loved those experiences, I begrudge every minute I missed with him. Life changes in a heartbeat, carpe diem!

This is what he looked like - and a great charm as well.

smidgen - as seen by a Victorian carver in coral

Smidgen the wonder pup, in Victorian Carved Coral Charm

Lucky Charms

Kyria-d — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:02:38 +0000

Was there ever a time when the human race wasn’t superstitious? We’ve carried amulets of luck since we crawled out of the primordial ooze. Don’t get me started on theatre traditions; between not whistling (which started because early flymen were trained on ships and the calls were made by whistles, if you ‘gave a little whistle’ at the wrong time a bar would land on your head) to the Scots play, and the go outside turn 3 times and spit - well it just is amazing anyone remembers lines. All charmers know that when a friend is in need we jingle, and every faith in the world lights candles I think. The Victorians did lucky charms as well as they obsessed about every other tiny detail - we are left with gobos and touch wuds, hands, legs, horns, coral, hair jewelry and a limitless assortment of charms. This set is a prime example:

a set of victorian lucky charms on a ring with coral

Victorian Bracelets gone by the wayside

Kyria-d — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 02:24:43 +0000

The first time I saw one of these I was hooked because my great-grandmother’s maiden name was Darling, and it has been passed on down to me. Although this one is a ‘BABY’ version the ‘DARLING’ version is also prevalent. Now when I design a bracelet I frequently will add hearts with letters engraved, or just letter charms to bring the theme together. I was recently hired to do a gift to the Veterans Liaison for Education in Southern California from the Vets (I’ll show the bracelet - not vintage but 30 charms and loaded!) so I used the letters VETERANS as a background. I think it works very well. I’d love to find KYRIA but the chances of that are slim to none - I’d better just stick with DARLING.

click here for this “BABY’ charm bracelet

no longer in vogue 'baby' and 'darling barcelets from the late 18 to early 19 hundreds are charming

A Charming Lucky Star

Kyria-d — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 07:34:24 +0000

Well whoever wins it will be lucky, these are rare as hen’s teeth, especially in this condition. Does anyone know why the English version says ‘You Be My Lucky Star’ rather than ‘You are my Lucky Star’? I’ve always wondered. This German enamel is always so lovely… Click here to see this Victorian charm auction.

Lovely guilloche vintage German charm with pearl

Proud to be an American - Bracelet

Kyria-d — Thu, 14 May 2009 07:35:08 +0000

What can I say, it’s a new feeling for me to be so giddy with nationalism, somehow it almost feels as if we can get a handle on the problems. For years my heart has bled that we haven’t managed the bare basics for our population, health care and food, safety, shelter for all. Suddenly I’m so proud of us, that we may actually manage to come through to be the civilized country we want to be, or at least we’re facing our demons and working at it. Maybe all those years of nonviolent protest are finally paying off? To celebrate I found this bracelet on eBay - a wow! some of the hand painted enamel states go back to the 40’s, and the modern bubble flag is a treat. Click here for the auction of this ultimate American charm bracelet.

vintage enamel charm bracelet - 50 states ++

Vintage gumball charms

Kyria-d — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:51:28 +0000

Not all vintage charms are gold or silver - there are myriad others such as copper, brass, catalin, celluloid, plastic, wood, stones, gems, etc. Especially popular to collect right now are the charms sold in gumball machines ( 5-25 cents when I bought them) from the 30’s to the 80’s. They make colorful and fun bracelets perfect for those with kids to amuse, or just a great sense of humor! Here is a cute one called ‘Now you’re cookin’

vintage gmball charm bracelet

Let’s talk Fums Up - the Lucky Luce

Kyria-d — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:03:03 +0000

This British only version of a fums up from WWI through the 40’s has a glass head and paste eyes on sterling body, many fewer of these were made and they are called Lucky Luce - usually have LUCE on the front. Do any of you have these? - I am wondering if they came with birthstone eyes like the Touch Wuds. Here is a link to an auction on the UK site I rarely see them for sale in this country. Can an English member tell us the story behind them?

Lucky Luce Charm circa WWI molded glass and silver

Puffy Hearts - the eternal search

Kyria-d — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 01:26:00 +0000

I thought I had managed to avoid the puffy heart mania for years - the whole trick is never to fall in love with the first one, saves a fortune! Then a dear friend gave me a whole bracelet of 1940’s ones and - poof! I was hooked. It didn’t hurt that they were all engraved with my mother’s name . Here is what I think is a lovely bangle - what do you think? click here to see the auctionhttp://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?type=2&campid=5335948620&toolid=10001&customid=&ext=120410463336&item=120410463336

Interesting Bangle Bracelet with Vintage Puffy Hearts

The only thing better than vintage charms - a SALE!

Kyria-d — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 08:00:05 +0000

yes one of our favorite sellers has marked things down (we won’t ask what she bought to bring this on but REALLY want to see) so click here to go to her store or go to the left to the seller list for yogiw, and take advantage while you can. Get some of the no-solder jump rings while there to keep your charms where they belong - on the bracelet. I wish I’d had those on my Tiffany bracelet instead of the pretty package locket, so sad!