Disney Italian Charms

[lamchop]

I've been reading alot about the Disney Italian Charms and bracelets. Everything I read seems to come from Disneyland. Are these available at Disneyworld also? I can find them in the mall here for $30 and up. Is that the going rate at the parks, or is there a cheaper version? I've been to alot of the websites, and they look cool, but not sure if I would be getting any great deals on these sites. Any info would be helpful. thanks to all.
If there is a better forum to put this in, feel free to move it!!

 

[nativetxn]

Hi lamchop. Welcome to the DIS.

There have been several posts about this topic. I did a search and found these posts for you:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=331031&highlight=+Italian++charms

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=305628&highlight=+Italian++charms

I will have to look for these when I am there in a couple of weeks. I don't collect charms or wear charm bracelets but they seem to popular and I'd love to know what they look like.

Katholyn

 

[cindala]

Friends of ours just returned from WDW, and their DD came home with a charm bracelet all with the Disney Links. I asked her how much they were. She said the Italian Charms were more money, like $20-$30, but the ones she had purchased were about $3.00 each. She said they were available in all the stores down in Disney.

I don't know how well the less expensive ones hold up compared to the Italian Charm ones, though.

 

[disneydiz]

I just returned from a trip, and we found the "better" Italian charms in almost every park. In MK, its a jewelry store on the right as you face the castle. At MGM, there is a jewelry story on the left (facing the hat) on Hollywood Blvd. At EPCOT, we found the most charms at the Italy pavilion, also they were at the main EPCOT store located near the fountains. You will also find them at the giant Disney Story at DTD in the jewelry section. The only savings by buying the charms on line is the tax. Every time we stopped to look at the charms, there were always several customers buying them. They were quite popular.

 

[Sandy51]

I picked one up for my boss at the Disney Store in DTD. It was the Americana Mickey head and it was $25. She's very pleased with it. (I knew nothing about the prices of these charms)

Sandy

 

[BCV23]

What is the difference between regular gold or silver charms and Italian charms. I have a charm bracelet with gold Disney charms and see them at the stores disneydiz mentions. What do Italian charms look like?

 

[Simba0319]

I believe the charms they are talking about are watch type link charms(not the standard charm bracelet charms) originally for the nomination bracelets. These charms are expandable bracelets. They are very popular with kids. The Italian charms have 14K gold on them and the $3.00 one do not. I saw the Italian charms in Italy in Epcot. Big selection there.

 

[BCV23]

Thanks Simba...I'm so hopeless that I don't know what a nomination bracelet is. I do understand the watch link part though. I'll have to check them out at Italy in a couple of months. Thanks again.

 

[helenabear]

I have several Italian charm bracelets and have had them for nearly a year now. Nomination is just a brand name for charms. Some of the biggger names are Nomination, Boxing, Zoppini and Fierenze (I think I spelled that one right). Most Disney charms should sell at about $25 or so. The crystals Disney charms can go for about $35 and doubles anywhere from $50-60. I think the dangle charms should be about $35-40.

Most of the bases are stainless steel (very strong and doesn't tarnish easily) with 18K gold on top. That means if you have a gold smilie face the entire face itself is solid gold. The cheaper ones are just plated gold so the gold could wear off. Most of the Italian charms are solid 18K gold with enamel. The cheaper ones almost never come from Italy (although this might have changed) but you can usually tell that the enamel isn't done near as good and they definitely do fall apart fairly quickly. They are most likely glued together as opposed to soddering (sp?) or however metal to metal is attached in fine jewelry. I have had my charms worn on almost a daily basis now for a year and they are in great shape. A little hint though is to use clear nail polish on the enamels to keep them lasting even longer (what a few of my jewelers suggest doing to cloisone jewelry as well)

You can check out a lot of the charms at www.italiancharms.com and www.dollsandducks.com There are many other sites out there (search google with Italian Charms). They are definitely easier to find than they were a year or more ago. Feel free to PM me with any questions

 

[beattyfamily]

Great! I've avoided pins and other collectibles and then I read this thread!!!

This, I know, will be my new obsession!!!

I can't wait to go to WDW this Nov/Dec and get one of these charm bracelets but what theme?? Then I'll end up getting 2 or three bracelets with different themes...

Oh no, my DH is not too happy this morning!!!

My DD 7 thinks they are really cute....do they sell non-gold cheaper ones for young ones?

Thanks

 

[helenabear]

beattyfamily, I haven't found all that many 'cheap' Disney charms. I am not shocked by that either really, but most cheap companies don't seem to make them. In general though, they do make "cheap" ones. They are just gold plated and usually run about $3-7 (depending on where you find them). Actually I have also seen these bracelets at Targets, Walmarts and other stores like that. The starters are about $7 and then you can get a small collection of charms for very cheap. They aren't the sturdiest but great for kids.