Question about Italian charm bracelet.

[Merandab4]

I would like to start buying the Italian charms for my sister and I but don't know a lot about them. I know you have to buy a starter bracelet made of blank charms. I've seen several on e-bay, but I don't know what I am looking for. They vary in price. I want to get good quality and prefer the sterling silver over the gold. also, do the charms vary in quality? I've seen some charms on ebay for .01. Of course that was just the starting bid, but it makes me question the quality of the charm. So any advice out there from those of you who have built your own italian charm bracelet?

 

[challada]

First, know that you don't need to spend alot on the starter bracelet as eventually, it will be gone as you replaced each link w/one of the custom links. I would recommed the basic silver as you will find the most extra links/charms in this format.

Second, yes, there is varying quality to the links/charms you buy on ebay. I found that some of the cheapest ones, while they are ok, tend to have the designs glued on, and therefore have them fall off eventually. The lazer charms do not fall apart, but may fade w/time.

Off ebay, I have bought charms from pugster as they also have a website. I also like the lazer ones w/individual names so I have bought those on ebay as well.

 

[Merandab4]

I've seen the photograph charms. Are those the ones that you say are glued on? Thats a shame because I like them the best. What are the lazer charms?

BTW, Do you think a 40 something year old mother would like this or would it be to trendy or juvenile for her? I was thinking of starting one for my mom.

 

[cami89]

I have an italian charm bracelet, myself, and have bought/put together bracelets for my DD5 and step-mom.

I purchase almost all of my charms on eBay. Most sellers give discounts for multiple purchases, so it saves a bit if you can buy several, from the same seller, at once. As always, be sure to check the seller's feedback and see what others have to say about the quality of their jewelery. I've also found inexpensive charms at Wal-Mart, but I have only bought a few of these as they quality isn't as great.

The laser charms are the sold metal with the darker design or word "etched" into it. The enamel charms are the ones with photographs or color pictures.

For your mom, you might get a birthstone charm to represent you and any other siblings you have - or grandkids, if that applies. Also a charm to represent any hobbies she has or her occupation maybe. You can mix the starter links and charms together and she can remove the plain links, with charms, as she (or you) adds to it.

Hope that helps - good luck to you

 

[Merandab4]

Yes, that helps. Thanks.

What is the average price of a "starter" bracelet? What is a fair price to pay for lazer charms and enamel charms?

Also, If I buy a whole bunch of charms, do I even need a starter bracelet, or do the charms hook onto the base of the starter bracelet somehow?

Thanks for all the help you ladies are providing. This is just something I suddenly decided to get into last night!

 

[challada]

I was talking about the enamel ones falling off...just happened a couple times to my DD's one (but she's 5 and tough on stuff still).

If you buy a bunch of charms, you probably won't even need a starter bracelet or maybe just one starter if you are going to do multiple bracelets. The links just slide in the middle and hook on to the next one, so you could hook together 18 or 20 of them and have a bracelet w/out a starter at all...of course, if you are making 3 of them, you might want one starter to be able to put some blank spots in for them to grow their collection.

A starter should not cost you more than $5 basically....when I began w/these, I bought a lot of 10 starters off ebay for about $15 total. I was planning on giving them to grandmas, moms, sisters, etc in my family. Well, I found that between the 8 people I was giving them to, I really only needed about 2 or 3 starters since I was putting in so many charms already. I have since donated the extra ones, otherwise, I'd send you one free!

I think they would be a appropriate for a 40s mom....I'm inching in on that age and I know that almost all of the moms I know have one personalized w/their kids birthstones and/or names and/or initials.

FYI..When Claire's does their 10 for $5 sales at their store, they usually have some charms in that mix...my DD got spongebob and hello kitty that way.