Question About Italian Charm Bracelets

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

I'm buying an Italian charm bracelet as a gift, and I'm buying some charms (links?) for it that I plan to attach before giving her the bracelet. On amazon, in the "other people who searched for this bought" section, there was a tool that's used to remove/add the charms. Is this something I'll need in order to get the charms on/is it something that I should get for the girl I'll be giving it to? I have no experience with these kinds of bracelets, so any advice you can give would be much appreciated!

 

[3boymthr]

Just make sure that for the non-glass beads you buy beads that are sterling - and don't buy if they say they're made in china or say they're shipping from china 'cause they say they're sterling but yeah, they're not (learned this the hard way). If you don't buy sterling there is a chance the beads will fall apart, the coating will peel off and, the skin will turn green (yeah, you really don't want your friends skin to turn green), they say they fit the bracelet but really they don't.... It makes it much more pricey but believe me normal colored skin is worth it.

ETA - if you buy a quality bracelet you won't need a tool to put the beads/charms on and off. They spin over the fastner and then will slide easily over the bracelet.

 

[scdak]

I am wondering if the first two posts are talking about the same type of bracelets? Italian charm bracelets (i have many) are little links that hook on to each other and yes, there is a little tool that helps open then up to link them but it can be done by hand too, it just takes a little practice. I have the little tool which I bought from Claires but that was a few years ago.

The bracelet that the beads twist over the end are typically Pandora/Chamillia/Troll etc and they are beads that go on a necklace, bracelet etc.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

I am wondering if the first two posts are talking about the same type of bracelets? Italian charm bracelets (i have many) are little links that hook on to each other and yes, there is a little tool that helps open then up to link them but it can be done by hand too, it just takes a little practice. I have the little tool which I bought from Claires but that was a few years ago.

The bracelet that the beads twist over the end are typically Pandora/Chamillia/Troll etc and they are beads that go on a necklace, bracelet etc.

I was thinking the above but I am not the OP

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

I am wondering if the first two posts are talking about the same type of bracelets? Italian charm bracelets (i have many) are little links that hook on to each other and yes, there is a little tool that helps open then up to link them but it can be done by hand too, it just takes a little practice. I have the little tool which I bought from Claires but that was a few years ago.

This is the kind that I'm talking about.

 

[elgerber]

I have the little tool, and when I was adding new charms, I found it very helpful!

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

Thanks to the posters who have responded!

 

[Diznygrl]

Technically you don't NEED the special tool, but it can be a real pain in the behind to put the links together by hand, depending on your dexterity and the stubbornness of individual charms (some are harder to slide, etc.). I don't have the tool, but if the girl you're giving the bracelet to is young, you might want to consider it.

BTW, it's nice to hear someone talk about Italian charms again...they've pretty much gone by the wayside because of the Pandora/Chamillia bead craze. I still love my Italian charm bracelet, but sometimes I feel like I'm the only person who still wears one.

 

[scdak]

OP - just for fun I did a search on Ebay for the device you are looking for, it appears there are at least 3 different types and none are very expensive. If you use Ebay or know someone that could do it for you simply search italian charm tool. I have the one that looks like a tiny spoon with a bent piece of metal at the end, the "spoon" part is where your thumb goes to control it and the little metal piece goes in the link to let you put it apart and allow another one to be attatched. The other 2 would do the same thing but I like the way the spoon type one works for me, its easy to hold on to. I searched US only, free shipping and there were some in the $3-4 price range and a few higher. I love my Italian charm bracelet and have collected charms from many places where I have traveled. These bracelets are very different from Chamllia/Pandora in size and weight, they are less visible but fun to wear when you don't want to have alot on your wrist but still want to wear something nice. I think I have about 10 filled bracelets now, one of them is all charms I bought on an Alaskan cruise, others are from places I have been to, some are some of my likes/hobbies etc. But don't worry, I have 5 filled Pandoras/Chamillia bracelets and 3 necklaces too, I am an equal opportunity jewelry wearer

 

[mamacatnv]

There is a tool!?! Dangit, I have a small chip in one of my front teeth from an Italian charm.

I loved the Italian charm bracelets, they were lots of fun. I also have a Pandora bead bracelet but the Italian charms were so much more affordable and easily changed. The Pandora has to be completely undone to change one bead

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

Well I certainly don't want a chipped tooth! And since they're so cheap, I think I'll get one just to have in case. Thanks everyone!