From Ancient Amulets to Labubus: Why We Still Love Charms
A Labubu, a Purse, and a Perfectly Bewildered Matt
“A Labubu!?!”, exclaims Matt as I proudly show off my new purse companion, Soymilk (shoutout to our marketing friends at Linden for gifting me this precious angel). Maybe you’re like Matt and you have no idea what a Labubu is, or maybe you’re like me and you know EXACTLY what these creepy/cute critters are and you’re familiar with the chokehold they’ve had on people around the world.
Beyond Labubus, charm adornments in general have been all the rage. By definition, a charm is a small ornament worn on a necklace or bracelet (thank you, Oxford Dictionary). However, people have also been adding them to bags, belts, and even shoes. They’re the perfect way to express one’s personal style and effortlessly customize any look, but that is not, and has not, always been their purpose.
A Brief History of Charms
Let’s dip our toes into a little bit of history and travel back to prehistoric times where the name of the game was function over fashion. In modern day Morocco, shells bored with holes found in a cave in 2021 have been dated back to the Paleolithic era. (Before I get into it further, can you imagine finding something that old? I would never stop talking about it. Strangers at a happy hour would hate to see me coming. An entire section of my house would be wallpapered with any article talking about it. I would have a headstone just so I could have my contribution literally written in stone. But I digress.)
It’s not clear if the shells were worn as amulets to ward off evil spirits or disease, or if they were meant to signify status or the family the wearer(s) belonged to. But hello?? Call them what you will, but these are the first known beads/pendants/amulets/whosawhatsits/CHARMS. This discovery was major news at the time, because the shells were at least 10,000 years older than the jewelry that had previously held the title of being the oldest.
Charms Across Ancient Civilizations
In other ancient civilizations, such as Egypt, Greece, the Roman Empire, and Scandinavia, people were bopping around rocking amulets and talismans all day, every day for a host of superstitious reasons.
These pieces were thought to contain powers that would protect wearers from evil spirits, illness, danger, or misfortune. On the other hand, it was believed they would bring about good luck, protection and strength in battle, or general prosperity, because they contained the power of the gods. They were an effective way of showcasing one’s status.
In Egypt, a charm’s purpose was to identify people to the gods in the afterlife. In the Roman Empire, they were often a low-key way of indicating what cultural, political, or religious groups individuals belonged to. It was common for people in Nordic communities to wear amulets depicting Thor’s hammer to show their loyalty to the god.
Queen Victoria, Sentimentality, and the Rise of Personal Meaning
As time progressed, societies evolved, religious beliefs changed, and fashion no longer served a purely functional purpose. As wealthier classes during the Renaissance became more well-read, superstitious thinking began to fade and charms were no longer heavily relied on for protection and good fortune in the land of the living or the dead.
Of course, they didn’t completely peter out. The “why” behind wearing them simply began to shift.
There was an intense resurgence of charms during the Victorian Era thanks to our dearest Queen Vic, who rocked a couple different bracelets laden with them. She had one that bore engraved heart-shaped lockets with locks of her children’s hair tucked safely inside (if you don’t know, I love how metal Victorian jewelry was. Like, that’s so goth of them. I die).
In the wake of the death of her husband, Albert, she wore a mourning bracelet with various bejeweled, inscribed, and enameled charms representing her beloved. It’s because of these bracelets, as well as her collection as a whole, that jewelry became imbued with sentimentality.
We have her to thank for this enduring trend and proving charm bracelets could be fashionable, meaningful, everyday accessories.
Charms Today: Milestones, Memory, and Personal Style
In the here and now, charms are a popular way to memorialize celebrations and milestones and showcase one’s interests, effectively giving others a glimpse into the wearer’s life.
While some boast a maximalist look and drench themselves in their personal talismans, others choose to simply pair a few together at a time. No matter the style, one thing is always clear: they’re curated with intention.
At Forsythe Jewelers, we’re lucky to hear many of the stories behind our customers’ bracelets and necklaces. Often, we see a blend of charms that have been passed down through the family mixed with newly acquired ones, whether gifted, stumbled upon, or sought out. They tell a story, highlight legacy, and possess reminders of love, pride, and joy. Being the estate jewelry freaks that we are, we get excited when people mix the old with the new.
Charms in the Age of Nostalgia
Since the Covid pandemic, we’ve seen a rise in the appeal of sentimental and nostalgic designs in the fashion world. Recently, Y2K trends have experienced quite the resurgence amongst the Gen Z population. Not only have low rise jeans made a comeback (lord, help us through this dark time), so have crop tops, mini skirts, baggy pants, slip dresses, and statement bags (ding ding ding, no wonder purse adornments are huge right now).
While we know this era isn't to thank for creating charm jewelry, the rebirth of '90s and 2000s trends certainly sheds light on why they have once again been thrust into the spotlight.
If you pay attention to high-fashion campaigns, you might already know that a handful of designers, such as Chloe, Burberry, Loewe, Dior, and Prada, have not shied away from them. It should come as no shock that Tiffany & Co. is still going strong with their "Return to Tiffany" tags, as well as their key motif charms. As a #Loud&ProudMillenial, I feel quite hip every time I put my Tiffany necklace on. Gen Z would be proud, but they'd probably be prouder if I layered it up with even more trinkets.
Let’s Build Your Charm Story
Have you dabbled in curating your perfect charm bracelet or necklace?Are you currently building a keychain decked out to the nines in little talismans to oomph up your purse game and ward off bag snatchers? Are you hanging little cuties from your shoelaces or sandal straps so you jingle like a Christmas elf with every gorgeous step you take? Maybe you're hooking interchangeable tiny amulets from your belt chain to bring just a little godly woowoo luck to the table. If you haven't gotten on the bandwagon and don't know where to start, let us help you get with the times, honey.
You want a bracelet that's all silver, all gold, or two-tone? You've got it. Maybe you want a necklace with name-engraved lockets like our girl Queen Victoria had (with or without hair- you do you) to represent people you love. What's that? You're dying to have a diamond or gemstone encrusted paw print with a T engraved on the back to honor your beloved 15-year-old toothless pug named Mr. Tinkles?
We can order anything you want and give you assorted fonts to choose from. Heck, you might even be hunting for something fabulous to jazz up your own Labubu and distract people from its freakish smile.
If you're like me, you might be envisioning a set of charms that details your entire birth chart, or an eclectic combo representing your favorite foods, places, and hobbies. I obsessively look out for ones that my best friends would love, too, so we can match.
Whatever your vibe may be, whatever your heart desires, know that the team at Forsythe is here to make your curated or customized charm ideas come to fruition. The cherry on top? Our talented jeweler, Jan, can solder your charms in place so you never run the risk of losing them.
Ready to start accessorizing?
Give us a call or book a one-on-one shopping appointment with us! If you can't peruse our cases in person or thumb through catalogs in store, shoot us an email at Sales@ForsytheJewelers.com or text us at (585) 586-5954 with details on what you're looking for and we'll take it from there!
