Bracelet Trends from Tiffany to Pandora to Chan Luu and More!

When I was a little girl I dreamed of a charm bracelet. The gold bracelet was beyond my family's means but I did eventually have a beautiful sterling silver bracelet. Sadly I have worn that bracelet less than a dozen times. Yet it is something I will forever cherish. Many of the charms were given to me by my Mother so the bracelet may have some worth in its precious metal but to be the charms that she gave me will always remain priceless because they are one of the few things I possess that still connects me to this beautiful lady who loved me so much and brought me into this world.

Beyond the timeless value of the precious metal and my personal sentiments, does jewelry ever go out of style? Journey with me as we explore the popularity of the bracelet throughout the ages. Watch a video of jewelry that showcases jewelry from the 1600. And share your opinion of the fashion trends from bracelets throughout the ages. Before you begin, I must forewarn you jewelry is addicting. The chase of all things bright and shiny often causes an uncontainable desire to open up your wallet and sometimes your savings account for the possession of these beautiful items. Now that you are dutifully forewarned, let's begin the journey of pure indulgence.

"...sophisticated sense of style that is born in
New York, but travels the world"

~Tiffany.com

Let us explore some of the most popular bracelets throughout the ages including some bracelets that are beyond antique, they are exquisite pieces of art from centuries ago (1st century) to modern day marvels that have spread throughout the world including:

• Tiffany heart silver bracelet
• Gold open link bracelet
• Beloved Castellani bracelet - I will never leave you and the romantic and inspiring story that endures today
• Italian Charm bracelet
• European charm bracelet - aka Pandora style charm bracelet
• Chan Luu bracelet

And for those who are like me and appreciate history, we have even thrown in a few details about the history of this beloved jewelry accessory called a bracelet. Oh, and I cannot forget about the Schlumberger bracelets which are among the most desired and expensive bracelets in the world.

Tiffany is known as a trendsetter. The coveted blue boxes are famous the world over. Why? Because Tiffany designers always seem to have the pulse of the world of what men and women want. The silver link bracelet with the distinctive heart is perhaps one of their most popular designs.

Tiffany even summarizes their style best: "sophisticated sense of style that is born in
New York, but travels the world." Often known for a little bit of whimsy but always elegant in execution, Tiffany continues to be a trendsetter. It is not just the price of their pieces, often is the experience that they convey to us. The classic silver heart set on a timeless open link can be easily be engraved and personalized. What an outstanding gift this continues to be even today - 30 years later.

What works so well about this bracelet, is it takes you from your outdoor activities to work and even to dinner. It pairs well with everything and always evokes a smile.Someone loves you and the shine of the silver shines the light of their love everywhere you go.

As I stated in my opening, this was my dream when I was a little girl. My vision was a bracelet filled with gold hearts - from puffed charm hearts to open hearts to hearts with precious gems. Alas the budget never did allow for that but even today I stare with saucer like eyes at every gold charm bracelet I come across.

St. John must have known about my childhood fascination as that designer has crafted an extensive line of charm belts. Yes, you heard me correctly, gold charm belts - the behemoth of the charm bracelet. St. John's belts are often 36" inches in length and the number of charms seem to run from about 6-12.

The Hershey's Kisses(r) bracelet is a whimsical play on the beloved charm bracelet. The one with the pave diamonds evokes more than a smile, it evokes pure envy with its outlandish bling.

The Italian's have always brought us art and beauty. From famous painting of Von Gogh to Leonardo DiVinci to famous jewelry pieces too numerous to mention. I believe if I were to research it every type of chain jewelry originated somewhere from the tiny country of Italy. To give you some perspective, the square miles that encompass this global giant of fashion and art is only 116,330. That is approximately the same size of the state of Arizona.

Like the Tiffany heart bracelet, the Italian charm bracelet is rather casual in nature but can readily be personalize and changed over time. So what exactly is an Italian Charm bracelet? It is:

"An Italian Charm bracelet is a series of individual modular links hooked together on a stretchy band to form a single Italian charm bracelet. A typical Italian charm bracelet comprises eighteen Italian charm links. Each link features an Italian charm face (design or image) soldered onto the actual Italian charm link."

What is surprising about this bracelet type is the fact that the back is stainless steel. Some gold and some CZ's are often added but the foundation of this bracelet is not a precious metal - it is stainless steel. Only the Italian craftsman could make stainless steel look so good and be so highly coveted.

"Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks."
~Plutarch

While Africa has the first signs of jewelry dating back 40,000 years ago, the first sign of established jewelry making (this is in the words of Wikipedia - I believe they mean the first commercial endeavors where tradesmen were retained specifically for the designing and forming of the jewelry) arrives on the scene around 3000-5000 years ago.

So the trend in bracelets is not a new trend, it is trend set by the ancient civilizations of Egypt and the Greeks that gave us the pyramids and the science we now call Philosophy.

Jewelry Speaks

As the great philosopher so aptly stated "paining is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks." so too with our jewelry. Jewelry tells something about us and to us. Just as my sterling silver bracelet is never worn, perhaps never seen, that piece speaks to me about my heritage and a woman who loved me. All jewelry has a story. Even the pieces that you purchase yourself, even jewelry that offers no whimsy, no direct celebration of a heart of love, all jewelry evokes a message about who you are and what you love.

"Beauty is worse than wine, it intoxicates both the holder and beholder".
~Aldous Huxley

Speaking of the beauty and craftsmanship of the Italians, one of the most memorable bracelets of love is called the Castellani Wedding bracelet. It is a replica manufactured by Camrose and Kross of a bracelet from the Jackie Kennedy collection.

It is know as the "Castellani bracelet". made in 1870. Allot of wealthy people knew about this bracelet. Three bracelets were made, five orders were taken. Ordered by a British gentlemen to tell his wife how much he loved her. Made by the best jewelry maker in the world. What the Latin words are spelling out is forever memorable.

"Red epoxy enamel and highly polished letters spell out in Latin, "I will not give up on you" on one side of this elegant bracelet, and "You will not give up on me" on the other. Single simulated rubies on top and along the bottom sides of the round links add delicate sparkle, while a goldtone border presents a finished look. From the Jacqueline Kennedy Collection."

One of these bracelets crossed the auction block with Sotherby's in 1983 and sold for $170,000. The original story of this bracelet goes back to a great love story. For you see this , goes back to a man who commissioned this bracelet with the provision that no further copies would be made and he offered the artisan before the price was given to him, three times his asking price. The amazing part is the women for whom this bracelet was commissioned for died 13 years prior. This final bracelet, the last of the three remains in the family and in the city of Milan, there is a room with the photo of this women and the bracelet - nothing else.

What a wonderful story of not just love, of "forever love". So now you can see why this is the most famous and sought after bracelet within our millennium. Made 140 years ago. The message remains timeless and can go from a mother to a daughter to a husband to a wife to a sister.

This bracelet was originally crafted with Italian gold - probably 19-20 carat gold.

"Art I believe is an agent for change. It is an expressive celebration of life in its many forms and colors. Join me if you will in this appreciation".

~Robert Redford

Chan Luu is a popular jewelry designer that I first saw appear in the Sundance catalog. If you haven't seen the jewelry that Sundance offers, you must jump on their website and order a catalog. Their jewelry is exceptional. And the Chan Luu bracelets have since popped up everywhere.

Often you will see celebrities wearing this leather wrap bracelet. Essentially the bracelet goes around your wrist five times and the stone vary from green to white to blue. All the stones are semi-precious, no man-made fabrication which is probably why Sundance picked up this bracelet so quickly as their clothing line is all about relating back to the Earth and evokes the philosophy of Robert Redford.

Jean Michel Schlumberger^[1] (June 24, 1907 – August 29, 1987) was a French jewelry designer especially well known for his work at Tiffany & Co.

Remember how detailed the fact that Tiffany has often been world renown for new jewelry trends? Well in the late 1950s, Tiffany hired a man named Jeam Schulmberger.

Schulmberger designed many pieces for Jackie Kennedy and one of them became known as the Jackie bracelets. He crafted an enamel bangle bracelet that Jackie purchased in three different colors.

Schulmberger designs remain well respected and coveted. Yes, these look to be large clunky bracelets but when you wear them I promise you will feel as if you are wearing a tiara. These bangles really do make you feel regal. And perhaps rightfully so the real ones are in the five digits. Would you ever really wear a $36,000 or even a $25,000 bracelet? Oh, my!

Of the thousands of years of jewelry and gilded beauty on our wrists, what bracelet evokes your senses? Does one of these call to you? Or do you simply fondly remember giving a bracelet to a loved one? What experiences and celebrations do you relate to with bracelets?

Which of the Stories of Bracelets Speaks to You and Why?

We covered allot of ground, from Egypt to Italy and beyond and even allot of present day trends. What piece or what story speaks to you? The love and romance story of the Castellani bracelet? Or do you prefer the fun Hershey Kisses? What is in your jewelry box? And why do you love that piece?