The Making Of Charm Bracelets
Amber Sim | March 31, 2010Deciding on what type of charm bracelets are the best match requires knowing a bit about how the two different types of charm bracelets are made. In general charm bracelets can be handmade or machine made, with options of coming with or without charms also included.
Buying charm bracelets with charms can keep the bracelet in a specific theme, but it is also less personal and individual than developing your own collection. Both silver charm bracelets as well as gold come as pre-set bracelets complete with charms, or as just the bracelet itself.
Most charm bracelets are machine produced from long lengths of chain that is then cut and specific types of ends attached depending on the clasp to be used. In most cases one end will be some type of circle and the other end will have a clasp. The ends may be attached by hand welding or they can be secured by a machine on a production type of line.
The chain itself is then cleaned through a process of submerging in trays of cleaning solution and then tumbling for a period of time in a machine. This provides both a buffing action as well as a polishing finish, leaving either silver charm bracelets or gold varieties sparkling and dazzling.
Many types of gold charm bracelets and even silver charm bracelets are completely made by hand. These types of charm bracelets are very time consuming to create but are also each unique and just slightly different from any other. The jeweler or artisan adds each link and attaches them one at a time until the desired length of the bracelet is obtained. Ends are then soldered or attached by hand as well.
Each handmade link on these types of charm bracelets is just slightly different than the others. This gives a very unique yet personalized appearance to the handmade bracelets that many feel is missing in machine produced bracelets.
Like the charm bracelets themselves, charms can be both individually handmade by jewelers and artisans or they can be produced in large quantities by machines. Typically in most jewelry stores the charms in the display cases are machine produced.
Adding those little bits of color and dazzle to each charm can be done by hand or by machine, adding a lot to both styles of charm bracelets. Knowing how charm bracelets are made and what options you may have with regards to your bracelet will help you choose the best combination for a gift or for yourself.
Amber is article writer for CharmsToTreasure, with greater than fifteen years working experience within the jewelry and charm industry. Amber has published a variety of articles sharing information on gold charms, sterling silver charms, and gold and silver charm bracelets.




















