Vintage-Charms

Latest vintage gold charms

2010-11-15T08:52:00.000-08:00

Ive been busy adding vintage charms to http://www.antiquesavenue.co.uk/ today all gold charms including some fobs suitable for a charm bracelet, the three wise monkeys , a kitty cat, a miner lamp, a bible, emergency money, a first aid box and a vitnage hoover. Heres a sneak preview:

Gold Charms - Vintage Jewellery 1800s to 1980s

2010-11-15T01:39:00.000-08:00

Gold Charms - Vintage Jewellery 1800s to 1980s

Adding loads to the site today including an interesting first aid box which could be used as a locket, a miners lamp and an opening wedding church with stanhope peep . The threes wise monkeys - hear no evil, se no evil and speak no evil too. Must find out where they come from

Vintage charms beginning with D

2010-11-14T09:11:00.000-08:00

Its been a while since I updated my vintage charm a-z but I have little spare time and will continue with the letter D. Vintage charms beginning with D :
Dancer, Dog, Duck, Doctors Bag, Devil, Devil in dustbin,Driving licence to name but a few you could find
here are a selection of those vintage charm currently available on antiquesavenue:

Dancer charms : Ballet dancer or highland dancer
This gold charm is in the shape of a highland dancer, I think he is dancing the highland fling. This highland dancer gold charm has full English charms and can be dated to the 1980s. The charm measures about 2.3 cms high maximum.
A beautiful ballet dancer charm to hang from your vintage charm bracelet or on a chain around your necklace. This charm is made from 9 ct gold and is stamped .375. She measures about 2.6 cms high

Dog Charms: Ive quite a selection - including German Shepherds, dachshunds and poodles. Ive cartoon dogs , dogs on Dresden lamps and dogs chasing cats up lamp posts. How about a themed bracelet full of dog charms?

Cameo Charms

2010-05-05T08:14:00.000-07:00

Cameo jewellery is often seen as brooches, rings and earrings. Less common but just as attractive are cameo charms, I suppose that these are found less often as a charm is small and therefore the picture is difficult to carve in miniature. Cameos are carved so that the picture stands proud of the background. Often but not essentially the design is in a contrasting colour to the background.

Cameos can be made from all sorts of materials, normally we think of shell cameos as can be seen in this cameo charm:

Other sorts of cameo charm include lava cameos which are usually carved in Italy from the lava from mount Etna . Here is a Victorian lava cameo charm

Here is an antique charm - a lava cameo of a classical figure mounted in silver. This charm measures about 2.5 cms long and dates from the Victorian era.

Cameos do not need to be made from natural materials, they can be made from glass, plastic or as in the case of this cameo charm by Wedgwood ceramic:

Strangely for charms you do not find many cameo charms made from gold or silver.

Gold charms: champagne church chick china man

2010-05-03T04:10:00.000-07:00

More gold charms beginning with C, Ive just been busy adding more vintage gold charms to AntiquesAvenue and found these lovely gold charms from my "C" collection.

China man charm
A lovely vintage gold charm made of fully hallmarked 9 carat gold. This charm is in the shape of a china man. The charm measures about 1.5 cms high and 1.7 cms wide. This gold charm is suitable for wearing from a gold charm bracelet.

Champagne charm
This gold charm is in the shape of champagne bottle in its champagne bucket. This is a fully hallmarked vintage gold charm and is made of 9 carat gold. This charm is quite large measuring about 2.4 cms high and could be either worn on a charm bracelet or on a necklace as a pendant

Church charm
This gold charm is in the shape of a church and when you open it there is a Bride and groom standing in front of an alter. This charm is made of 9 carat gold and is fully hallmarked. It is quite a chunky charm and measures 1.9 cms high

Chick Gold Charm
A super opening gold charm. This is a nice vintage gold charm in the shape of an Easter egg which opens and inside in a cute little chick. This charm is fully hallmarked as 9 carat gold and when closed it measures about 1.4 cms long

Questions about charms

2010-04-28T01:06:00.000-07:00

Have you a charm or charm bracelet that you would like to know more about ? This morning I received a request for help from a lady

i bought, what looks like, a very very old charm bracelet at an auction yesterday for $ 25.00. i was wondering if you could help me find out when it was from and what all the charms mean. it has 14 charms and they are very interesting and some are movable. i will send you a pic or a list of what the charms are if you like

I am happy to help her and others if you send a photo ( .jpg format) and a description. All interesting charms and charm bracelets queries will be posted here . Also I am happy to post pictures of your favourite charms so please do get in touch

Anne

Cat charms from Nursery Rhymes again

2010-04-27T09:23:00.000-07:00

Cat charms come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and materials, they are one of the more popular collectable vintage charms. Cats often feature in nursery Rhymes and childrens stories. I've already shown you two of my favourites Hey Diddle Diddle and The owl and the Pussy cat . Now I have found Ding Dong Bell

Ding, dong, bell, Pussy's in the well!
Who put her in? Little Tommy Green.
Who pulled her out?Big Johnny Stout.
What a naughty boy was that,
To drown poor pussy-cat,
Who never did him any harm,
But killed the mice in his father's barn!

Here is that rhyme remembered in a vintage silver charm:

Clock Charms

2010-04-21T02:50:00.000-07:00

Collecting Clock Charms
A vintage charm collection can be built in many ways, one of the most interesting is to pick a theme and build a charm bracelet around that theme. Some interesting themes include: a charm from each of the Zodiac signs, charms with a circus theme, charms with a holiday theme or charms related to love. Here is a lovely selection of charms all with a clock theme.

Cuckoo Clock Charm

A large moving silver charm in the shape of a Swiss Cuckoo clock. The Cuckoo moves in and out as the weights move back and forward. This is quite a large silver charm and would well hanging from a chain as a pendant - quite a versatile piece of vintage jewellery. This charm measures about 3.4 cms long and weighs about 9.5 grams

Mantle Clock Charm
Here is a very rare vintage silver charm made by Nuvo and dating from circa 1970s. This is in the shape of an antique clock supported by two cherubs. Clocks like these were made in France in the Victorian era. This Nuvo charm is quite large measuring 2.8 cms wide

Alarm Clock Charm
A nice vintage charm made of silver and in the shape of an old fashioned alarm clock. This is an opening charm and it measures about 2 cms high plus bail. This is very suitable for any vintage silver charm bracelet.

Antique Clock charm
This vintage charm is in the shape of an antique clock. It was made by Nuvo and carries the makers name. This charm measures about 2 cms high and dates from circa 1970s

Time Flies Charm

What a very rare and unusual gold charm This must be "Time flies" which is represented by a fly with a clock on its back. The hands of the clock turn. This vintage gold charm is fully hallmarked as 9 ct gold and it measures about 2 cms long including the bail. This lovely charm weighs just under 3 grams

Old Father Time Charm

An opening silver charm in the shape of an alarm clock. Around the face is written " Time and tide wait for no man. The alarm clock opens and inside is Old father time himself.
This charm measures about 12mm diameter and it dates from circa 1960s

Articulated gold charms - Letter C

2010-03-29T10:32:00.000-07:00

Taking a look at vintage silver charms beginning with C. I have been lucky enough to find three very articulated gold charms all of which are currently available at http://www.antiquesavenue.co.uk/

Articulated gold bracelet charm, Indians in Canoe

What an unusual gold bracelet charm. This is made of fully hallmarked 9 carat gold and is in the shape of two American Indians in a Canoe. The Indian in the back of the Canoe has an arm which moves as he paddles the canoe. This gold charm measures about 1.7 cms long

Articulated gold charm cornucopia vintage 1960s

An unusual vintage gold charm. This is an articulated or moving charm which has a a bunch of flowers which move up and down inside of the cornucopia. This lovely charm is fully hallmarked and can be dated to 1963. This is a large and heavy charm, it measures about 3.5 cms long ( when retracted) and weighs about 8.2 grams

Gold caravan charm articulated opening bracelet charm

An unusual vintage caravan charm. This charm is made from fully hallmarked nine carat gold . The top reads "Happy Days". The caravan opens and inside is a movable prop which reads " Wot no horse". The prop can be used to keep the roof of the caravan open. This charm measures about 2 cms long and weighs about 3.5 grams

2010-03-19T11:18:00.000-07:00

Antique and Vintage Charms

Charms have been worn and collected throughout history right from the ancients up until today. Antique and vintage charms can be found in all shapes and forms and are made of a multitude of different materials. They are also called amulets or fobs ( perhaps a little larger than the average charm). Charms are often worn on bracelets but are equally suited to being worn on a necklace, brooch or an antique watch chain. Victorian ladies sometime wore them suspended from their Chatelaines and why not wear a pair of matching charms as earrings?

If you are looking to purchase a charm or charm bracelet today you have a wide choice. There is always the simple option of buying a new piece however you will find that these do not generally have the quality of a vintage or antique charm, you are more likely to see another person wearing the exact same charm and you will pay more for the equivalent piece if it is new. Buying vintage or antique charms also comes with a history attached to them which adds to their sentimental value.

Traditionally a charm bracelet was bought blank or with just one charm attached and the lucky wearer was given or purchased an additional charm to mark significant events in her life until there were thirteen charms in all. Most charm collectors could not stop at the traditional number thirteen and many bracelets are seen much fuller than this. A young girl could be given a silver cat or horse to signify her favourite pets. A girl passing a ballet exam might be given a ballerina, a key for her 18th birthday, an "I love you spinner" from her first boyfriend and a crystal studded ring in a box upon her engagement. When she got married a bible and an opening church charm would be added to the bracelet and a stork on the birth of her first child. Travel was also marked with an aeroplane, boat or a silver and enamel shield from each place visited. Some people made up charm bracelets along a particular theme.

Interesting ones I have seen are the signs of the Zodiac, buildings of London, breeds of dog or puffed heart charms. Some just collect opening or articulared charms or charms set with crystals. It is also possible to collect by charm manufacturer such and Nuvo charms or Chim charms AntiquesAvenue offers you what is probably the best selection of vintage silver charm bracelets on the Internet. These are all genuine vintage items which come as they were made up over 30 or more years ago. There are some wonderful antique charms, and a wide range of vintage silver charms of all shapes, sizes and makers.

Dont forget costume jewellery charms too if you want a change from silver. Gold charms are much rares than silver charms and more expensive. Normally I would recommend that you collect either gold or silver or costume jewellery charms each on a separate charm bracelet - mixing these materials may well lead to a disproportional amount of wear to the softer charms. Please remember that whatever type of vintage or antiuqe charm you collect I am happy to help you with your selection and send additional photographs if required.

Articulated vintage charms beginning with B

2010-03-19T10:43:00.000-07:00

Sorting through my vintage charms beginning with B, I notice that several of them are articulated or moving. Lets take a look:

Four poster Bed charm

Here is a very rare silver charm dating from circa 1960s. This articulated charm is of a couple in a four poster bed. Beneath the bed is a leaver which can be used to sit the couple up and down. This is quite a large charm measuring about 17 mm wide

Vintage silver charm The Beatles, moving 1960s

A rare and wonderful charm from the 1960s made for a fan of The Beatles pop group. This silver charm is in the form of a beetle playing a guitar, his arms are articulated

This charm measures about 2.5 cms long and weighs about 4.5 grams

Bellows

This opening charm was made by Nuvo and will date from the 1970s

Please see my other sales for more exciting Nuvo opening charms

Approx Size: 1 inch long
Approx Weight:2 grams
Country of origin England

Opening Nuvo silver Bible charm with angel inside 1970s

This charm needs special mention as it is quite rare and sought after. A bible which opens and inside is a praying Angel which sites up when you open the Bible.

Bathing Hut

A cute vintage silver charm in the form of a Victorian batching hut with a lady inside. These huts were used in Victorian times to wheel the bather to the waters edge and hence preserve her modesty. How cute. This silver charm will date from circa 1970s and measures about 1.5 cms high

Cat silver charms from Nursey Rhymes

2010-03-18T07:04:00.000-07:00

I have been lucky enough to find two vintage silver charms both of which represent nursery rhymes / nonsense poems relating to cats. These are The Cat and the Fiddle and The Owl and the Pussy Cat.

The cat and the fiddle Charm

Hey diddle diddle,

The cat and the Fiddle

The cat and the fiddle,

The cow jumped over the moon,

The little dog laughed to see such sport,

And the dish ran away with the spoon.

Vintage charms - The letter B

2010-03-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

Here is the first of my look at vintage charms beginning with the letter B.

Bacchanalia,
A wonderful and rare Victorian antique charm which has been hand carved from bone . There is a lovely bacchanalian lady with flowing robes and grapes in her hair and in her basket. The carving is in high relief as you can see from the view of the side. This Victorian charm measures about 2.5 cms long. Originally a Bacchanalia was a drunken festival held by Roman women in honor of the God Bacchus on March 16 and 17. OK ladies any one got a bottle or three? We've just two days left to organise our own bacchanalia festival this year.

Bible gold charm Holy Bible vintage bracelet charm
Moving from an ancient religion to a more current one. here is a Bible charm.This gold charm is for a gold charm bracelet. This vintage charm is in the shape of a Holy Bible. It measures about 1.5 cms high and is excellent for adding to your own vintage gold charm bracelet
Fully hallmarked as 9 carat gold

Beach hut
A silver charm original vintage from circa 1950s / 1960s. This charm is in the shape of a tropical beach hut with a palm tree next to it. It is well detailed .
This vintage silver charm measures about 2 cms long and is ready to attach to your own vintage silver charm bracelet. You will find that my vintage silver charms are of far higher quality than most silver charms available from new today.

Bear

A silver bear charm of puffed construction dating from circa 1940s, about 1 inch long

Vintage Charms beginning with A

2010-03-11T10:43:00.000-08:00

Here is the third and final part of my look at Vintage Charms beginning with the letter A. All of the charms shown here are original vintage charms dating from between the 1950s and 1970s.

Firstly something a little different a gold charm set with an amethyst gemstone. Here is a superb vintage pendant or charm made of fully hallmarked nine carat gold and set with an amethyst gemstone. This pendant measures about 2.6 cms long including the bail. I believe this lovely piece of vintage jewellery dates from circa 1970s

How about an Airplane charm complete with it own fat pilot?A very rare bracelet charm from the 1970s. This is in the form of a vintage plane being flown by a pilot who has a topaz coloured crystal for his body

Astronaut Charm Here is an unusual old charm - an astronaut man in his space suit. The legs and head move slightly within the suite making him look from left to right. This will date from circa 1970s

One of the rares "A" charm would be an Alien in his space ship, sorry but I dont have any pictures of an Alien charm to show you but keep watching I may be back with a part 4 if I find one.

Happy Charming

Anne

Vintage Charms, opening A charms

2010-03-10T13:37:00.000-08:00

Continuing the A-Z of vintage charms we have lots to look at with the letter A.
Here are a few of my favourite opening charms beginning with the letter A:

Adam and Eve Apple charm
This Apple charm opens and inside you can see Adam and Eve. A cute silver charm made by Nuvo and dating from circa 1970s. This charm is in the shape of an apple. It opens and inside are Adam and Eve. The Nuvo makers logo is actually impressed inside the apple beneath Adam and Eve. This vintage charm measures about 1.5 cms wide

Vintage charm silver opening Asprins case
A nice vintage charm made of silver and in the shape of a case with the word " Asprins" written on it. This is quite a rare charm and dates from circa 1960s / 1970s. It would be excellent to add to the charm bracelet of a Nurse, Doctor or other caring professional. This vintage charm measures about 2 cms high including the bail.

vintage charm - Aladdins lamp with genie inside

A cute vintage charm from circa 1970s made of silver in the shape of Aladdins lamp. This opens to find Genie asleep inside - genie is painted in blue enamels. This charm measures about 3 cms long

I'll be back soon with more charms beginning with A in the mean time you can see more over on my website at http://www.antiquesavenue.co.uk/

Vintage Charms A for Acorn

2010-03-08T14:15:00.000-08:00

Here's the first entry in the A-Z of Silver charms. A is for Acorns.

A cute antique charm in the shape of an acorn. It is articulated between the acorn and the leaves to give movement to the piece. This charm measures about 2.2 cms long plus bails. I believe that this charm dates from the later 1800s or early 1900s.

What a cute gold charm. Dating from the 1970s this is in the form of an acorn - you open this and inside is an enameled brown squirrel . Excellent for adding to your vintage gold charm bracelet. This charm measures about 1/6 cms long including bail

Here is an English sterling silver charm dating from circa 1970s, it was made by Nuvo having their manufacturers mark impressed. This charm is set with a faceted crystal making it particularly desirable - also the detail on this is of the highest quality
Approx Size:1 inch long
Approx Weight:5.2 grams
Country of origin England

Have you seen the range of vintage charms available from antiquesavenue.co.uk?

A-Z of vintage charms

2010-03-08T14:09:00.000-08:00

Been a bit slow getting this blog going but thought it would be fun to take a look at an A-Z of vintage charms. Lets see how far I get!

Silver Charms

2009-10-22T02:56:00.000-07:00

Some special silver charms ready to add to your own silver charm bracelet:

Devil in Dustbin charm
Antique Charm silver devil in dustbin opening
Antique Charm - This silver charm is in the shape of a dustbin, you open the lid and out pops the devil complete with horns and red eyes. How very unusual. I believe that this antique charm dates to the Edwardian era ( early 1900s). When closed it measures about 1.2 cms high

Silver crystal set charm table lamp with lady and dog:

Silver crystal set charm table lamp with lady and dog

A very rare bracelet charm from the 1970s. This is in the form of a table lamp with a pink crystal for the bulb. The base hss a lady in classical dress petting her dog.

Approx Size:2.5 cms long plus bail
Approx Weight: 5.7 grams

Vintage silver charm - blue enamel windmill

A very lovely vintage silver charm in the shape of a windmill with moving sails. This is very unusual being enameled in blue which would add an excellent touch of colour to any vintage silver charm bracelet. This charm measures about 1.7 cms long and dates from circa 1920s

Vintage Silver comical bearded man / gonk charm

Vintage Silver comical bearded man / gonk charm

A very rare bracelet charm from the 1970s, it is in the form of comical man with a beard. I seem to remember having a similar toy during the 1970s and I am sure it was known as a Gonk back then ( unless you know better?)

Approx Size:2 cms high
Approx Weight: 7.5 grams

Vintage charms welcome

2009-10-22T02:43:00.000-07:00

Vintage Chams info is the new blog dedicated to charms and charm bracelets of all kinds brought to you by Anne from AntiquesAvenue. I will never sell you a new charm, all are genuine vintage pieces which I have carefully sourced from arround the UK.

Today I would just like to introduce you to the charms available from antiquesavenue. Later we will be looking at The history of charms, The materials charms are made from, Charms makers, where to buy charms, how to care for charms, what are the rare charms and much more.

My vintage charms collection
Silver charms
gold charms and gold charm bracelets
silver charm bracelets
Antique Charms
Costume Jewellery charms

Enjoy and do come back soon

Anne