Archive for bracelets
How to open a charm bracelet
Posted by: | CommentsNow this may seem simple to those of you who have been collecting and wearing vintage charm bracelets for some time. Recently I have had two customers receive their silver charm bracelets and then not know how to open them. The little heart shaped padlocks can be quite a puzzle unless you know the trick to them.
These heart padlocks do not normally come with a key, in fact it is extremely rare to find a charm bracelet padlock. I’ve only had one in over ten years.
Open padlock
Take a look at this heart padlock closed and open. Do you see the tiny leaver to the side – I’m pointing to it in the second photo.
Latch on padlock
You squeeze this little leaver towards the loop . You do not press it into the heart but sideways towards the loop. This action releases the catch which then articulates upwards.
Top close the heart padlock just lightly push it back into place , it will snap into the lock.
So for those of you new to vintage charm bracelets, I hope you now know how to open and close them.
Padlock in place
I believe that AntiquesAvenue offers the best selection of Vintage silver Charms bracelets available anywhere 0n the Internet. There are some great silver vintage charms and gold charms and bracelets too. The gold charm bracelets normally fasten with padlocks just like these silver ones.
Bracelets and bangles – vintage jewellery for your arm
Posted by: | Comments
bangles
What do you call jewellery you wear on your arm or wrist? There does seem to be a wide variety of terms: bracelet, bangle, torque, arm ring, slave bracelet, chain, charm bracelet, bangle bracelet, cuff ?
Here is how I think they go:
Bracelet:Flexible perhaps links or some type of flexible material. Worn round the wrist
Bangle:Fixed and rigid metal . Worn round wrist. Can hinge open or just slip over hand
Armlet/ Armilla / Armill: Worn on the upper arm in classical times
Cuff: A wide bangle may be tapered to fit arm shape being wider at top and narrower at wrist
Slave Bracelet: bracelets and rings worn together joined by a chain
Slave Bangle: Narrow Bangles worn on the upper arm
Torque / torc: Celtic style upper arm ring, having two open ends with decorative finials
Charm Bracelet: Any bracelet with a number of decorative charms suspended from it
Charm Bangle : any bangle with a number of decorative charms suspended from it
Can you think of any more for me to add here?
Did you know that Victorian ladies often worn their bracelets in pairs? One went round each wrist.