Throughout the history of jewellery, jewellers have always had to decide whether they want to create pieces that are more functional, or more visually pleasing. This great divide between the aesthetic and the functional has been further widened by the other great divide, the one that separates the two genders.
Men, traditionally, have erred on the side of functionality with their jewellery – watches, cufflinks and tie bars are all examples of male jewellery that are created to serve a fixed and distinct purpose. Women, on the other hand, have embraced the more aesthetic side of jewellery, opting for styles that maximize visual appeal, even if it is at the expense of their functionality.
Since women make up a vastly larger portion of the market for jewellery than men, there has been a lot more innovation on the side of aesthetic jewellery. Men’s jewellery has remained largely the same for hundreds of years – the most high-end watches and cufflinks are usually made in extremely conservative styles, with no risk-taking whatsoever.
Ladies’ silver jewellery, however, has seen a far more mercurial approach, with the perpetual rise and fall of various different fashions and styles. Even within the “feminine” mode of creating an appealing visual aesthetic, there has been the rise of functionality as well – but a different kind of functionality, a more feminine kind.
Nothing illustrates this better than the sterling charm bracelets. Originally an Italian concept, the charm bracelet is essentially a very minimalist and simple bracelet with a twist. The twist, of course, is that you can attach tiny silver “charms” to the bracelet.
The possible combinations of charms are almost endless. For example, a popular idea is to attach nothing but several different kinds of silver heart-shaped charms to a bracelet, turning it into a silver heart charm bracelet, with a large number of unique hearts. Sometimes, charms are linked to the place they are purchased, so world travellers buy a charm in every country or city that they visit. The end result is a bracelet that reflects the wearer’s passion for different cultures and regions. You see silver bracelets offer an infinite amount of customization, you see you can always add silver charms to your bracelet but you also have the flexibility of adding white gold or even platinum charms, they will blend in seamlessly and no one will be the wiser.
Charms aside, there is a lot of variation to be had in the design of the bracelet itself. One rather stylish design is the link charm bracelet, which is made of a series of links that can be of varying thickness. The charms are purchased separately, and can be attached to the links. Charms can be swapped and interchanged at will, to allow for different visual styles for occasions of differing formality. Link bracelets really are the best choice for ease of wear, use and longevity.
One important note – if you are going to get a silver charms bracelet, we suggest ensuring that the bracelet is made of 925 standard sterling silver. 925 silver means that the silver is 92.5% silver and 7.5% an alloy of other materials. The purpose for this is to strengthen the silver, thus adding durability to the sterling silver charm bracelet.
Functionality, then, is no longer the exclusive domain of male jewellery – charm bracelets are an example of the softer side of functionality. Rather than the rugged functionality of keeping time or securing French cuffs, the charm bracelet is a travelogue of life, a reminder of all the places one has been, and the memories one has experienced. This is an extremely abstract function, but an important one nonetheless – after all, what is more important than life? And charm bracelets provide a sort of companion on the road of life, with the design being customized by the wearer’s experiences, and in turn influencing the wearer herself. A beautiful concept.