Charming: The Magic of Charm Jewelry

by Deborah Alun-Jones and John Ayton

Book Overview

Since time immemorial charms have been worn as symbols of the eternal themes of love, luck and protection. Figures from the worlds of Hollywood, royalty and fashion have long been seduced by the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0500512132
• ISBN13: 9780500512135
• Release Date: February 2005
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 1.08 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.5" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

These Charms are Back in Style!

If you are the lucky owner of a treasured bracelet full of charms marking the days of your girlhood or have just one charm, you will love this collector's must for all who share a passion for charm collecting. Come out in 2009, ladies (and yes, you gentlemen, you know who you are) because charm bracelets are definitely back in and very chic, hot and glam! "Charming: The Magic of Charm Jewelry" is a beautiful little gem in its own right. The glossy cover and lovely pictures of bracelets on the wrists of celebrities as well as the personal quotes from these famous collectors will fill you with the universal appeal of these symbols of a life well lived and loved. You will learn the meaning behind charms as ancient talismen used to ward off bad luck and symbolize emotion throughout the ages.

Depicts precisely why charms are so magical!

I like the perspective of this little (a charming 6 by 8 1/2 inches) book because the story of charms is told with a host of memorable anecdotes and historical facts beginning with the charm's roots as amulets and talismans. Charming is 109 pages with 108 illustrations depicting charm lovers throughout history and the story of why they coveted their charms. Did you know both Queen Victoria and Marlene Dietrich were buried with their charms? I have to tell you that my favorite bit in the book was pages 22 and 23 which shows a portrait of Anne Boleyn, the second of King Henry VIII's wives, and a photo of a young Diana Spencer, before she became the Princess of Wales. Both are wearing almost identical initial pendants. There is even something familiar about the pensive looks on their faces. Their royal coincidences makes it feel even spooky! I've always loved charms and this little book does a wonderful job of conveying why they are so magical to everyone.

A coverage of the charm bracelet's jewelry and appeal

Fashion history and collector insights alike apply in Charming: The Magic Of Charm Jewelry, a coverage of the charm bracelet's jewelry and appeal over the ages. The journey starts in ancient times, with a review of Egyptian scarabs and Chinese works, to modern times, where a range of shapes and materials mean a wide diversity of charm choices. Color photos accompany an art expose which will prove just as valuable to collectors who want background history to better appreciate the modern charm.