Saturday 19 December 2015

The creation of charms

Horse Charm (chr-2770)-335When you browse our range of solid gold and silver charms you see the finished product of many hours of work and many steps in the creation process.


A new charm begins as an idea in the mind of one of our artisans. It may come from within, or at the request of a customer who is looking for a special item that isn’t otherwise available. He or she will visualise the final design from every angle before putting it to paper to ensure it meets the customer’s expectations.


Making the master


It is rare for a charm to be created in a single step from the final material (silver or gold). Most often the original or ‘master’ charm is created from working with softer and more easily worked compounds. Jeweller’s wax is a common choice to use as it is easily carved and can be heated to make it more malleable. Wax is also quite dense and allows a very smooth surface to be obtained. Fine detail is also easily obtained as can be seen in the texturing found on many of the charms we have for sale.


The wax model is finished to the highest standard possible as it becomes the master from which the copies will be made.




Photo credit: MAURO CATEB via Foter.com / CC BY

Creating the first charm


A sprue (a wax stem) is added to the wax master so that it can be invested in plaster of Paris. This process involves placing the charm and sprue (stuck to the bottom) inside a small container and filling it with liquid plaster to completely cover the wax. Usually this is placed in an outer container that can have a vacuum applied to remove any air bubbles from the investment (plaster).


When the plaster has dried and hardened, the wax must be removed leaving the shape of the charm and sprue set into the plaster mould. A high temperature oven takes care of this process by evaporating the wax from the plaster. This is called ‘lost wax casting’ and is the most common way of producing multiple charms.


The sprue forms the opening in the plaster where molten silver or gold can be poured to filled the space left by the ‘lost’ wax.


A spring loaded device holds the plaster cast ready for pouring the molten metal and when the catch is released the device spins in a circle. The centrigul force ensures the liquid silver or gold is pushed all the way into the mould and completely fills the space left by the wax. When the metal has cooled the plaster is broken away leaving a perfect copy of the wax carving in metal.


Stage Two


The newly formed silver or gold charm is examined and any final small touch ups are applied. After a final polish to remove any small imperfections the charm is ready to be used to create a rubber or silicon mould for mass production.


A small frame has a layer of rubber laid at the bottom and the charm is placed with the sprue touching one of the walls. Pieces of rubber tightly surround the charm and another layer is applied over the top of the charm. A lid is tightened onto the frame applying pressure to the rubber inside. The frame containing the rubber and the charm is placed into a heater that melts the rubber tightly around the charm creating a re-usable rubber mould. This mould is a block shape with a small hole at the edge where the sprue was positioned.


The mould is cooled and carefully cut around 3 sides to release the charm. The fourth side acts like a hinge helping to realign the mould when it is closed.  Straight cuts are not used, but rather curved cuts. This allows the two faces of the mould to more accurately realign.


Doing it all again


Now that we have a re-usable rubber mould, we can create any number of wax copies. The mould is opened and a small amount of mould release agent is applied. The mould is gently clamped and molten wax is poured in to create a new wax charm. This process is repeated until 10 or 20 wax replicas have been created.


A wax base with a stem provides space for attaching each of the wax copies by the sprues. This looks like a small tree with a charm at the end of each branch.


When the tree is complete with as many charms as needed it is placed in a container and filled with liquid investment as before. This time however we can produce many charms with a single pouring. Again when the plaster has hardened, the investment is placed in an oven that evaporates the wax.


The empty mould is then loaded into the centrifuge and a carefully calculated amount of gold or silver is heated to melting point ready to fill the mould. The metal is poured and the spring is released forcing the molten metal all the way into the spaces left by the lost wax.


As before the plaster is broken away from the tree leaving the charms connected to the tree by their sprues.


Final Steps


The sprue is cut near the charm and the small remaining tag is filed or ground away, leaving the charm. The tree with the majority of the sprues attached can be melted down again for re-use.


Each charm is inspected and any casting marks are removed by hand. The charms have jump rings fitted (and soldered if required) and are placed in a mild acid called a pickle for a few minutes. The charms are then thoroughly rinsed in water and placed in a tumbler. The tumbler is a barrel containing stainless steel shot – pins, balls and saucers. Water and a mild detergent are added to just cover the contents of the tumbler. This is then placed on a set of rotating rollers and left to run for 30 minutes to several hours.


The action of the stainless steel shot constantly hitting the charms is called burnishing. This fully removes any marks caused by casting, hardens the outer surface of the charms and creates a beautiful shine to the metal. The charm is then ready to ship to the customer.


 


 



The creation of charms

Wednesday 9 December 2015

Buying Jewellery for Children

chain lengthsIf you are going to buy ‘junk’ or costume jewellery for children, then you can stop reading now.


This article is all about the why’s and how’s of buying quality jewellery for children that they can love to wear for the rest of their lives.


Parents and grandparents often wish to purchase a gift for the youngsters to celebrate a very special occasion. Birthdays and christenings are the two most common events where an extra-special present is chosen.


Solid gold or sterling silver jewellery will last a lifetime.


Gold filled or gold plated chains are fine if you are only going to wear them once to a costume party. They are not something you will cherish for life.


Wouldn’t you wish that jewellery given for such an important event could be cherished and worn for the rest of their lives? Of course you would!


number 3 in Circle Charm (chr-3145)-335You may be wondering how a bracelet or necklace for a young girl is going to fit her when she’s grown up. After all, a necklace for a young child might only be 30cm or 35cm long, hardly suitable for a grown woman. A 40cm necklace is a ‘choker’ for most women and when choosing a gold necklace chain to sit high on the chest, 45cm or 50cm is a fairly typical length for an adult.


You could purchase a necklace made for a child, so that it fits now, but what happens as time passes? You would have to find a jeweller who could either find matching links to add in, or who could make extra links by hand if they weren’t available. That’s starting to look like it could get expensive.


Maybe you could purchase a longer chain that would be just the right length in 10 or 15 years? Not a bad idea, if you don’t want them to be able to wear it until they have ‘grown up’ and they have forgotten why it was bought in the first place while it sat in the drawer under their socks for so many years.


There has to be a better answer!


Of course there is, and we would like to share it with you. We have made many necklaces and bracelets for our customers, especially sized for the child to wear today.


We ask that they supply us with two sizes. The first is the length that suits the child today. You can be very tricky if it is a secret present, and we tell you how below!


The second is the length they will need as an adult. You can usually get a pretty good idea of what size will be needed from looking at the mother. What suits her will likely be a good match for her child when she has grown. If there is any doubt, add an extra 5cm for a necklace and 3cm for a bracelet. It’s is always better to have too much, than too little for a jeweller to work with.


We make the bracelet or necklace at the first length and supply the difference between the two lengths as loose chain. As the child grows, this extra chain can easily be added by a jeweller and it will match perfectly.


Why can’t I just buy more chain later?


Well, you could. But is it going to match? When chains are made by machines, a silver or gold wire is fed in from a spool and it gets cut to length, bent into a link and loops through the previous link to form a very long chain. Each link is then soldered closed, and the chain is cut into lengths for necklaces or bracelets and has the clasps fitted. After this the finished chain is polished. Tada, a brand new necklace or bracelet.


The machines that make these chains generally can be set up to make a range of different sizes. This means that two chains of the same style, made in a different batches are likely to be slightly different to each other. The individual links could be slightly longer or shorter, or wider or narrower. Normally the difference will be small, but it may be noticeable.


What is much more noticeable is when the alloy used to produce the gold wire is varied. More copper will make the gold appear redder, less copper will make the chain brassier. In any case the links in two pieces of chain are more likely not to be the same exact colour than a perfect match.

(We have another article about the colours of gold you may wish to read.)


So how do I keep it a secret?


Even small children are pretty clever and most will quickly work out that if you measure their wrist, it is probably for a bracelet, bangle or watch.


So we have to be cleverer! If you were to use a tape measure to get their neck size, the length of their arms, around the wrist and their chest measurement and wrote them all down, you would have all the information you need for both necklaces and bracelets.


If you like to play tricks on the kids, then you could explain you are going to knit them a jumper or make them a new jacket. Either way, it’s unlikely they will be suspecting they are being measured for a beautiful new gold bracelet.


So what size should I buy?


We have a more detailed article on our website that helps when deciding how to choose the right size for bracelets, bangles, necklaces and charm bracelets. Should you still have questions, our staff would be pleased to explain them for you.


 



Buying Jewellery for Children

Monday 7 December 2015

So you"re getting married!

25335_C20The big question has been asked and answered and all of a sudden your about to take a huge stride into a new and wonderful life. Congratulations!


You love the attention and the best wishes from your friends and family who are all looking forward to sharing your big day. The excitement is contagious and your girlfriends want to be involved and help you make it the most special day of your life.


But then, all of a sudden, you realise there is a massive task ahead of you. A wedding to plan.


The venue, who to invite, the flowers, the photographer, the food, the bar and who is going to be part of the wedding party? Chill. It’s going to be fine. Things may go a little wrong on the day, but it really doesn’t matter!


You’re there, your partner is there and the rings have been exchanged. It’s done and that’s what it is all about. The exchanging of vows and the step into a new and beautiful future.


Remember that even if things do go a little off plan, it always leads to the best stories that you will look back on and laugh. Seriously, you will, maybe not on the day, but later nothing is so bad that it won’t become a great part of the memory of the day that you took the plunge.


Having said that, you always want everything to go just right. You make plans, have backups in place and leave nothing to chance. Plan well ahead, keep on top of the people you are paying to provide services for the wedding and it will be fine. Follow up on their progress as the weeks pass and especially in the last couple of days before the wedding.


The Budget.


Unless your the child of Bill Gates, there is going to be a budget that you have to work within.


May I suggest you make cutbacks to the things that won’t last and spend a little more on the things that endure. The flowers that fill the church may look awesome on the day but where will they be next week? A great photographer will give you memories you can display for a lifetime. Get the idea? Are you guests going to remember more, that your invitations had gold leaf embossing or that the view over the river at the reception centre where they danced the away was magnificent?


W53237_CZThe bridesmaid’s Jewellery.


The bridesmaids are also really important in making sure the day goes well for you. They are your support network to be there to hug you and wipe away the tears when the stress levels rise and to make you laugh so hard that your mascara runs.


Traditionally, the bridesmaids are gifted jewellery to wear on the big day. It’s very important that it compliments the bride’s jewellery, as should the hair styles, dresses and bouquets.  It is very rare that a bridesmaids dress would ever be worn again but the same shouldn’t apply to the jewellery they wear. It doesn’t have to be expensive to make your bridesmaids look glamorous on the day and I’m sure they would really appreciate being able to wear the jewellery again and again in everyday life.


When selecting jewellery there are a few things that can make a huge difference. What is going to be noticed, especially in the wedding photos, will be what they wear from the chest upwards. A stunning but subtle necklace and a pair of elegant earrings will feature in every photo. Remember that they shouldn’t outshine the bride so simplicity is the answer here. Diamond stud earrings or solitaire drop diamond earrings are beautiful yet don’t steal the brides thunder. A fine silver or gold necklace with a matching pendant sets off the look to compliment the bride.


I’m sure that you would wish the bridesmaids to continue to wear the jewellery you give them for your special day. It would be a real shame if you chose poorly and they were never worn again. Gold and diamonds may well be beyond your budget, but sterling silver and cubic zirconias are likely not. It’s not easy to tell the difference, and good quality silver with crisp white stones won’t go out of style any time soon.


35418_CZ 35417_CZEven if you have chosen to wear yellow gold on the day, white gold or sterling silver for the bridesmaids creates a lovely contrast. The bridesmaids will all be adorned alike and if you wear a similar pendant, you will create a subtle look of consistency in the bridal party.


When selecting a necklace and pendant, it is important to consider how they will sit in relation to the neckline of the bridesmaid’s dresses. If your bridesmaids are similar builds, one length should be fine for them all. You may need to consider a slightly longer or shorter necklace to compensate for differences in their frames.


With the selection of either gold or silver earrings, studs won’t suit if the hair is falling around the ears. If the hair is swept back, then either drops or studs would be suitable.



So you"re getting married!

Saturday 28 November 2015

Get creative with charms

wineglass-335Silver and gold charms are most frequently used to create a stunning charm bracelet, but the imagination and creativity of some people take them into places you would never expect to find them. I love hearing from my customers when they find a new use for charms and tell me how they were able to create something that would have been impossible or very difficult without them.


One of the very clever ideas one of our customers had, was to use silver charms to decorate a dolls house. A telephone charm is just the right size to sit beside the couch on a side table in the lounge room of a dolls house. Of course the charm was silver, which isn’t the best colour for a phone, but using automotive paints she was able to make it black and paint the numbers on the dial in white.


The charms we sell are delivered to our customers highly polished and the surface of the charm won’t always readily take a coat of paint directly. This is easily overcome by using an undercoat or primer. Spray paint in cans from an auto shop comes in hundreds of colours and the compatible primer is designed to adhere to bare metal. Applying several light coats will give a beautiful finish and a little care will prevent getting ‘runs’ where too much paint is applied in one pass. Should you make a mistake, automotive paint is soluble in acetone and a quick soak will remove it without causing any damage to the charm.


In our range of ‘house and home’ charms you could find many suitable items for decorating your own doll’s house. We have kitchen implements such as kettles, jugs, knives and forks and spoons. For the lounge room we have several styles of telephone charms, from modern to antique, so you are able to match the period of your home. You will also find chairs, clocks, candle sticks, champagne buckets and even toilet charms and grandfather clocks.


Another customer was unfortunate to lose her mother and wanted to create something special for her sister to remember her by. She made a crystal hanging and wove in some silver charms from our store. Her mother loved knitting, reading, flowers and dolls and she was able to find these charms on our website to incorporate into her craft-work. Being able to create something with your own hands that has such a personal meaning for someone you love must give you a deeply felt sense of joy in difficult times. Everyone has moments and loves that can be represented by beautiful and precious items designed for a bracelet, but able to be used in many other ways as well.


Charms can easily be integrated into handmade creations using wool or cotton that blends in with the materials you are using. Jump rings would normally be removed first, but if you needed to use them in your design you should order the charms with ‘closed’ jump rings. You may also choose to use link-locks so they can be attached without soldering that could damage the piece you are creating.


Clip on charms (with a parrot clasp) let you dress up nearly anything; mobile phone cases that need some extra bling, something to personalise your keys or on the zipper of a handbag or purse. The range of items you can accessorise is limited only by your imagination and the availability of somewhere to clip them.


wineglass-close-335If you simply have too much money then a set of wine glass trinkets could be just the thing to impress your friends. Extender chains are 5cm long and can have a charm attached halfway along the chain. They clip together around the stem of your wineglass so you will always know which one is yours. Simply choose a set of matching chains and an equal number of different charm designs so everyone has there own unique marker. Silver looks great, but if you want to truly show off  your wealth then gold charms are highly recommended. There’s nothing like the sound of gold on crystal as you raise your glass in a toast to your guests.


Christmas and birthday presents can be dressed up with charms too. Most of our silver charms are very inexpensive and look great attached to the ribbon of a present. A stick on bow will cost a couple of dollars and be thrown away, for just a few dollars more a charm will be cherished and can become a nice addition to the present. For birthdays a ‘sweet 16′ or ’21’ charm or any of the many special birthday charms would look great. At Christmas you might like to choose a Christmas tree charm or even a Santa charm for that special touch.


I’m sure that there are hundreds of ways to use charms other than on a bracelet and I would love to learn about how you have been creative with charms too. Please leave a comment to share with our other readers.


 



Get creative with charms

Sunday 22 November 2015

How to create a charm bracelet

cbchains-335People are always looking for a way to carry precious memories with them in order to share them with others. Mobile phones are packed with more family photos than the actual album sitting at home, and joyful faces smile on as they scroll through. Every picture tells a story, but data doesn’t last forever, and it’s not something you traditionally pass down to your children or grandchildren. Those who inherit want something tangible with meaning packed into every fibre, nook and cranny.


Charm bracelets fulfil this need with a treasure that can be passed from generation to generation. They may seem old-fashioned in such a technological age, but charm bracelets are making a big comeback as a popular heirloom. Assembling your own charm bracelet is an easy and fun way to cherish life experiences with a single figurine or landmark dangling from your wrist in pristine gold or silver.


How do I get started?


Before you can add charms to your charm bracelet, you need to actually have a bracelet. From there you can add all the charms you like. As long as they fit, that is. There are certain chains that are ideal for charm bracelets that make adding charms easier. Before you decide on the chain, you’ll need to measure your wrist to see what length you’ll need.


Use a measuring tape and wrap it snugly around your wrist until the 0 touches the unrolled tape. Once you’ve got the exact measurement of your wrist, add approximately 2-3 centimetres to that measurement to ensure the bracelet will fit. You don’t want it so tight that you cut off circulation, but you also need to think about the bracelet slipping off if it’s too big. For those who want a looser-fitting bracelet without it falling off, a couple centimetres added to the length won’t do any harm.


Chain types that are ideal for charm bracelets include Belcher, Long Curb and Cable chains because of the open style of links. Chains such as regular Curb chains or chains with tightly knit or alternating links aren’t suited for attaching charms, so it’s best to avoid them when assembling your perfect charm bracelet.


2 Wombat Charm (chr-1706)-335How do I choose charms?


It’s entirely up to you which charms you want to place on your charm bracelet, but most people choose charms that have a significant meaning to them. Memories that they have of a particular place or travel destination can be adequately captured with charms of monuments or symbols related to a particular country. A vacation in New Zealand could very well call for a Kiwi bird charm. A visit to London may make you want to add a touch of the British Isles to your bracelet.


There are many different categories for charms on our site, anything from religious charms to work charms to travel charms. Each has a special meaning to the beholder, so it’s hard to go wrong when choosing your charms. The only problem you’ll face will be narrowing down which ones you want They won’t all fit on your charm bracelet! Having a common theme with your charms or getting charms solely for big events such as a wedding or birthday will help you limit your charms to a wearable number.


How do I put the charms on the bracelet?


When ordering a new bracelet on our site, any charms that you order with it will be soldered on. If you prefer to fit the charms on yourself, link locks can be sent with your charm bracelet so that you can fasten them on at home. When adding new charms to an already existent bracelet, have the jeweller solder them on so they won’t fall or break off of the bracelet. Should you need a charm removed to make room for a different one, the jeweller can also provide this service.


Another option we offer is how far apart the spacing will be between charms. Though it may seem second nature to ask for evenly-spaced charm bracelets, some people prefer to add charms from one end to the other throughout the life of the wearer. Some may find it more comfortable to wear one way or the other. It all comes down to personal preference. If the bracelet is a gift for someone, it may be necessary to ask them their preference before ordering.


Choosing a clasp for the bracelet is an important part of the process as well. The usual parrot clasp may be difficult to fasten one-handed, but we do offer heart padlocks in place of one. If you’re buying a charm bracelet for a child, a parrot clasp is most likely out of the question. Children don’t yet have the dexterity for one-handed fastening. Unless you have a child that’s unusually talented, it’s best to go with the heart padlock. Your current charm bracelet that you’ll be gifting to your child, should it have a parrot clasp or other hard-to-open fastening device, can have a different clasp attached if necessary.


2 Dummy Charm (chr-1776)-335Why should I buy a charm bracelet?


There are many reasons to create a charm bracelet, one of which is a lifetime of memories. Generational gifting has a special meaning that doesn’t only appear in photos. Charm bracelets can be symbols of a family tradition or bond between family members. The love that is felt between romantic partners can be summed up in the charms placed on a Christmas or anniversary charm bracelet. The possibilities of meaning are endless.


A charm bracelet is both an attractive jewellery piece and a story all wrapped into one. Make sure the quality you choose for the bracelet is one that will last a lifetime. Chain Me Up offers charm bracelets in a variety of gold types, including yellow, white and rose gold, as well as sterling and tarnish-resistant silver. Gift packaging is also available to add an extra touch of finesse and sentiment. You or your loved one will be able to treasure your charm bracelet for many generations to come.


Should you need any assistance in assembling your charm bracelet, our customer representatives are always here to help. You can call our help number at (07) 5590 7108 or contact us via Skype or email. We also offer a callback service where you can leave your name and number, and we’ll return your call as soon as possible. We thank you for choosing our services.


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 



How to create a charm bracelet

Thursday 19 November 2015

How to choose a gold chain

white gold box chainFor the casual observer, it seems that those among us who wear jewellery regularly have effortlessly put their outfit together every morning. Little do they know that there’s a lot of thought put into what type of jewellery goes with what outfit. Choosing the right gold chain for your particular outfit can be a difficult decision, but we’ve come up with a helpful guide that will make picking the best chain for your wardrobe as effortless as it seems.


What type of gold?


This is the first thing you should consider because the type of gold you wear with a particular outfit may clash if not chosen correctly. For example, rose gold goes well with more subtle colours like ivory or nude. Colours like beige or coral can also accentuate the rose gold, and vice versa. Likewise, yellow gold and white gold have their own colour pairings.


Yellow gold pairs well with bolder, warmer colours like navy or red. If you really want to accentuate it, wear white or black; it will really pop when placed against color extremes. Yellow gold is by far the most versatile when pairing jewellery with clothing. White gold is just about as versatile, but you have to take skin tone into account with this particular metal. Cool skin tones benefit the most from white gold, so you’ll find that it doesn’t pair well with a tan or rosier skin.


How many karats should the gold be?


When choosing a gold chain for your outfit, the number of karats should also be a factor. The oils in our skin can corrode and tarnish jewellery over time because of the consistent contact with those oils. Choosing gold that is more durable can help fend off the negative effects of wear and tear, letting you keep your jewellery pieces for longer.


First off, you absolutely don’t want anything higher than 18 karats if you’re going to be wearing the gold chain often. Anything in the range of 20-24 karats will be softer and is more likely to bend, scratch or squish (24 karat gold is particularly malleable because of its purity). Gold chains should be in the range of 9 -18 karats. This is because they have enough of the gold to maintain the appearance of it while also containing a more solid metal to help keep its shape.


Choosing solid gold over jewellery that is simply gold-plated is a wise decision. Gold-plated jewellery may be cheaper, but it’s… well… cheaper. The plating will quickly wear off with continued use, whereas solid gold will last much longer and maintain its shape. You’ll get more use and longevity out of a higher quality necklace, so get ready to shell out more cash than expected. It’s highly worth it in the long run.


chain lengthsHow long should the chain be?


This can vary depending on your outfit and gender. Men’s gold chains are pretty simple; longer lengths should be chunkier without being overly designed. A short gold chain should be understated with medium to smaller links. Women’s gold chains, on the other hand, can vary depending on the type of links used and outfit worn.


You must always be aware of your neckline. A necklace that’s too short on a deep neckline can fall in the space between the breasts. Likewise, a necklace that’s too long can look awkward while proving difficult when leaning or bending over. If you find that your necklace is overly long, you can shorten it by looping it around your neck twice. This also creates a nice layering effect while keeping the necklace out of your way.


What type of link should I use?


The type of link used for a woman’s gold chain can be chosen according to length or personal preference. For longer gold chains without a pendant, delicate-looking links like the Figaro or Belcher, such as those seen in our Thin Gold Chains section. Several necklaces of this link type and length can be layered for a more dramatic and eye-catching effect, or they can be worn as a single chain against a solid colour.


For those who want longer gold chains with a pendant on them, a sturdier chain is in order. Cable and rope chains are durable enough to hold pendants according to the size of the chain (medium chains can hold medium pendants, and vice versa with large pendants and large chains). You’ll want to stay away from Belcher chains when using pendants, as these are very delicate. Belcher chains are also helpful when adjusting the length of the necklace because of the more open links.


Box chains are also a good choice for pendant necklaces. They don’t often tangle or twist, making them ideal for pendants that can cause the necklace to swing back and forth. Aside from this valuable feature, box chains make matching jewellery easier because of the box chain’s plainer yet elegant appearance. You can match quite a bit of jewellery with the box chain, whereas the Figaro chain or other fancy chains may need customized jewellery to match the link design.


What clasp should I use for this chain?


Once again, it depends on the link type and length, as well as the width of the chain. Our gold chains come with a standard parrot clasp, but this may not be ideal for everyone. Parrot clasps can be difficult to open for those with limited dexterity, and they require a precise aim to fasten properly. Those who have troubles with parrot clasps should consider using a heart padlock with a medium chain to make things easier when fastening it.


Heart padlocks can also be a great addition to longer necklaces in place of a pendant. They’re perfectly designed to be lightweight enough to be hung on more delicate chains, and they make a beautiful necklace feature. We have a variety of heart padlock designs for all of our chains; you can view the selection in our Gold Padlocks section.


What other considerations are there?


Personal taste plays a big part when choosing which gold chain to wear, but there are several other options that customers don’t know about. Here at Chain Me Up, we not only adjust your gold chain to whatever length is desired, but we can customize your chain with a variation of link colours and types in the same chain. Alternating gold colours can add something special to the chain you purchase, so that’s something else to consider.


When selecting the length of your chain, make sure you have precise measurements in mind. If you aren’t sure what length to order, you can always consult us or order a slightly longer chain than you think you need. Longer chains can be shortened, but lengthening a shorter chain isn’t as easy and may cost more at your local jewellery shop. Any questions can be answered by our expert jewellery team by using any of the contact forms on our site. You can also consult our handy Buyer’s Guide!


 


 


 


 


 



How to choose a gold chain

Monday 9 November 2015

Work Charms

Handcuffs Charm (chr-2314)-335

The world is filled with talented individuals who fill our lives with joy with the work they do. The happy, smiling faces of the baristas at the coffee shop or the calm demeanour of the nurses who take care of us all make our lives better. Isn’t it time to appreciate these superstars with a charm made just for them?


Work charms are a great way to show someone you appreciate what they do for you and everyone else. Those long shifts don’t pull themselves, after all. Volunteers devote hours of their week to helping people out without expecting payment, whether it’s feeding the hungry or caring for abused and abandoned animals. Even those with hobbies contribute great things to society. Gardeners, seamstresses and painters brighten city streets and town halls, sometimes not even bothering to take credit for their work.


We’ve made work charms especially for these people, these hard workers that give so much of themselves to their career and their interests without a second thought for themselves. Our collection has a little something for everyone. All charms are made from the highest quality silver or gold and will add just the amount of sparkle you want to your jewellery collection. You’ll be proud to show your support for your favourite working woman or man. Here are just a few of our favourite work charms:


Handcuffs Charm No, these aren’t for representing the noble career of a criminal. These handcuffs represent the bravest among us who risk their lives every day just by putting on a badge. Being a policeman is a tough job, one that few have the grit to do. With the recent wave of violence between police and protesters, it’s easy to see why few pass the entrance tests to become one of the Men in Blue. You can show your support for these upstanding men and women by adding this handcuffs charm to your bracelet. The next time you see a hard-working officer, buy him a cup of coffee. He’ll appreciate it.


Hammer Charm When you picture a tough line of work, some tend to conjure up the image of a Handyman. These fellows can be anyone from a plumber to a carpenter to an electrician. This hammer charm represents the blow after blow to nail heads, the twisting of screws, and the sore thumbs that come with the job of these fine men. Long days turn into long nights, and by the time these fellows get home, they’re exhausted. And yet, they get up in the morning time and time again to do it all over. The hammer charm is perfect for the handyman in your life or anyone who has a tool shed hobby.


Hammer Charm (chr-0915)-335Cash Register Charm – If you’ve ever worked in retail, you know how mentally exhausting it can be to deal with angry customers day in and day out. These brave knights put on their name tag each day and know that they’re going to get yelled at during their shift, but for what they don’t know. Retail workers do their very best each day to serve us and help us find the things we need, regardless of whether we are pleasant or in a bad mood. This cash register charm is for anyone who’s worked a part-time retail job to pay for school and staying up late to make ends meet. It’s a thankless job, but we would like to thank them from the bottom of our hearts with this sparkling gold charm.


Stethoscope Charm – Where would we all be if there were no doctors? All of our bumps, bruises and more serious medical conditions would leave us to fend for ourselves. Luckily, we do have these medical professionals, and they are some of the hardest workers among us. Doctors can spend days being on-call at the hospital with little to no sleep, and yet they do their best to heal our ailments and comfort us when we’re sick. It’s hard to express or even realize how much they mean to us, but this stethoscope charm does it all. Your doctor will know its significant meaning when you wear it to your next doctor’s visit.


Whether you know someone in the workforce that makes you think of them when you see these charms or you spot one that fits your own profession, make sure you add it to your charm bracelet to always be mindful of the things they do for you. You can check out our entire collection of work charms here.


 


 


 


 


 



Work Charms

Sunday 8 November 2015

Men"s Gold Chains

9ct Round Curb Chain (HM-CUR-0009)-480When selecting a gold chain for the man in your life it is important to choose a chain that is masculine.


A number of styles seem to be more popular with men, figaro and curb chains are generally the most widely worn. The curb chain features links of all the same length that lie on the same plane. This is achieved by grasping the link at each end and twisting it 90 degrees. When all links are shaped like this they create a gold chain that lays flat on a table, unlike a belcher chain where each link joins the next at right angles.


Curb chains have a few variations to the standard round link curb chain. For the finer chains the top and bottom surfaces can be diamond cut. This leaves both faces with a flat surface and rounded edges to better reflect the light. A further variation is a bevelled curb chain. This is a diamond cut curb with more diamond cutting to the edges of the chain, giving a bevelled shape to the edge of the chain.


Bevelling is normally not suited to the finer chains and usually is applied to chains that are at least 3mm wide. It creates extra facets, so the chain will have 6 or 8 flat surfaces depending on the type of bevelling applied.


Figaro chains are very similar to curb chains and can also be diamond cut and/or bevelled. The links in a figaro chain are the same design as curb links, but made up of two different lengths. The most common styles are repeating patterns of one long link and one short link to create a ‘figaro 11’ style and one long link followed by three short links to create a ‘figaro 13’ style chain. Other combination of long and short links are produced but these tend to be finer styles and favoured more by the ladies.


Men’s gold chains for necklaces should normally be around 5mm or wider and for bracelets 7mm or wider. A finer chain for a man’s necklace may be suitable when it carries a pendant but the two should compliment each other in proportion.



Men"s Gold Chains

Food Charms

Knife Fork and Spoon Charm (chr-0447)-335It’s more than just an essential. Food is an art, a culinary design that whisks us away to a land of succulent crab dishes and perfectly balanced soups. The number of recipes in the world is way too high to count. Cooking shows parade across our television screens and make us want to consume each and every dish that appears on the screen. No one who has watched Gordon Ramsay’s cooking shows has ever turned up their nose at whatever he’s made. Food, for many, isn’t just food… it’s a way of life.


Food brings family to the table and conjures up memories of dinners past as we join our loved ones in devouring the delectable meal in front of us. It’s this fondness for food that has inspired us here at Chain Me Up to create a collection of charms dedicated entirely to the art of cooking and culinary dishes, as well as our favourite beverages and snack foods. We hope these charms will brighten up your day as you show them off to your friends and family. Here are just a few from our selection:


Crayfish Charm – Here in the Outback, we enjoy a good seafood buffet from time to time. A boiled pot of crayfish makes for an incredibly tasty treat, especially when spiced to perfection. Tender crab or lobster meat just melts in your mouth as your taste buds sing and savour this delectable meal. This crustacean will remind you of all those backyard barbeques with family and friends, where the food was good and the company was even better.


2 Cup Cake Charm (chr-2182)-750

Cupcake Charm – Few can resist the siren call of a frosted baked treat. Cupcakes are one of the tastiest things invented since cookies made their debut, and we find our mouths watering just thinking about them. Perhaps your mother made them for you on special occasions or for your birthday. You scarfed them down before anyone else had a chance to with no regrets whatsoever. Just to let you in on a little secret… adults still do this as well. Then we go and spend hours on the treadmill hoping to sweat the calories out. We ask ourselves if it’s worth the trade-off. It totally, totally is.




Meat Pie Charm
– Who can forget this mealtime staple? Whether you love or hate meat pies, they’re incredibly popular in Australia, and they’re here to stay. Stuffed inside a flaky golden crust is a warm gravy of meat and savoury seasonings. Although you’ll see meat pies at petrol stations and convenience stores, there’s nothing that beats a home-made meat pie with fresh ingredients like onions, cheese and minced meat rolling in gravy. Top it with ketchup, and you’ve got a meal made for an Aussie king!


Wine Bottle and Corkscrew Charm – A toast! A toast! Or perhaps you’d rather keep things quiet while sipping on a nice glass of Pinot Gregio or a sultry Merlot. Wine and fine dining have been paired together for thousands of years for various reasons, but it wasn’t until the 1980’s that serious consideration was given to what wine goes with what food. Aroma, density and taste all play a delicate part when choosing the perfect wine for your evening meal. Frankly, we don’t intend to judge you on what wine you drink. We just want to let you show your appreciation for this delicious beverage straight off the vine.


Knife, Fork and Spoon Charm – This is a charm that really says it all. Where would we be without the proper tools for dining? We’d be sent straight back to a prehistoric era where eating with your hands was the only possible way to nourish yourself. Thankfully, society has grown more sophisticated and has developed these tools to get delicious foods from the plate and straight into our mouths with relatively little mess. All anyone will be able to think of when they see this charm is that you must be a fan of fine dining. After all, the charm is a set of utensils made from solid gold. You don’t have to tell them you’re more of a fan of take-out.


The next time you’re out dining, show off your appreciation for culinary marvels with one of our food charms. You can browse the entire collection here.


 


 



Food Charms

Wednesday 4 November 2015

Animal Charms

Horse Charm (chr-2770)-335As a cat owner, I personally know the joy an animal can bring to a person’s life. Even the hardest of hearts can be melted by the rolling purr of a kitten or the overzealous bounce of a new puppy. There’s a pet for every type of person. Maybe you’re the more leisurely sort; a goldfish is generally pretty easy to take care of and provides a soothing effect while watching them swim, their tails gracefully flipping from side to side. For those with a taste for the exotic, a tarantula or snake may be just the companion you need.


Our furry (and scaly) friends depend on us as much as we depend on them. It can be hard work taking care of them, but they hold a special place in our hearts and minds. For pet owners, it’s difficult to imagine life before ownership. The padding of paws running through the house seems built in to our daily lives. Honestly, where would we be without that happy face to greet us when we come home from work or school? Although not everyone needs the fulfilment of owning a pet, those who do treasure every moment they have with their animal buddy.


For this reason, we’ve created an entire section of animal charms to capture the energy and heart-warming love that these creatures bestow upon us. We’ve also included several animals that, though they can’t be pets, are favourites of animal-lovers everywhere.


 


Cat (movable) Charm (chr-2159)-335Cat Charm Naturally, this one had to be first. This cat charm will have you thinking of your precious fur baby every time you look at it. Crafted in splendid gold or silver, the shining image of your favourite feline friend evokes that warm sense of hearth and home that makes living there so special. Although your cat might not think of the charm as anything more special than a new dangly toy, your friends and family will see just how much you love your little fur-ball!


Corgi Dog Charm There’s something inherently charming about the Corgi. Perhaps it’s the small stump-like legs that have to work extra hard when they run. Maybe it’s the glistening eyes and triangular ears that stick straight up when they stare at you with that cute face they always have. Whatever it is, this Corgi charm encases these qualities in fine gold or silver for you to add to your charm bracelet. Check out our other dog charms for a variety of breeds that suit your fancy.


Dragon Charm Did you think we’d leave mythical animals out? Of course not! The power and majesty of a dragon can barely be contained in this exquisitely-crafted charm. This particular type of dragon is the one most commonly seen in English and Norse folklore and on coats of arms. With his wings spread wide and fire belching from his mouth, this sparkling gold or silver dragon is perfect for Lord of the Rings fans or avid followers of ancient legend.


Teddy Bear Charm Didn’t we all have a favourite teddy bear or stuffed animal when we were younger? Some still do. This iconic staple of a child’s younger years was originally named after President Theodore Roosevelt and based on a political cartoon, of all things. It has since become an essential for children’s bedrooms and toy boxes that is both cuddly and sweet.


Wise Owl Charm The owl has always been a symbol of wisdom and knowledge, even since ancient times. It has often been depicted as the animal representation of the Roman goddess Minerva who was known for her wisdom and strength. Although not suited as pets, despite what the Harry Potter books may say, they are still incredibly interesting creatures with nocturnal hunting skills that can’t be beat. When you hear the soft “hoot” of an owl outside your window, give this charm a jingle to show your appreciation for this amazing animal.


Our collection of animal charms is one of the most extensive that we have with over 20 pages to choose from. There are charms featuring anything from mythical creatures like unicorns to exotic animals from the Outback or the Serengeti, as well as household pets and wildlife. Avid animal-lovers will appreciate the valuable memories they’ll get when they add this charm to their own collection. You can check out more options by visiting our gallery.


 


 


 



Animal Charms

Tuesday 3 November 2015

Rose Gold Charms

2 Eiffel Tower Charm (chtr-cgchs383)-335Rose gold jewellery was strongly favoured in the first half of the last century for it’s beautiful warmth of colour. I wear my grandfather’s rose gold wedding ring and love the deep colour that a little extra copper gives to the metal.


Today rose gold is popular with many of those who fancy their own style with a touch of nostalgia for times past.


A combination of yellow gold and rose gold charms can produce a very stylish charm bracelet. The handmade bracelets we supply can be crafted to match with alternating links of yellow and rose gold or white gold links. This gives you the ability to craft a very unique and personal charm bracelet carrying the symbols of your loves, memories and achievements.


Our full range of around 4600 individual charms are all able to be made in both yellow and rose gold and sterling silver. Around 4000 charms in our range are also available in white gold.


The Eiffel Tower shown here would be a great reminder of your trip to Paris and is just one in our range of travel charms. Many of our customers wait until they arrive home from their holidays to add a few new charms as a reminder of their overseas travels. Knowing the charms we sell are great quality and we are here in Australia means it is safer than buying from a store or market stall where you can’t return to if you find the charms you bought weren’t genuine. We have a number of customers that have been taken in by fly by night merchants overseas and have replaced the dodgy charms they bought there with genuine charms from our store.



Rose Gold Charms

Saturday 31 October 2015

Traditional Charm Bracelets

sliderIn recent years there has been a surge in the popularity of bead style charm bracelets.


Typically these bracelets are a snake chain design and the manufacturers initially aimed for a proprietary bead size to ensure you were forced to buy their charms and not those from other manufacturers. Cornering the market this way works well (for the manufacturer) for a while but the public will eventually become frustrated that they have been backed into a corner and look for alternatives.


Our range of traditional charm bracelets are suitable for fitting any of the thousands of traditional sterling silver or gold charms available from manufacturers all around the world. Being able to choose from a myriad of charm makers makes traditional bracelets the best choice for those that don’t wished to be forced into buying from just one supplier. Online stores, retail stores, handmade charms on sites like Etsy and weekend markets are just a few places where you can find new charms to add to your bracelet.


If you do happen to own a snake chain charm bracelet and want to fit a traditional charm, what can you do? The easiest solution is to have the traditional charm attached to a slider. A slider is a bead that fits over a snake chain and has a loop to hang your new charm from. We have three styles available in sterling silver and well as white, rose and yellow gold. Now you can choose from thousands of charms no matter what style of charm bracelet you favour.



Traditional Charm Bracelets

Friday 30 October 2015

Movable Charms

2 Book (opens) Charm (chr-3021)-335 Book (opens) Charm (chr-3021)-335

Looking back at all the jewellery you’ve owned, one quintessential piece was the locket. When you first got it, you would open and close it, listening for the oddly satisfying snap of the clasp. Now that you’re older, you still find a sense of nostalgia thinking about it. It was one of your favourite pieces; you try to remember the reason you gave it up in the first place. Maybe you outgrew it, or felt like you did? Either way, you can rest easy in the fond memories of your younger years with a charm from our collection of movable charms.


Movable charms are just like all the other charms, but they have one or more moving pieces on them. For example, your locket wasn’t one solid piece; it also opened and closed. The same goes for movable charms. It adds a sense of fun to your jewellery collection to have a moving, grooving skeleton charm or a lovely spinning ballerina dangling from your wrist. They make great gifts for any age. Your children will find joy playing with the movable parts of their charm, or your significant other will be pleasantly surprised by the charm’s mobility.


Much like lockets, movable charms can often store items inside them. Granted, you can’t store anything very big – in fact, whatever you put inside the charms must be very tiny – but it’s still a unique feature that sets movable charms apart from their companions. Some movable charms can house small portraits while others can hold things like crystals or pearls to give an extra glimmer. One thing is for certain: movable charms add a touch of something magical to any charm bracelet. Our selection of movable charms is ever-growing; here are a few pieces we found especially lovely.


  • Piano with Filigree Lid There’s something about filigree designs that makes them particularly beautiful. This piano charm conjures up the sweet sound of tinkling keys and flowing melodies. It’s perfect for the pianist in your life, or you can show a special appreciation for those people you know that love a good piano tune.

  • Windmill The legendary figures in the tale of Don Quixote aren’t quite so menacing when they’re represented by this adorable windmill charm. These gentle giants bring a sense of peace when you watch the slow-turning sails spin round and round, and that’s exactly what this charm does. With the flick of a finger, this miniature windmill spins its golden sails in an impressive display of ingenuity.

  • Merry-Go-Round – Also known as a carousel, this spinning carnival ride is a childhood staple where many a young one spent hours of fun riding the painted horses. Although the carousel has many different names in a variety of cultures (e.g. “roundabout,” “jumper,” and “flying horses”), the entertainment value of this cultural classic will have you remembering the fair rides you thought you had long forgotten.

  • Book – Could this be a classic novel from Hemingway? Or perhaps it’s Tolstoy’s War and Peace? No, but it is an ode to classic literature that will please any bookworm you give this charm to. The inside, which opens up with a clasp, is just big enough to put a tiny scrap of parchment paper in with a fragment of miniature text. It’s doubtful you’ll be able to read it without a magnifying glass, but it’s the thought that counts!

  • Jonah and the Whale – The well-known biblical tale tells of a man named Jonah that tried to hide from God by stowing away on a ship and promptly being eaten by a whale. Now you can capture the epic story in sparkling gold or silver with this movable charm. The whale opens up to reveal the humbled Jonah in its belly and swallows him up again when you close it.

These are just a few of the movable charms we offer. Our wide selection makes sure that you get exactly the charm you’re looking for to give to that special person in your life, or you can treat yourself to a charm bracelet addition of your own.



Movable Charms

Wednesday 28 October 2015

Dancing Charms

ballerina charm (cha-2204)-335

The human spirit was born to move and sway to the beat of music. The inner dancer in all of us takes a variety of forms. Some prefer the sultry movements of the salsa, while others like a more graceful approach in ballet. However you choose to express yourself, make sure you do it with one of our dancing charms on your wrist while you’re grooving to your favourite tunes.


The history of dancing most likely started as a purely ritual exercise and evolved into the offshoots we see today, which are too numerous to count. Dance has been used in religious ceremonies, theatre and unspoken communication. There’s something primal about it that allows it to be used by any human being, whether or not they have any experience with dance. It’s instinctive.


Paintings as far back as 7000 BC have depicted ancient cultures drinking and dancing in celebration, most notably those found in India’s cave systems. The Egyptians used it in religious rituals. The Greeks used it as a form of entertainment and leisure. Many societies used dance as a means of courtship and seduction. The history of dance is far spread across the sands of time and continues to be a wonderful form of self-expression today.


We’ve attempted to capture the undying spirit of dance in our dancing charms collection. Let’s take a look at some of the history behind the different types of dance and significance of well-recognized symbols associated with it.


  • Ballet Slippers When it comes to professional dance, ballet is held in the highest esteem. The lithe, bending bodies of the dancers make even the most practised yogi envious. The origins of ballet date back to the 15th century Renaissance period. Catherine de Medici, the wife of King Henry II, introduced formal dances into the French courts. The style of ballet started out as a simple series of steps, but King Louis XIV refined it into an art form. The first ballet troupe in Paris opened in 1661, and the rest is history.

  • Hula Dancer Hula is an ancient dance form that commonly uses a combination of hand gestures, rhythmic movements and chants. The oldest form is called “kahiko” and originated in Hawaii. The legend of hula takes various forms, typically with an ancient Hawaiian goddess giving birth to the dance or beginning the dance herself. Hula was at one time banned by Christian missionaries who convinced converted Hawaiian royalty that the dance was heathen. Much like many other banned art forms, hula soon made its comeback. Present day sees both a traditional and modern version of the dance; hula is still considered a sacred heritage of native Hawaiian and Polynesian cultures.

  • The Limbo Limbo is the dance that is always about competition – the last person left wins the limbo round. Competitors must bend ever lower as the bar is brought closer and closer to the ground, forcing spines to twist in ways few thought imaginable. It’s hard to believe that this popular dance was once used as a traditional ceremony at a wake in Trinidad and Tobago. At funerals, rather than lowering the bar each round, the bar would go higher, symbolizing a graduation from death to new life. Entertainment troupes hijacked this ritual dance and popularized it with the song “Limbo Rock,” sung by Chubby Checker, in the year 1962.

  • Belly Dancer You must have an enormous amount of control over your body to be an expert belly dancer. Most commonly associated with gyrating movements centred at the waist that are controlled by the hips, belly dancing dates back to eras from long ago in the Middle East. Belly dancing can be used for performance or as a social dance. Countries like Egypt, Turkey and other regions of the Middle East. Though it is frowned upon in today’s Middle Eastern culture because of the open display of the female body, harems in ancient times would often have belly dancers readily available. The modern day version of belly dancing is highly stylized and has its roots more in social dancing than in performance art.

Whether you are merely an observer or an avid performer, dancing is a joyful experience that everyone should have at some point in their lives. There are dances for all ages and cultures; it’s simply a matter of choosing one to express yourself with, or you can simply enjoy learning a new dance for fun. You can check out more of our dancing charms on our website.



Dancing Charms

Monday 26 October 2015

Egyptian Charms

Wedjat Eye Eye of Horus Charm (chr-1840)-335

For all the mysticism and charm that ancient Egypt has, it’s important to remember the history of one of the world’s most powerful empires for what it was: a civilization that at one point ruled most of the world and is responsible for much of the discovery and knowledge that we in the present day possess. It’s why we dedicated an entire section of charms to Egyptian heritage and ancient symbolism.


Equipped with the latest technological marvels of their time, Ancient Egyptians were a powerhouse of invention. This ingenuity made their empire very rich, and royalty spared no expense to decorate themselves with the finest jewellery, from gold necklaces and earrings to extravagant headpieces. Much of Egypt’s gold came from the riverbed of the Nile where it was prevalent. This allowed Egyptians, who favoured customized jewellery pieces over those that were mass-produced, to sell their prized wares to surrounding countries and cultures. They were in many ways the biggest inspiration for jewellery design both in their time and in ours.


The religion of the Ancient Egyptians clearly had a lot of influence on the designs of the jewellery they made. Each symbol and deity held special significance to the people of Egypt; there are several mythological figures that are prominent in the jewellery of this civilization. We’ve modelled many of our charms after these figures which held such a special place in the hearts and minds of the Ancient Egyptians.


  • The Eye of Horus Horus was the god of the sky, and his symbol, the Eye of Horus, is representative of power, wealth and protection. Because ancient legend has it that Horus offered his eye to his father Osiris after his brother Set gouged it out, it is also seen as a symbol of sacrifice. This symbol is used on the tombs of Pharaohs to protect them as they enter the afterlife, and it has even been discovered on Egyptian sailing ships to help seafarers across treacherous waters.

  • Nefertiti Queen Nefertiti, also known as Neferneferuaten, was the wife of Akhenaten and ruled as Pharaoh after her husband’s death in the wealthiest period of the Egyptian royal dynasty. She and her husband were the first to revolutionize Egypt’s religion by worshipping a single god. Her bust, which can be found in Berlin’s Neues Museum, is one of the most famous Egyptian sculptures in the world. Nefertiti preceded Egypt’s most famous Pharaoh, King Tut, and she remains a well-known figure in Egypt’s history.

  • Scarab Beetle – The Ancient Egyptians considered the scarab, a type of dung beetle, to be holy because of its similar behaviours to the of the sun god Ra. In Egyptian mythology, Ra would manifest himself as the god Khepri in the early morning and roll the sun into place for daytime. The Egyptians compared this to the scarab beetle’s habit of rolling dung into balls. Because of this, the scarab beetle is seen in jewellery, sarcophagi, walls and hieroglyphs across the ancient kingdom.

  • Ankh – The Ankh symbol is easily one of the most well-known symbols of the Ancient Egyptians. Few, if any deities are seen without it; the Ankh represents eternal life, something the Egyptians and many other religions believe in. The symbol itself is also called the “breath of life” or “key to the Nile.” Egyptians would carry this symbol with them by either holding it in their hands or dangling it from a necklace. Many people worldwide wear this symbol as a triviality or souvenir from Egypt and have no idea of its meaning, but the Ancient Egyptians treasured it as sacred.

  • Sphinx – Myth and legend have it that the sphinx was a legendary creature that demanded anyone who crossed its path to solve a riddle, or else they would face certain death. If the riddle was solved, the person was allowed to pass. If not, they would be eaten. The sphinx is typically depicted as having a human head, a lion’s body and, on some occasions, the wings of an eagle. Aside from the Ancient Egyptians, the Greeks also had a sphinx figure in their legends. However, the Greek sphinx’s human half was represented by a woman, whereas the Egyptian sphinx was male. The Great Sphinx of Giza is widely known as a symbol of Egypt and appears on the country’s official documents.

Egyptian charms hold a coveted mystery about them and make great gifts for anyone interested in Ancient Egyptian lore or history. Other charms include such notable figures as King Tut, the Pyramids of Giza and more.



Egyptian Charms

Thursday 22 October 2015

Cleaning Jewellery

Cleaning jewellery is more than just removing tarnish from sterling silver. It can be restoring the shine to an item that has been knocked about or removing foreign matter that has got under a diamond in an engagement ring.


ionic-225

Ionic cleaners very quickly remove tarnish from silver and restore the shine to gold and silver jewellery that has a layer of dirt, grime or sweat. They use a special solution and electrolysis and take about 5 seconds to clean silver and about 30 seconds to clean gold jewellery.


ultrasonic-225

Ultrasonic cleaners are great for removing dirt from within areas that are hard to reach with a polishing cloth. Where an item of jewellery (like a gold chain) has many difficult to reach areas, the ultrasonic cleaner is the perfect tool to get into all those nooks and crannies and blast the grime away.


tumbler-225

Tumblers are chiefly used to remove casting marks from charms, rings or any other piece that has been manufactured by lost wax casting techniques. They run for 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the amount of finishing that is required. They work by either rotating or vibrating, and that drives the jewellery being polished against a (usually) stainless steel shot. The effect of this is a gentle ‘hammering’ of the jewellery which slightly hardens the outer layer of the precious metal and creates a beautiful shine. This works really well on charms, pendants and necklace or bracelet chains.


Please see the cleaning techniques page on our main website for a more detailed article.



Cleaning Jewellery

Wednesday 21 October 2015

Travel Charms

3 Double Decker Bus Charm (chr-0092)-335

Most people like to bring back souvenirs when travelling. Some travellers collect coffee mugs or shot glasses while others may take back physical pieces of the country they’ve visited, such as sand in a jar from the beach or a sample of the soil. These precious mementos are brought home to remind travellers of their time spent away from home in a foreign land or a trip out of state, and they serve as a little piece of the trip that will always be with them.


Travel charms can keep those memories fresh with a daily reminder in the form of an object from your favourite vacation spot. Perhaps a loved one is missing the foggy streets of London and the cosy bus rides through the centre of one of the greatest cities in the world; a double-decker bus charm or a striking gold likeness of Big Ben makes a perfect gift, one that they’ll be sure to treasure. The sweeping views of the English countryside are just a jingle away when you’re wearing your favourite English travel charm on your wrist.


With the Christmas season approaching, gifting is on everyone’s minds. Getting your loved one a travel charm is an opportunity to give a truly unique present to your favourite traveller. The myriad of reasons will have you browsing our extensive collection this holiday season. Here’s just a few to think about:


  • Your memories will last as long as your charm does. Travel charms are a durable, lightweight souvenir to remember your trip by. Since we offer charms in silver and gold (yellow, white or rose), you know the quality will last you through the years. The wear and tear you may experience with other memorabilia can be easily avoided by buying a travel charm. Keeping your charm pristine is as simple as cleaning it regularly to avoid tarnishing and storing it properly.

  • Travel charms can be highly personalized. Nothing shows that you care more than a personalized gift. Generic gifts like boxes of chocolate or Christmas gift sets, while classic, are old hat and won’t make a lasting impression. Getting your loved one a travel charm that speaks to their heart and soul is what will have you on Santa’s good list this holiday season. That romantic trip to Italy can be commemorated with a silver gondolier charm paired with a figaro chain. Memories of a family cruise in the Bahamas can be captured in an ocean cruise liner charm in stunning white gold. The possibilities are endless.

  • They won’t break the bank. There’s a sort of depression after you finish your Christmas shopping. Who can blame you? Looking at your receipts, it looks like you just spent your life’s savings. Even a bouquet of roses costs enough to make you shudder. Travel charms are an affordable, high quality gift idea that will make both you and your wallet smile. We offer charms as low as $8.50. An entire set of charms can be bought for the same price as a new mixer or dinner set, maybe even less!

  • They’re the gift that keeps on giving. The great thing about travel charms is that the more trips you take, the more charms you can add to your bracelet. Each destination vacation becomes an opportunity to add to your collection. Even if you don’t make it to Bali or the Himalayas, you can wear your dreams on your wrist with a charm to remind you of your goals. Paris is just an Eiffel Tower charm away; there’s a charm for every corner of the globe, so start your collection off right with the place you want to go the most.

It’s hard to resist the appeal of a good travel charm. There’s nothing quite like a gift that can evoke images of your favourite places and travel memories, and you can’t beat the allure of a personalized gift that is spot on. Buy your sweetheart or loved one a gift that will touch their heart this Christmas. You can browse our collection of travel charms here, and make sure to pick out a dazzling chain to match if you haven’t already!



Travel Charms

Tuesday 20 October 2015

We don"t like cricket - we LOVE it!

Cricket Bat Charm (chtr-cgc10859)-335The rugby is over for another year and I was heart broken when the Cowboys overran the Broncos in the final minute. Regardless it was a great game and Wayne Bennett did a terrific job of  bringing Brisbane back to the top of the league. There’s always next year.


Of course the end of the football season means the cricket season is back again. This year sees the 2015 ICC World Cup winners Australia taking on New Zealand in a 3 test series beginning on November 15 and a second 3 test series against the West Indies starting on December 10.


If you love your cricket why not show it with a charm or pendant in solid gold or silver? We are featuring our cricket charms on our website this month.



We don"t like cricket - we LOVE it!

Monday 19 October 2015

Love Charms

large claddagh charm (cha-0196)-335

Love is an interesting emotion. It’s said to be one of the strongest, and sometimes it causes us to do extraordinary things for those we care about. Displays of love can come in a variety of forms, but the age old choice of giving jewellery hasn’t died out – in fact, it’s more popular than ever. Whether you’re looking for a romantic gift for your partner or a symbol of an undying friendship, love charms are the perfect choice for showing your loved one that you care.


Romantic gift-giving has an interesting history. A lot of our “courting” traditions come from medieval times, such as opening doors for one another and love poetry. It’s hard to say exactly when customary romantic gifts started, but there are some interesting items that were used throughout history to express one’s love for another.


  • A Norse tradition would require a girl of marriageable age to wear an empty knife sheath until an interested party placed a knife in it as a signal that they were interested. If the girl kept the knife, it meant that she accepted the suitor’s affections.

  • Welsh suitors in the 17th century would carve intricate designs on wooden spoons, called “love-spoons,” with various symbols which had significant meaning.

  • Victorian suitors would send a pair of gloves to the woman of their choice in hopes that she would wear them to Sunday services. If she did, it meant she felt the same towards her suitor.

The history of gift-giving in general started all the way back in primitive times. Gifts were often given in thanks for a service, such as a good deed done for the tribe. Since the only materials that were of any use in gift giving were unusual or hard-to-come-by objects, it wasn’t uncommon for those receiving gifts to get something in the line of animal teeth or strange-looking rocks. Over time, more materials and gift ideas were discovered, and the reasons for gift-giving also expanded. Some gifts were used to gain the favour of nobles and kings, and some were given for monumental achievements, such as the Egyptian Pharaohs building spectacular pyramids in their kingdom.


Love charms are one of the many tokens that have evolved from romantic gift-giving traditions. Many options are available for charms, and each one has its own significance, especially in the eye of the beholder. As we’ve mentioned before, the popularity of charms started in the Victorian era, particularly in the early years known as the Romantic Period. Queen Victoria is responsible for the invention and popularization of charms, and love charms were one of her specialities. She would carry around a charm with a lock of Prince Albert’s hair inside.


Love charms aren’t just for lovers, though. Charms have been passed down through generations as a family heirloom; some mothers give their daughters a charm bracelet that has been passed down to them, and the daughter can remove old charms and add her own. Likewise, the resurgence of the charm bracelet’s popularity has seen gift-giving between sisters, cousins, and so on and so forth. Best friend charm bracelets were a hit in the 90s and are making a good comeback in many areas of the globe. Charms can also be given in memory of loved ones to remember them by, and many have found comfort in having a jingling reminder delicately draped on their wrist.


Few occasions are inappropriate for love charms, if any. Well, maybe Halloween; we aren’t aware of any gift-giving other than candy when it comes to Halloween. However, any event or holiday from graduations to Mother’s Day is a great time to give your special recipient a love charm. Wedding charms, such as our Love Birds on a Swing charm, are excellent choices for the new bride and groom. If you’re feeling homesick, our Home and Heart charm will warm you with memories of the house in which you grew up. For those with a sense of humour, the I Dig You The Most shovel charm is a quirky and fun addition to a friend or lover’s charm bracelet. It’s hard to go wrong with any of the choices, but these are a few of our favourites.


Whichever you choose, you can rest easy knowing that your gift will be appreciated for the thought put into it and the beautifully crafted design. Love charms convey your affection to anyone who receives them. We know you’ll be happy with your choice.


 


 



Love Charms

Australiana Charms

Kangaroo Charm (chtr-cgnsw11515)-335

We’re not just known for kangaroos, koalas and deadly spiders the size of your head – Australia is home to one of the world’s most diverse cultures and has a rich history that will have even visitors saying “Crikey!”. As such, we’ve created a charm collection that captures the spirit and iconic images of the Australian way of life.


First, we Aussies ought to tell you about some of our history. It’s pretty essential to know how awesome we are. Aborigines were the natives of Australia before it got its name. There were over 300 different clans, 250 languages, and 700 dialects spoken by these Aboriginal people. English explorers, most notably Captain James Cook, claimed Australia for their own. Australia at this time mainly served as a penal colony for the worst of the worst criminals, but this stopped about 100 years later.


Other settlers who weren’t convicts started moving in around 1790, and the population of Australia started to really grow. Farmers began to grow successful crops all across Australia; unfortunately for the Aborigines, this meant being pushed out of their own land by “squatters.” Australia was officially named as a nation in 1901. Today, Australia has citizens from over 200 countries, making it one of the world’s most diverse nations. This multiculturalism makes Australia a desirable place for immigrants to settle and start a new life. Australia’s universal healthcare system makes sure every citizen has access to the best medical care.


All of these facts can be found in your history books or news feeds, but here are some things you may not know about Australia:


Australia was the second country in the world to give women the right to vote.


  • Aside from Athens, Greece, Australia has the largest population of Greeks.

  • The Great Barrier Reef has its own post office box.

  • Australians invented the term “selfie” (we’re awfully sorry about that).

  • Although Australia is home to the world’s largest and deadliest spiders, there hasn’t been a death from a spider bite since 1979.

Now that you know a little about us, let’s talk about some of our favourite Australiana charms and what they mean to us.


Platypus Charm – This little fellow is unique to Australia and is probably the world’s most interesting animal. Despite being a mammal, Platypuses lay eggs and hatch their young. They also have venomous spurs that they use to defend themselves, and the venom can cause intense pain for humans. Even more curious is that the platypus has no stomach, just an oesophagus and intestines. Platypuses are now protected by the Australian government after nearly becoming extinct from hunters who wanted to sell their fur.


Kangaroo Charm – What Australian charm bracelet would be complete without the country’s most iconic mammal? The kangaroo is one of the “unofficial” official animals on Australia’s coat of arms, the other being the emu. Visitors to the Australian Outback are always dying to see the country’s most famous animal. There are four different kinds of kangaroo (red, eastern grey, western grey and antilopine). Expect to see kangaroo crossings while driving through the Outback; these creatures, much like deer, have been known to hop out in front of moving vehicles.


Sydney Opera House Charm – When conjuring up an image of the most famous structure in Australia, the Sydney Opera House immediately comes to mind. The dazzling design of this iconic building was actually inspired by an orange, believe it or not. Jorn Utzon, the chief architect, realized his vision of sail-shaped towers after he was chosen out of 233 contestants to build the opera house. When put together, the sails create the shape of a perfect sphere. The opera house was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in October of 1973.


Vegemite Charm – We couldn’t resist making this charm. Australia is famous in part because of Vegemite, though many people don’t know what it is. Vegemite is a food paste made from brewer’s yeast and has a strong, almost beefy, taste. The spread gets its name from the vegetable extracts it contains and is very popular among Aussies. 9 out of 10 Australians have this tasty treat in their pantries!


Other charms in our collection include the world famous koala, kookaburra bird, and even a crocodile eating a tourist (that doesn’t actually happen; we just thought you’d like a quirky charm option). The love for the great wide expanse of this amazing nation is evident in the carefully crafted charms we sell. All of them are made in Australia, by the way, so no matter which one you pick, you’ll be getting your very own piece of the Outback to wear proudly on your charm bracelet.



Australiana Charms

Sunday 18 October 2015

Having a baby?

baby boot charm (cha-2072)-335 There are so many baby charms in our store that would make a great addition to your charm bracelet when a new bundle of joy comes into your life.


A bigger occasion than most, a birth deserves a very special way to celebrate your new arrival. We have a huge range of charms to choose from, for you or a friend who has been blessed with a new addition to the family.


One of the most important reasons to buy quality charms is the fact they will be passed down to your children or grandchildren.


And how special would it be for your child to have the charm you bought on their birthday on the much loved bracelet they inherit from you?


Only quality lasts and a charm bracelet should be enjoyed by many generations over many lifetimes.



Having a baby?