W, I really feel this is going to be a game-changing, iconic piece that will inspire many like it. When will you open your own atelier, @mrs-b?
I've set and re-set my charm bracelet over the years. I tried one combination of charms, then another, then a third, then a fourth - and on and on and on. I finally got what I thought was the perfect combination of charms...and then found - despite being evenly spaced - that I disliked the way they'd all hang to one side or another when I moved my hand, leaving me with what looked like large gaps - which weren't really gaps at all - and 'clumps' of charms where they'd land together. So it was never the effect I wanted. Or even particularly close.
But still, I collected charms and loved them. I had a bunch custom made and decided in the end to just persevere with a combination of gold charms and enamel charms. It looked like this:
Pretty - but I felt as tho the styles didn't really match. So in the end, I decided to split them into gold charms and enamel charms and do two bracelets, very different in feel. But, still, that didn't address the problem of the drifting charms.
And then, one day I hit on *this* idea. I ran with it and, after a number of different line-ups, had a total 'AH HA!' moment where all my issues were solved in one hit and I had the charm bracelet of my dreams. And here it is - my collection of memories and significant events:
I absolutely LOVE it. It's perfect! Interesting, individual, sentimental - a whole bunch of things! There are charms there that celebrate my beating cancer, my move to the US, becoming a US citizen, my time in England, my love for Australia - all sorts of big, significant things. I think it's the perfect way to set charms - more grown up and less dangly and annoying than the traditional method, and - to my eye - far more interesting.
In a week or two, I'll have my enamel charm bracelet (set the same way), and I look forward to adding it, as well!
And I should DEFINITELY thank the good folks at DKJ for persevering through what ended up being a marathon project with more iterations and changes than any jeweler should have to tolerate! Thanks, David and Amy!
I've been waiting on the enameler to do his thing - and it's a slow process! I'm sure it will be beautiful, but there's no rushing this guy, so I just have to cool my jets and hope it's perfect when it gets here!
I absolutely love it, and it's so visually interesting - it's a pleasure to own!
Thank you for those very kind words. All my jewelry is VERY 'try, try and try again'-ish - almost nothing hit the mark right from the get-go. I feel as tho I'm really *there* now with this piece and am very happy with how it's turned out. Despite my jewelry journey and all its resultant pieces, today I'm wearing my plain gold wedding band and a pair of pearl studs. So, sometimes, plain is best!
@Lookinagain - how are you? Hasn't the weather around our part of the world been wild lately?! We lost a couple of large trees during the BIG storm a few weekends back, and the wind and rain last night has buried us in debris. More contribution to our gardener's son's college fund!
I'm so glad the dangling issue has now been sorted out. I haaaaated the way the charms hung apart, showing lots of bare wrist and not many charms. This method is a way of keeping them front and center at all times, and I love the eclectic-yet-balanced look of it all. Very, very pleased with where I've landed.
Here are some photos of it assembled. FINALLY! Yaaaaay!
All the charms are 18kt and most of them are solid. It's a heavy bracelet and each charm is substantial and was a LOT of work. The wrist shots were taken on Amy's wrists, which are tiny - so the bracelet won't be as loose on my wrist.
I thought about making it its own thread, but there are so many pictures of it in progress on PS, it seemed like overkill. So it will lurk here and those interested will find it over time. I LOVE the colors in it! It's the perfect piece to wear with jeans and a white t-shirt. If I had the money, I'd extend it and make a necklace out of it. But it's hella expensive: each charm is around a thousand bucks to make, and then there's the fittings for it etc. So - a bracelet it is!
Here are some photos of it assembled. FINALLY! Yaaaaay!
All the charms are 18kt and most of them are solid. It's a heavy bracelet and each charm is substantial and was a LOT of work. The wrist shots were taken on Amy's wrists, which are tiny - so the bracelet won't be as loose on my wrist.
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so much thoughts and love went into it!
