The Disney charm has been around along time — even in the mail order catalogs. We can all remember those early trips to the Disneyland and Walt Disney World. One of the most popular souvenirs (for ladies and your girls alike) was a charm for our bracelet. They where sold separately so you could build a bracelet or buy an already assembled one. There were charms made of pewter, sterling silver and even gold.
The charms were also sold at the Disney Store in sterling silver separately in boxes as a numbered edition. Some have individual moving parts. These were also available as a complete set; as seen in the Pooh version below. Many of these can now be found — where else? On eBay, of course!
For most Disney fans, it was great to be able to wear your favorite characters in a theme of your choice. There have also been limited edition bracelets done in themes of Cinderella, Pooh, Mickey and princess characters. The Disney store sold boxed sets for children last year that were princess themed. Those sets included a bracelet, charms and the storage box. Accessory packs of charms where also available.
The Disney Catalog has sold many different themed bracelets. Last year they had a leather band with a sterling silver slider Mickey. You could order it in black or pink leather. Three other charms were available — Tink, Eeyore and Minnie.
The desire to collect charms of our favorite Disney characters has led to the introduction of additional lines of charms. A recent favorite has been the Bracciale Italian Charm links in Disney Characters. These are made of stainless steel with enamel painted and 14kt gold. They were a big hit with all age groups. The prices ranged from $27.00 and up with the option of a dangle or a double charm. Watches and spacers for adding charms to a bracelet made for a great deal of fun collecting your favorites.
The line has some new additions this year with a spacer to hook two bracelets together. They also have the new style instead of the enamel in a picture form. Now mega charm use a double to create a longer charm with a slight bend.
Charm-It has come out with a Disney based line that has something for everyone. This company has metal enamel charms with crystals as well as pewter charms. They can be attached to bracelets, anklets, or even necklaces. You can purchase a Mickey icon bracelet to put your charms on also. Their character choices are never ending. The also have limited edition charms available. There are small themed bracelets with sliders that you can hang the charms from for children. They even have a Tink purse you can hang your bracelet on.
A happy recent product has been the return of the sterling silver charms. There are Anniversary bracelets for the Films Disney Direct had a Lady and the Tramp, two different Anniversary Mickey Bracelets. I am sure there will be a Cinderella with her anniversary this year in October. With the 50th coming up I am sure we will see some nice ones. The parks have some great ones in sterling of new characters Lilo ,Stitch, Mike, Sulley, and some great bracelets to put your collection on a new one with a Mickey rhinestone charm with moveable face features.
So, no matter what your favorite characters are or the type of bracelet you want, the choices are great. Something for everyone whether it’s the old favorites in sterling silver or the new designs from the Bracialle line of Italian charms. The Charm-It Bracelets, Anklets and Enamel Charms that dangle of all your favorite charcters and Sliders for the younger ones. These lines offer great choices for something to wear for different occasions from dressy to fun for your self, your daugther or granddaughter. If you have been collecting all along or are just starting now, there is something for everyone in the line of Disney charms.
Cindy Russell is the owner of ” Where The Magic Begins”, a full-service Disney collectibles store in Livermore, California. Feel from to drop her a note with any questions you might have about this or any other Disney collectible. Who knows? It might end up the subject of a future JHM column.