For many people collecting charms for bracelets is a serious hobby or interest. There are thousands of charms listed as collector items on online auction and sales websites, so knowing a bit about what makes a charm valuable and what is a reasonable price to pay for a charm is important.
Gold charms as well as charms in other metals have been produced for generations, so getting the quality and item you want does take a bit of knowledge on the subject.
Gold charms are fairly easy to identify because of both the surface hardness of the metal as well as the overall sheen and luster. Poor quality or gold plated charms may have the gold color peeling or flaking whereas true gold charms will not.
Both gold charms and silver charms have been around since the charms first became popular in the 1900s. There are some charms, such as the mechanical charms, which were very popular from the early 1930’s through to the 60’s, but there are also newer replicas of these moving charms now available.
Generally the older styles of charms will show some signs of wear and tear, however both gold and silver are very durable metals. There may be slight scratching on smooth surfaces, but often the ring or shank of the charm will show signs of rubbing against other metals.
Checking online to see how many copies of the types of gold charms you are interested in is also a key factor in determining if they are really collectable or not. If there are multiple copies from many sellers they aren’t rare and are definitely not antique or unique.
Vintage is a word that is also a bit confusing. Really anything earlier than the 1980’s is often considered vintage, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t valuable. Again, how common the gold charms are and how many are available is going to be a key factor.
The more detailed and beautifully designed and colored the charm is the more valuable it will be. For those charms that are colored or enameled be sure to check the condition of the paint and note any damage.
Collecting gold charms really starts with what you enjoy and what you like. Not everyone sees beauty in the same type of gold charms, so buy what you like and will enjoy wearing. If you are considering the very expensive types of platinum, gemmed or gold charms be sure to do your research and know that the charm you are buying is authentic if you aren’t purchasing it from a reputable jeweler.
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