As one of the oldest forms of jewelry, charms offer women the opportunity to adorn themselves in a quaint, very personal way.
Scholars insist that charms were first worn by men and women more than 50,000 years ago as souvenirs and adornments, and were just pretty shells or stones. They became a good luck symbol (or charm), and were noted
as a religious identifier 2,000 years ago.
Charms became very popular in the late 1800s in the United States, when Tiffany offered them in their catalogs. Queen Victoria is often credited with starting the modern-day craze of charm bracelets, and at Old Northeast Jewelers, in our estate division, we buy hundreds of 14K and 18K gold and platinum bracelets each year. The most expensive vintage charms made of platinum are worth between $100–$1,000 per charm.
The real heyday of charms was the 1930s, when fine enameled and figural charms were made from platinum and gemstones and were retailed by Tiffany, Cartier and others (but usually ordered from Oscar Heyman — the asters of fine stone setting in the U.S.). If such charms are of a larger size and signed Tiffany or Cartier, they can bring $1,000 apiece; if not signed, they bring $100 to $500 each.
In the 1940s through the 1960s, 14K yellow gold charms of unusual shapes were made and still bring more than their gold value. Sadly, silhouette charms and the more conventionally shaped charms only bring the weight of the gold.
Please call us or stop by if you have any 14K, 18K or platinum charms to sell. Note we love platinum of any kind.
Three former Sothebyscom associates and three art historians
on staff. We will buy for cash or consign to auction
any of your rare, valuable watches, antiques, coins
or collectibles. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
