Italian Charm Jewellery & Gifts

A: Custom links are made specifically for photo charms. They have a recessed area on the top where the photo is positioned. This allows the special cold enamel coating to cover the surface of the picture without interfering with the flexible links or fouling the edge of the charm.

A: If you have a treasured photo that you would like to use as the image for a photo charm, you can send it to me by mail (at your own risk!) using either a courier or registered mail. It may be better for your own peace of mind to have the image scanned or reproduced electronically at a local photo store. Then you can email the image to me and your precious original is still safely in your possession.

A: The number of charms used for a bracelet depends on the size of the wrist. The average is 18, but the easiest way to measure is to measure the wrist and count one charm for every 10 millimetres. Round the measurement up or down to the nearest 10 millimetres. If you have a wristwatch with an expanding metal bracelet, you could compare your result with the size of the watch bracelet to check your measurements. We can always add or remove links for you if the fit isn't quite right. Click here for a printable page with our 'Charm Measure' in centimetres.
Prefer inches? Here's a guide, but the sizes are approximate:

A: Sometimes, yes. But please email or call with your requirements and we will always try our hardest to meet your requirements.

A: Cold Enamel is a clear enamel coating that doesn't craze or yellow with time because it is UV stable. It also creates a water resistant protection for the photo.

A: There are 3 basic sizes of Italian Charm offered: Micro links (4mm x 7mm) Standard links (8mm x 10mm) and Mega links (10mm x 12mm) These are approximate width-times-length measurements.

A: Italian Charm links are available in various finishes: matt or shiny, with or without 9ct gold plating. The most popular finish for microlinks, which are difficult to embellish, is shiny with gold trimmed edges.The standard size is generally chosen in shiny finish for bracelets, with or without the gold edges, while links for the mesh bracelet straps are often ordered in matt finish.

A: Charm decoration is available in 4 basic styles:
Laser charms are actually created using a similar process to laser printing, which is commonly used to produce icon designs (heart, cross, etc) and phrases (eg, 'I Love Mum'), because it gives good clarity. The colours used are black on silver or black on gold. A new process has recently been introduced to allow colour laser printing of charms, but it is still in it's developmental stages and the available designs are currently quite limited. We don't carry coloured laser image charms on our regular stock, but can source them to order. Available in Standard size, and sometimes as a 'double' length charm link.
Enamel Charms are the collector's favourite: they are available in thousands of designs, usually in a bold colour, which is enamelled into an indented design. The clarity is less sharp than the laser patterns, but the sheer variety and colour more than compensate for that.They come in Standard 9mm only.
Gem Charms are charm links with either semi-precious stones or austrian crystal decoration. The stones can be set into images (eg a cat's eyes) as embellishments to letters, or mounted as cabochons.
Photo Charms are available as 'stock' items - that is, factory made photo charms created using a high definition laser printed image in full colour, which is then fixed to a 'blank' charm and sealed with clear enamel, usually these are 9mm in size. The variety of designs for these charm links is also in the thousands, and they are extremely popular. It is almost impossible to think of a subject which has not yet graced a photo charm, from animals to flags of the world.
Dangle Charms are charm links with a decoration attached which literally dangles, in the style of traditional charm bracelets.

A: We'll certainly try! Please email us your questions using the contact form.