Classic Charms Chatter

New Enamel Charms!

Charms and Charm Bracelets have been around for hundreds of years, as fashion changes, so do charms. At Classic Charms, we are proud to bring you the latest fashion forward charms, showing more enamel and color on the charms.

Recently Rembrandt Charms has re-made many of their charms and introduced many new styles to their collection. As many of you know, Rembrandt is synonymous with attention to detail, quality craftsmanship, and beautiful works of art on that adorn many charm bracelets. Some of their existing charms have been updated to show more detail and now, what many of our customers have asked for – color! This passport charm is a definite to add to your travel charm bracelet. If you love music, check out their adorable MP3 Player Charm, which looks so cute with the enamel on it, or brand new to the collection is the Rainbow charm, perfect for the graduate.

We have recently added many new 14K Gold Enamel Charms to our collection. If you are a Movie enthusiast – be sure to check out our Box of Popcorn, created in 14K Gold with Enamel, or how about a plate of Sushi, created in 14K Gold? Some can’t live without that first stop at Starbucks cup of coffee in the morning; now add it to your bracelet, in 14K Gold.

If your son (or daughter) is of sports mind – our new enamel charms for the sports kids are two-sided enamel, so they are perfect for charm bracelets. Be sure to check out these adorable enamel cheerleader charms. Enamel sports charms available for most sports – call us and ask if your sport is available!

Special occasions such as birthdays can’t be forgotten on your charm bracelet! New to the collection – Birthday Boy and Birthday Girl Charms are a great way to remember your special day. Of course you cannot forget mom and all she has done for you with a Best Mom Ribbon Charm to show her how great you think she is!

The New kids from Rona K

As many of you are familiar with the design of “The Kids” charms. Rona originally created them with four personalities in mind: Hugs, Love, Kiss, & Joy. All kids have their own unique personalities, and so do “The Kids”! These kids were originally created in only 14K Gold with various positions for their arms and legs. If you don’t already have a Rona K Kids charms, be sure to check out the many options for them. Rona has added new kids to the original collection.

The original collection was created in “layers”, meaning that the body of the child was one layer of gold, and then you would add a dress or shirt, then a hat or a bow, so the kid would look dimensional. This is a fully customized kid Charm, so that you can choose what color hat (or bow), Dress (or Shirt, Body Color and Body Style you want – with diamonds, without. Rona added many options over the years, to really make this a custom charm, from diamonds, to birthstones, to pets and hearts. Contact a Classic Charms Associate to assist you to build your custom made Rona K Kid charm – you will be the envy of all the other Mom’s in the neighborhood! Rona’s new collection of kids is one layer and uses a unique laser finish on the kids to show the dimension of clothing.

All of these kids are now available in Sterling Silver, Gold-Plate, 14K Yellow Gold or 14K White Gold, so this great collection fits any budget from $30 – over $300. Rona also added personalities to these kids, including graduation kids, kids with pets, kids in bathing suits, and various types of clothing.

The original collection had only one style of dress or shirt, with this new collection, you can choose the clothing style to suit your child’s personality. In addition to the new Kids Collection, the long awaited “The Cuddles” Kids have arrived. You will see the same detail, the same quality and the same unique personalities in the “The Cuddles” Kids as you grew to adore with her original collection. The new line of charms is available in Sterling Silver, Gold-Plate, 14K Yellow Gold or 14K White Gold, to suit any budget from $30 - $200.

Be sure to stop by our Store if you are in the Austin, TX area and see the entire collection of Rona K Kids Charms or you can view them online at Classic Charms. The new collection of charm includes over 100 new styles!

An evening for “The Kids”

I had the great honor of accompanying Rona K of Rona K Corp to the Facets of Hope Dinner honoring the 10^th anniversary of Jewelers for Children Organization at the Venetian Hotel during the annual JCK Jewelry Show. This dinner was hosted by two honorees (Allen Brill – Rolex Watch USA and Peter Engel – Fred Meyer Jewelers). Both gave amazing speeches about how this industry has such heart and gives back to the children in need. The speeches left many teary-eyed, as special guests, young children, who JFC had helped with financial support, came to the stage to share their special, unique story of survival, only because of St Jude’s Hospital and the monies given by this room full of Jewelers with a heart.

Jewelers For Children was founded in 1999 by the U.S. jewelry industry with the mission of helping children in need. Since its inception, JFC has donated nearly $28 million to programs benefiting children whose lives have been affected by illness, abuse, or neglect through charity partners St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and the National CASA Association. This nationwide success is due to the continuing generosity of jewelry trade organizations, jewelry and watch manufacturing companies, jewelry retail stores, individual jewelry professionals, and jewelry consumers. JFC also provides support to the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation, the Jason Program, the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps, Autism Speaks and the Santa-America Fund.

What shined through at this event was not only the number of attendees (2,500 in all), but each and every company represented here had donated thousands of dollars to children in need without hesitation. The cost for this gala event was $500 per person to attend, with the entire amount going to the charities that JFC supports.

During the annual JCK Jewelry show, Rona K has introduced a new line of kids, the long anticipated “The Cuddles” kids. This is a must for any Mom, or Grandma’s Charm Bracelet. Be sure to stop by and visit our showroom, where you will be able to view the collection, now available in Sterling Silver, Gold-Plate or 14K Yellow or 14K White Gold. For those that know “The Kids”, this addition gives your “Kids” so much personality, charm, and dimension!

Rona created a very special lapel pin with the JFC logo and the “`10 Years” represented on the kids clothing and donated this lapel pin to each attendant of the gala event. Rona also donates her very special “The Kids” 14K Gold Kid Charms to the kids at St Jude’s Hospital to give to their Mom’s as gifts.

Raffle tickets were sold during the evening for $20/ticket, with the entire amount donated to the charities that JFC supports. Many companies donated prizes to be raffled at the end of the evening, ranging from Rolex Watches, Phillip Stein Diamond Studded Watches, Special Limited VW Bug Car, a 7 day Caribbean Princess Cruise, Tour of Yankee Stadium, and many others fabulous items. I was fortunate enough to be one of the winners (I won the Diamond Studded Philip Stein Watch)

Graduation Charms

So your son or daughter has worked hard, earned their degree (High School or College), what better way to show them how proud you are of their accomplishments than with a graduation charm. We carry graduation years (any year available), personalized graduation diplomas and even rainbow charms to tell them they should follow their dreams! If your graduate does not have a charm bracelet, what a better time than to start them with a lovely Rembrandt Charm Bracelet with a graduation charm and they can continue to add to the bracelet throughout their journey through life.

Mother’s Day Gifts - May 11th

Anything that involves 14k gold and diamonds qualifies to be listed in the category of “Perfect Gifts for Moms”. New mom gifts are especially important if they are from the baby’s dad. There’s something about dads showing up with a classy looking gift that makes mom feel a little better after the eighteen hours of hard labor that was necessary to bring his sweet baby boy or girl into the world. 14K Gold Birthstone Baby Shoe Charms make great Mother’s Day Gifts!

If ladies don’t have a charm bracelet already, once they become moms they will want one for sure! I have seen so many new moms comparing their beautiful bracelets and the gold charms. Each of the precious keepsakes were added at important milestones of their children’s lives. Moms love engravable gold charms that are set with birthstones for each of their babies. The smooth disks are perfect places to engrave their baby’s name and date of birth. These are evenly spaced along the links of the charm bracelet along with gold baby booties and other tiny gold charms.

Jewelry for a cause!

Whenever you talk to a retail jeweler about what really makes their business tick, the answer is invariably the same: passion. It’s the passion for the profession that sets the independent jeweler apart from their retail competitors. Such passion is carried through for clients and the community, above and beyond profit motive. This month, Modern Jeweler Magazine spoke to independent jewelers about cause-related jewelry they sell. When Modern Jeweler Magazine asked retailers about selling jewelry that benefited a charities, we learned many cause-related jewelry items were exclusive to their stores.

This month, Modern Jeweler Magazine featured our exclusive Breast Cancer Survivor Charm Bracelet as one of the top picks for jewelry for a cause! Pick up a copy of Modern Jeweler Magazine (Jan 08 issue) and read about jewelry for a cause. Turn to page 68 to view our bracelet!

Our exclusive Charm bracelet is offered in Sterling Silver or 14K Gold. Each bracelet has 6 charms attached that hold special meaning.

1. Female Symbol - because it affects women.

2. Lighting Bolt - because it hits you like a bolt of lightening.

3. Teardop - because at first you cry.

4. Heart - because you find the courage and strength from inside your heart.

5. Pink Ribbon - because it makes you aware.

6. Star burst - because then you shine!

Proceeds from the sale of the bracelet go to Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA.

New Rona K Cuddles Kids!

So you have a Rona K Kid charm and you are familiar with the style and the quality that comes with a custom made charm by Rona K?  Great news Rona is introducing a new line of charms, called “The Cuddles” kids charms.

Do you remember paper dolls?  Well this charm line is similar to it in the regard you can choose your body style of your kid, choose clothing style, as well as hairstyle on your Cuddles Kid, then let us put it all together for you and create you something truly unique and custom made just for you!

Coming soon - Let Classic Charms create your Cuddles Kid for you.

Birthstones

Have you ever wondered what color a birthstone is or what the meaning is?  Just like astrology matching your birthdate to personality traits, birth stones are associated with certain traits as well.

January — Birthstone is Garnet, a deep redish brown color - Symbolizes faith, loyalty, and truth and is thought to help deflect evil thoughts and improve intelligence.

February - Birthstone is Amethyst, a purple stone - Is known to encourage sincerity, piety, and even celibacy.  The ancients believed amethyst to be a strong antidote to drunkenness.

March - Birthstone is Aquamarine - a light blue stone - Is said to attract love and encourage new friendships.  For married couples, the aquamarine is said to help promote a long, happy union.

April - Birthstone is Diamond (alternate is White Zircon) - The diamond is the hardest of all gemstones.  Diamonds symbolize invulnerability and incorruptibility, and are associates with love, marriage, joy, excellence and purity.

May - Birthstone is Emerald - a deep green stone - Symbolizes spring, fertility, and eternal youth, as well as honesty and tranquility.

June - Birthstone is Pearl (alternate is Rhodalite) - Symbolizes innocence and purity.  Pearls also are associated with romance, love, and marriage, and are traditionally given on the 12th or 20th wedding anniversaries.  They are said to bring health and good luck.

July - Birthstone is Ruby - a deep red stone - is synonymous with power and passion.  Rubies are thought to thwart evil, dispel sadness and discord, and protect their wearers from deceitful friendships.

August - Peridot - a light green stone -  is a symbol of good luck, success, and happiness and is believed to promote friendships and marriage.  Because peridots seem to glow in the evening light, the ancients believed they protected their owners from danger at night.

September - Sapphire - a deep blue stone - Symbolizes truth, sincerity, and the ability to make dreams come true.  They are also thought to bring their wearers comfort, and consistency in marriage.

October - Opal (alternate Pink Tourlemine) - Represents innocence and purity.  For children, opals are believed to bring good fortune.

November - Topaz (or Citrine - a light yellow color) Topaz is associated with the sun.  Thought to change color if the food offered the wearer is poisoned, topazes were also used to cure asthma, reverse insomnia, and improve eyesight.

December - Blue Topaz, Turquoise (alternate is Tanzanite) Turquoise symbolizes prosperity, courage, and success.   When given as a gift, turquoise is considered to be a  promise of friendship.

Fun things to do with Charms!

1. Make a charm bracelet for each of your sons - add a charm for each year of their life - then give the bracelet to their wife when they marry.

2. Buy a box of candy, eat the candy, go on a diet, and fill the box with one charm for each 5 pounds you loose!

3. Wrap silver fortune charms in parchment and bake into a cake for a bridal shower. Each guest gets an unexpected gift with their slice of cake!

4. Have your favorite charm soldered onto your watch band!

5. Engrave a charm for your new puppy’s collar.

6. Make a locket with your child’s picture in it for your babysitter or housekeeper.

7. If you are a bride - give each attendant a charm bracelet with a charm to commemorate your special day.

8. Ask the tooth fairy to give your daughter one charm for each lost tooth.

9. Sew a charm onto your ponytail holder.

10. Add charms to either your hoop earrings or your belly button ring to make a custom piece of jewelry - no one will have one like it!

November 2007 Contest!

Wearing a charm bracelet is like wearing your life story on your wrist. We want to know your story!! Tell us about your charms and what they mean to you and you could win a gift certificate good for your next charm purchase! Post a comment about what special meaning your charms have to you. We, personally read each entry each month and award one lucky customer a gift certificate (value of $50) good towards their next charm purchase! No limit to number of entries per customer!

Contest details:

1. All entries become the property of Classic Charms LLC and are posted on our blog monthly.
2. All winners will be notified via email and posted on our blog by the 5th of the following month with their winning entry.
3. All winners must reside in the United States.