That jingling sound as I type this column is coming from my new charm bracelet. Well, my new “old” charm bracelet.

I spotted the sterling silver bracelet with 16 tiny charms at The Vintage Rabbit, an antique mall on North Monroe Street, last month. The bargain price of $24 caught my eye, and I intended to take a second look before I left the store but forgot. Later I remembered the bracelet, but I was in the middle of a big project and couldn't get back. Two weeks later I was finally able to take a little time for myself, and I was happy to see that the bracelet was still there. As I paid for it, I agreed with the shop owner that I had found quite a deal. It's been on my wrist ever since.

Although jewelry decorated with charms and tokens has been around for thousands of years, charm bracelets have been popular since Queen Victoria decided to wear lockets with the images of her husband and children dangling from her wrist. It's amazing just how many of the fashions and traditions we still enjoy today can be attributed to Victoria.

In this country, charm bracelets peaked in popularity in the 1950s and '60s. Most were made of sterling silver or gold, but there were many gold-filled and silver-plated bracelets manufactured with charms and sold as souvenirs.

By the '70s, the dangly bracelets were considered old fashioned and were dropped into jewelry boxes and put away.

I started a bracelet for each of my girls when they were 9 or 10 years old, and whenever we travel we look for souvenir charms. Santa still leaves charms in their stockings to mark accomplishments like learning to ride a horse or play the piano. Their grandmother passed along her bracelet, and eventually her charms will be divided between them. So by the time they are grown, each of my daughters will have a bracelet heavy with memories.

Vintage charms are plentiful and easy to find. Most cost $7 to $10 in antique shops and $5 to $7 at flea markets. A vintage bracelet loaded with charms will sell for as much as $150, but the average price is in the $45 to $90 range.

I have my mother's heavy souvenir bracelet from San Francisco. As a girl I had the cheap little bracelets that spelled out the name of a summer camp or the words “best friends.” Although I've looked at them for years, I never had a true build-your-own charm bracelet.

To me, the appeal of a vintage bracelet is the story behind each little token. Of course, unless the bracelet is ours, we can't really know that story.

When I bought my “antique mall” charm bracelet, I adopted the story of someone else's life. Each time I attach my own charm, I weave my own story into it. That's the way it is for those of us who love vintage treasures.

I suspect many of you have bracelets like the one I bought. I would love to hear the story of your charm bracelet and the tales behind your favorite charms. Drop me a line or an e-mail if you want to share your memories.

Resources

Just Charmed is an online source of vintage charm bracelets, at www.eclecticala.com/charmed/ charmed.htm. I loved the 1950s to '60s bracelet that celebrates one woman's most important dates, including a charm for her plastic surgery.

Personal FX -- www.pfxshowroom.com/home.html -- sells new silver charms as well as charms made of amber, glass and semi-precious stones.

Rings & Things -- www.rings-things.com -- is a Spokane-based wholesaler of beads and jewelry supplies. The company sells sterling-silver findings that change a standard bead to a cute teapot charm. For more information, call 624-8565.

Do it yourself

Follow these steps to attach charms to your own bracelet:

• Using needle-nose or split-ring jewelers pliers, thread a split ring finding onto the charm. Attach the charm to the bracelet. For added security, some crafters choose to use a jump ring in addition to the split ring to attach the charm. Be sure that both ends of the jump ring and split ring are closed tightly to prevent snags on clothing.

• To prevent loss, a small “safety” chain can be attached to the bracelet. This catches the bracelet and keeps it from falling. The safety chain is attached the same way the charms are attached to the bracelet, only using smaller jump rings. A jeweler can add a safety chain if you prefer.