O’REILLYS Fine Jewellery, Watches & Silver Auction Starting Wednesday, 22nd March 2023 at 12pm

Charms have been synonymous with jewellery since the early ages of the craft. There are many different ways that charms can be used to personalise pieces of jewellery and bring more meaning to a piece; charm bracelets are significantly popular for this reason. People often buy charms or receive them as gifts to commemorate a life event; a rattle charm for a baby being born, an eiffel tower charm for a trip to Paris, a boat charm for a love of sailing, etc. Also referred to as talismans or amulets, these additions to existing jewellery pieces like chains or bracelets were worn by people in the Bronze Age and in Ancient Egypt to ward off negativity and evil, and to bring good luck to the wearer. Lot 343 in the March auction features a ‘nazar’ charm, also known as the evil eye.This symbol has been worn for thousands of years, with the thoughts that the eye will bounce the evil thoughts and negativity back on the wrongdoer. The reign of QueenVictoria saw a shift from charms thought to possess powers to the use of them as personal symbols.The Queen was always seen wearing a charm bracelet, with gold charms of oval form with enamel and diamond decoration; she also wore a charm bracelet gifted to her by her husband, Prince Alber t, with nine enamel hear ts containing the hair of her children. The charm bracelet was given to Queen Victoria in 1840 after the bir th of her first child,Victoria, and another hear t was added each time she had another child. 10 Lot 155 HOWCHARMING A Brief History of Charms LIVE AUCTION OF FINE JEWELLERY, WATCHES, SILVER & COINS • WEDNESDAY, 22nd MARCH 2023 AT 12PM