The average charm bracelet went out before the 90’s were over. Gone are the dangling silver bracelets of our youth. Something about the dangle, swing, and bulk of the old-school charm bracelet made it an out-of-the-question piece of jewelry for anyone who has also abandoned head bands, slouch socks and biker shorts. But the idea of the charm bracelet lives on. Zoppini Charms, designed in Italy, are all the rage across Europe, and increasingly, here in the US. What do Zoppini Charms have that the dangle charm bracelet did not? The simple answer is: style. Sleek, bold, simple and beautiful, Zoppini Charms are making the grade with hipper generations.
When we 
say ‘charm bracelet’, your head automatically conjures up an image of a dangly silver bracelet with an abundance of links which make up the bracelet, hold it together, and from which, hence the name, one attaches a charm that represents something in their life. These charm bracelets were coveted by women and children alike in the middle of the 20th century then by girls only before becoming altogether outdated right alongside hairspray.
How has style changed in such a way that these charm bracelets didn’t even have a chance to survive? Jewelry should not flounce, just like hair and skirts should not flounce. Lines are now simple and bold, from our boot-leg jeans and A-line skirts to our diamond solitaire rings and earrings. A traditional charm bracelet slides up and down your arm; the charms dangle from the bracelet. Traditional charm bracelets have a look similar to hippie ‘bell’ anklets, bracelets, belts and more; this look is too feminine for today’s market. The new ‘feminine’ is bold, simple, and more beautiful than ever.
Zoppini charms have embraced this new geometric style of jewelry and fashion in general. Zoppini charms themselves produce a bracelet by linking the individual charms/links together. This Italian style of charm bracelet is just as versatile as the old style. You can add charms whenever you want, take out older ones that no longer have personal significance for you, or simply change your charms based on where you’re headed—the beach or a black-tie wedding.
Zoppini charms are not three-dimensional. The old charms are symbols, miniatures of what they represent. Zoppini charms are one-dimensional images. A dog, a child or the Eiffel Tower is portrayed in a one-dimensional picture of the aforementioned item. This styling fits more closely with the style of the bracelet itself; the bracelet does not dangle, it fits your wrist like a ring fits your finger.
Charms for Zoppini bracelets come in everything from blanks (a solid metal link with no ornamentation) to single stones (a large birthstone for example) to more symbolic images such as a ballet slipper or a comedy and tragedy mask. Ironically, the newest of the Zoppini charms are, you guessed it, dangle charms.
The final look of a Zoppini charms bracelet is anything from tennis elegant (i.e. alternating silver blanks and whole opal links) to children’s whimsical (i.e. one charm for each activity and milestone in life, a mixture of ballet shoes, ladybugs, an American flag, a birthday cake and a diploma). Zoppini charms, unlike classical charm bracelets, allow the wearer to let their true colors show. All traditional charm bracelets look more or less the same; these stylish Italian charm bracelets can be just that - stylish, or they can be downright hideous if you choose a pizza slice, a beer mug, a few bugs and then throw in a glitter bar or two for good measure.