Allegra's Charm Bracelet

I bought the charm bracelet for my goddaughter at her baptism—about 22 years ago—with the idea that I’d add a charm for every birthday and milestone. Now, the bracelet feels complete. The very first charm I chose was a St. Christopher, since I’ve always traveled with one myself. From there, it became a collection full of meaning: a vintage “In Case of Emergency” charm I stumbled upon and loved; a cross for her confirmation; and a locket holding a photo of her mother and father.

The apple represents New York City, where she lives, and the champagne flute—engraved with “21”—marked her 21st birthday. The skier and snowflake reflect her years skiing competitively through grade school and high school, while the tennis racquet celebrates a sport she still plays. The palm tree is for Palm Beach, her “home away from home,” where her mom is from and her grandparents live. A scarab, sand dollar, elephant with its trunk up, and a four-leaf clover all bring luck, which I love weaving into the story.

There are fun, playful additions too—an Easter basket, a clam shell, a “Happy Birthday” vintage find, and a charm from Paris to remember a special trip. The mask represents the resilience of her generation—missing high school graduation and facing college with restrictions in 2020—and the way communities came together during that time.

The final charm I added was a vintage Georgetown piece engraved with her graduation date. She’s an adult now, and the bracelet is full. It was such a joy collecting these over the years—most of them came from Charmco—and together they tell a story of growing up, memories, and love.