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Vintage & Retro Charms – Jewellery Charms in Silver, Gold & Platinum – Ore Metals

Vintage & Retro Charms

Celebrate timeless design with our curated collection of vintage and retro charms, available in precious metals including silver, gold, and platinum. From ornate candlestick telephones and sewing machines to penny farthings and scrolls, each charm is a miniature tribute to the elegance of the past  - designed for bracelets, necklaces, and earrings that blend history with craftsmanship.

A Charm Collection Inspired by the Past

Our Vintage & Retro Charms capture the beauty of bygone eras through historically inspired motifs and intricate detailing. Perfect for jewellery makers who appreciate heritage design, these pieces blend sentiment and sophistication - ideal for custom jewellery with character and charm.

Choose from a wide variety of timeless designs including the Vintage Candlestick, Mini Spinning Wheel, Penny Farthing, Rotary Telephone, Gramophone, Vintage Slot Machine, Parchment Scroll, Classic Typewriter, and many more. Whether you're crafting a charm bracelet, layered necklace, or statement earrings, these motifs bring depth, story, and nostalgic elegance to your work.

Explore Vintage & Retro Charms by Metal Type

We offer our complete Vintage & Retro Charm range in a spectrum of ethically sourced fine metals, allowing you to match your creative intent, pricing tier, or desired finish. Explore each category to discover your perfect metal option:

🔗 925 Sterling Silver Vintage & Retro Charms - Traditional, durable, and full of timeless character

🔗 940 Argentium Silver Vintage & Retro Charms - Ultra-bright and tarnish-resistant for modern makers

🔗 999 Fine Silver Vintage & Retro Charms - Pure silver with a radiant, artisanal lustre

🔗 9ct Yellow Gold Vintage & Retro Charms - Classic golden warmth with lasting strength

🔗 9ct White Gold Vintage & Retro Charms - Cool-toned elegance with soft vintage sheen

🔗 9ct Rose Gold Vintage & Retro Charms - Romantic tones that complement nostalgic motifs

🔗 18ct Yellow Gold Vintage & Retro Charms - High gold content for heirloom-grade designs

🔗 18ct White Gold Vintage & Retro Charms - Sleek, premium finish for timeless sophistication

🔗 18ct Rose Gold Vintage & Retro Charms - Lush, expressive gold for refined sentimental pieces

🔗 24ct Pure Gold Vintage & Retro Charms - Unalloyed, radiant gold for symbolic and ceremonial jewellery

🔗 14ct Gold Plated Vintage & Retro Charms - Thick-plated brilliance over Argentium silver for everyday wear

🔗 950 Platinum Vintage & Retro Charms - Naturally white, hypoallergenic, and built for generations

Each metal version retains the same sculptural detail, allowing you to mix metals across a cohesive theme or offer tiered options for clients seeking quality at every level.

Versatile Uses Across Jewellery Styles

Whether designing one-of-a-kind gifts or building signature collections, our Vintage & Retro Charms adapt effortlessly to all jewellery types:


- Tell nostalgic stories through curated vintage clusters


- Showcase elegant silhouettes as standalone pendants


- Create matching or mismatched charm earrings with antique flair


- Offer themed charm sets for weddings, anniversaries, or history lovers

From keepsake mementos to conversation-starting pieces, the creative potential of this collection is vast and meaningful.

Ethical Jewellery Making with Ore Metals

At Ore Metals, we are committed to responsible, sustainable jewellery production. All of our Vintage & Retro Charms are crafted using recycled or ethically sourced precious metals. Whether you’re working with sterling silver, fine gold, or platinum, you can feel confident that your pieces uphold values of craftsmanship, heritage, and integrity.

Let Your Jewellery Carry the Past Forward

With richly detailed designs and a full palette of precious metals, our Vintage & Retro Charm Collection gives you everything you need to create expressive, meaningful, and historically inspired jewellery. Explore by motif, by alloy, or by design era - and let timeless charm shape your next creation.

Frequently Asked Questions

A cable or belcher chain - These link styles are strong, evenly spaced, and usually soldered closed, so they handle the weight of multiple charms, let the charms move freely, and make additions or removals easy over time.

Start with a metal type that matches existing collections or sets then choose a theme that reflects your story or interests - Many collectors pick milestones (travel, birthdays) or visual themes (animals, letters) and balance sizes so the bracelet hangs evenly. Mixing textures and finishes keeps the design interesting while still cohesive.

No, gold charms are not magnetic. Gold won’t stick to a magnet unless the alloy contains significant iron, nickel, or cobalt. Clasps or jump rings made with base-metal springs may attract weakly, but the charm itself will not.

Anywhere from AU $80 to AU $1,000+ per charm. Price varies with gold purity, weight & craftsmanship. Heavier 18ct pieces or pure 24ct gold charms command the highest premiums, while lightweight 9ct charms are more affordable.

Yes, solid gold charms are designed for daily wear. Gold is corrosion-resistant and durable; just avoid harsh chemicals, abrasive surfaces, and repeated snagging to keep the polish bright. Routine cleaning with mild soapy water maintains the shine.

Slide them onto necklaces, hoop earrings, anklets, or even keyrings! Ore Metals' charms have a jump ring that fits standard chains and hoops, letting you turn a single piece into a pendant, drop earring, bag charm, or layered anklet accent.

Absolutely! Personalised charm stacks are trending again. 2025 accessory reports list charm bracelets among the year’s must-have pieces, driven by the rise of meaningful, story-telling jewellery. (Source: Southernliving)

Yes, minimalist and mixed-metal charm bracelets top 2025 jewellery trend lists. Fashion editors highlight dainty charm chains and layered bangles as key looks this year, keeping the category firmly on-trend. (Sources: SpiraJewels Realsimple)

Charm bracelets have been popular for centuries and never truly vanish. From Queen Victoria’s gem-set chains to mid-20th-century sweetheart bracelets and today’s personalised stacks, charm jewellery cycles back every decade because storytelling through jewellery never goes out of style.

Solid gold charms can last for generations. Gold does not rust or tarnish, so with basic care - occasional polishing and secure storage - charms often become heirlooms passed down within families.

It’s safe for solid gold, but not ideal for gold-plated pieces. Pure or 9ct–18ct gold isn’t harmed by clean water; however, soaps, shampoos, and chlorine can dull the finish over time. Plated charms may lose their coating faster when exposed to hot water and detergents.

Yes, but rinse them afterward. Perspiration is mildly acidic, which can leave a film and reduce shine. A quick rinse and gentle dry keeps the polish bright and prevents build-up under stones or inside engravings.

They combine precious metal value with skilled craftsmanship. You’re paying for the intrinsic cost of gold, plus design, finishing, and collectible status / limited availability.

Yes - sales have risen with the personalised jewellery boom. Online searches and social platforms show growing interest, and many big jewellers now run “charm bar” experiences where shoppers curate bracelets in-store or online.

5–9 charms give a balanced look on an average 19 cm chain. Space each charm a link or two apart; too many pieces can tangle, while too few may look sparse. Add in stages so the bracelet remains comfortable as your collection grows.

Use a jump ring, split ring or link lock. For jump rings; open the ring sideways, slip it through the chain link, then close. don't pull jump rings apart front-to-back, as that it distorts the metal. For split rings; these work like mini key chains - feed the charm onto the bracelet like adding a new key to your set. For link locks; use pliers to gently pry open the link lock, feed it through the chain, and use the locking mechanism to permanently attach.

Yes - most charms double as pendants. A standard bail or jump ring slides onto chains up to ~3 mm thick; heavier charms pair well with sturdier curb or rope chains for balance.

Definitely - small charms create interchangeable drops. Hook-style hoops and huggies with a 1–2 mm wire allow you to slide charms on and off, giving instant variety to your earring wardrobe.

Yes - there’s no biblical rule against them. Christian wearers often choose charms like crosses, doves, or verses to express faith; as with any jewellery, the meaning lies in personal intent rather than the object itself.

Measure your wrist and add 2 cm (¾″) for a comfortable drape. Wrap a flexible tape around the wrist bone; a charm bracelet needs extra room for charm bulk and movement, so size up slightly compared with a snug bangle fit.

Most are lost-wax cast, then hand-polished. A wax model is carved or 3-D-printed, encased in plaster, then melted out to form a mold. Molten gold is poured in, the casting is cooled, sprues removed, surfaces filed, polished, and fitted with a jump ring.

Wholesalers and suppliers like Ore Metals offer ready-made gold charms in 9ct, 18ct and 24ct gold, suitable for jewellery makers, artisans, and custom projects. You can also work with the Ore Metals team to reproduce original designs in small production runs. Always verify metal purity stamps and check seller reviews to ensure quality and trustworthiness.

Sleek symbols like anchors, weapons, and initials in heavier gauges. Men’s charm trends favour robust shapes (axes, nautical motifs) in oxidised or matte gold, often paired with leather cords or wider curb chains for a bold, masculine aesthetic.

Answer richtext

Explore local jewellers, boutique online brands, Australian marketplaces - and trusted specialists like Ore Metals. Sydney and Melbourne’s jewellery quarters feature specialist gold charm dealers, while nationwide platforms such as Etsy AU and independent studio web-shops offer handcrafted options with verified carat markings. Ore Metals also provides 9ct, 18ct and 24ct pure gold charms, catering to both jewellery makers and collectors with a focus on craftsmanship and authenticity.

Charms that balance personal meaning with durable design. Choose solid gold or silver and secure bails so the bracelet sits comfortably. Popular picks include initials, animals, ocean themed, travel mementos, and miniature hobbies.

Yes. Pandora Moments snake chain bracelets typically have a width of 3mm. The "Essence" collection has a thinner chain, with a diameter of approximately 1.5mm

Pendants are generally designed for necklaces; charms are usually smaller for bracelets but also work well as necklace pendant, earing dangles and anklet charms. Pendants often have a larger bail and front-facing orientation, whereas charms are lighter, may be double-sided, and hang from side-mounted rings to sit neatly on wrist chains.

Tiffany & Co.’s sterling heart-tag charm bracelet. Introduced in 1889 and still sold today, the classic link chain with a heart tag engraved “Return to Tiffany” became a global icon of charm jewellery.

Yes - just slide the jump ring onto a chain. Ore Metals' charms have jump rings big enough for standard 1–4 mm chains. Heavier pieces may need a larger bail soldered on for better balance. Reach out to the team for any customization requirements.

An amulet is a pendant believed to offer protection or luck. While every amulet is technically a pendant (worn on a chain), not every pendant carries symbolic or protective meaning; amulets add a spiritual or talismanic purpose to the jewellery.

Platinum is superior for durability and purity, while gold wins on colour choice and cost.

Platinum is denser and harder (about 4 – 4.5 on the Mohs scale versus gold’s 2.5 – 3), is usually 95 % pure, naturally hypoallergenic, and roughly 30 times rarer - traits that give it excellent wear resistance and secure stone settings.

Gold, alloyed to 14ct or 18ct, is lighter on the wrist, markedly less expensive, and available in yellow, white, and rose shades that never occur in platinum.

Because platinum develops a patina and costs more to buy and resize, many shoppers still choose gold for its affordability and aesthetic range.

So “better” depends on whether you prioritise strength and low maintenance (platinum) or price and style versatility (gold).