A bell charm rings with more meaning than almost any other small object. It stands for celebration, announcements, protection and, thanks to one much-loved film, angels earning their wings.
Celebration first: Bells mark the moments communities share. Church bells peal for weddings, ring in the new year and, in Britain, have announced coronations, victories and homecomings for centuries. To give someone a bell is to say their news deserves ringing out.
Protection and old folklore: Long before the wedding peal, bells were rung to keep harm away. Winter festivals used noise, including bells, to scare off evil spirits in the dark months, a tradition that still echoes in the jingle of sleigh bells at Christmas.
Every time a bell rings: In Frank Capra's 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life, little Zuzu Bailey delivers the line that changed bells forever: every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings. There is no evidence the saying existed before the film, yet it has become part of Christmas itself, and it gives the bell charm a gentle association with guardian angels and people watching over us.
What the bell charm represents
Worn on a bracelet or necklace, a bell charm celebrates good news, offers a little symbolic protection, or quietly remembers someone loved and lost, an angel of your own. Ringing the bell in a cancer center marks the end of chemotherapy or radiation treatment, celebrating a major milestone in their treatment. A tradition started in 1996 at the MD Anderson Cancer Center when a Navy veteran hung a brass bell to celebrate his final radiation treatment.
Who the bell charm suits
It makes a lovely gift for a Christmas film devotee, a church bell-ringer or handbell player, a musician, or anyone with an engagement, a graduation or a new arrival worth announcing. It is also a tender remembrance gift.
The design behind the bell charm
The Lily Charmed bell charm is made from recycled 925 sterling silver with a tarnish-resistant rhodium plating, so it keeps its bright finish through everyday wear. The hinged clasp fits Pandora bracelets and most charm carriers, and the rounded bell shape reads clearly even at charm size.
How to wear it
At Christmas, pair the bell with our robin charm or angel wings charm for a properly festive stack. For a remembrance piece, wear it alone on a simple chain, close to the heart. For a musician, add a musical note or instrument charm alongside it.
