Some people collect spoons, others collect patches or postcards, and others collect beer steins. I don’t know when it began, but somewhere in my childhood, I started collecting German Shield Charms for a charm bracelet. These special little charms are all painted with a place name and then enameled. I fasten mine onto a silver bracelet that I enjoy wearing, especially when going to German Fests.
New towns, cities, and places were all opportunities to add a new charm to my arm. Some of the charms were gifts from friends and family, like the 1972 Munich Olympic charm (and I have no idea where the New Zealand charm came from)-others I bought for myself on childhood trips.
My German Shield Charm Bracelet Holds Memories
Wearing the bracelet is like wearing a memory. The tags represent places in Germany I’ve visited: Hamburg, Bayern, Siegen, Aachen, Schwartzwald, and Wuppertal. (Where did Virginia come from?) It used to be easy to find the charms in gift shops or at tourist kiosks.
My daughter loves to flip through the charms, admiring each one. She rubs the shields between her fingers and asks questions about the places on them. It’s like story time. The last time we were in Germany, I decided to start a German Shield charm bracelet for my little one and buy a few more for myself. At the time, we weren’t able to find them in the shops. But they were getting harder and harder to find. Maybe fashion has moved on.
We did find charms for Walking Sticks, though! Time to start a new collection!
Luckily, when we got home, I found the small charms online. And my daughter started a bracelet of her own.
German Shield Charms for Sale
I don’t see as many of these little charms in my travels as I once did. Luckily, they are available online. Don’t see the one you want… click through to search for more cities and towns!
intage Sterling Enamel Shield Travel Charms Germany, Insel Mainau, Garmisch, Idar Oberstein, Koln (Cologne), Berchtesgaden, Hannover+++
Vintage German Cities O to Z Travel Charms in 800 silver 1940s to 1950s Sold Separately @ 12 dollars each New Charms –1950s Travel Shield Charms German Towns / Landmarks All with Enamel All Solid Vintage Silver Either 925 Sterling or 800 European CHOICE OF 7Vintage Silver and Enamel European Country City Shield Travel Charms Germany, Hann AB, Monschau, Wiesbaden, Juren, Wassenberg, Oberammergau+Vintage Silver Germany Tourist Shield Charms, Old German Deutschland Coat Arms Flags, European Travel Birthplace Souvenir Bracelet Pendant
For a BIGGER selection, Click –> SHIELD CHARMS
Shield Charm Bracelets
Skip ahead to a perfect collection! These wonderful vintage bracelets are great for Germanfests!
800 SILVER GERMANY Travel Shield Charms On 835 Silver Bracelet Chain-Vintage Almost Sterling-Enamel-German Souvenir-Heraldic Heraldry CrestsVintage 835 Silver EURO Charm Bracelet 8 Travel Souvenir Enamel Shield Germany7 1/4” Silver Vintage Enamel Travel Shield Charm Bracelet With 15 Charms
I have a bracelet with 20 charms on it that I think you would like. Just wondering where I could find interest from someone looking to purchase my bracelet if you can help me I would appreciate it
how much you gonna sell it friend ?
I made one for my Mother after I made one for me. Probably over 20 years ago. Put on charms for all of the places we had been. I’m updating mine now and boy has the price gone up. When I made them I think most of the charms were $5 each or less. Postage was a lot less too. Now there are $16 and up and of course the postage has quadrupled as well. I just repaired hers, she lost a Florida charm and I had to find another. I’ve also purchased some charms to represent my most recent trip in 2012. Can’t seem to find one for Giengen but I do have a Steiff bear charm so that will have to do.
When I got back to the states in 2012 I did purchase quite a few shields for my walking stick. The stick did not go with me but it will be fun to have all of the places I have traveled represented on it. I suppose I should get around to putting them on as it has been a decade.
My mother had one and I was obsessed with it. I remember it had little clogs on it. When our home was foreclosed on, everything went into storage. Well….a lot had happened and my mother could not pay on the unit anymore. So EVERYTHING was sold or thrown away, including that precious bracelet. 🙁 I would do anything to find it or one like it. It so difficult and as years go by it becomes more and more expensive.
I’m so sorry to hear that.