A few weeks ago I got incredibly lucky and won a Valentine Trollbead from Mercy Jewellery, who have a vibrant and hopelessly enticing Facebook page to support their Cambridge jewellery shop. My Valentine bead arrived (in an impossible cute display box) and then I was asked if I would like to review a bracelet to go with it. Just a couple of days later, the rest of the ensemble below appeared in my hand (as if by magic!)
It’s been a little while since I’ve worn arm jewellery of any sort; after I had Freddie I wore quite a few bracelets to keep me close to him – an amber bracelet made from a teething bracelet that had been planned as a birth gift and two bead ones (in blue and rainbow) that I had bought years before and never really worn. They were my touchstones through the next year or so, something to keep close and fiddle with but of course, once Bene came along, they weren’t really suited to having on my arms while holding a baby.
In general I’m not a particularly ‘jewellery for the sake of pretty-ness’ person; I like my jewellery to mean something to me. I wear one of a couple of necklaces, both related to Freddie or tokens of remembrance and my wedding ring but very little else. But I’m also a bit of a ‘collector nerd’ which means that I have a massive need to log things I own if they can be added up to a set and I do like to hoard things. And I like being given gifts by my husband who really likes his gifting made easy!
This of course means that Trollbeads really appeal to me! 😆 (And possibly more importantly, also appeals to Max!)
The idea of gradually constructing a bracelet with beads bought to commemorate people or special occasions or given as love gifts from the people I care about is a win-win combination of perfection 🙂 Many of the beads have a ‘story’ attached to them, which adds to the delight of constructing a really meaningful piece of jewellery.
And look at the pretties! JUST LOOK!
The Mercy Jewellery shop in Cambridge has regular special event days where beads are made on site that are known as uniques – because of the special process involved in making Trollbeads no two are ever quite the same anyway but a unique is something a little extra that makes a bracelet entirely ‘yours’ and… well, unique! You can meet the bead makers, request a design and hunt down unusual or one off beads on one of the days and I highly recommend following the Mercy Jewellery Facebook page because they do fabulous competitions and special offers.
I fell in love with this shot – the colours, designs and variety made me want to race to Cambridge and buy my yearly earnings worth! I’m pretty sure my girls are going to be asking for these for this Christmas too, which will take a lot of the angst from present buying this year!
Trollbead jewellery pieces are bought separately – beads, chain and locks – so you are free to build exactly the piece of jewellery you want. The catch I have – the flower catch – feels strong and secure and has stood up to plenty of toddler wrestling over the last few weeks and I’m itching to add to the who piece with some of the silver spacer beads. There is plenty of opportunity to make it reflect your own style since there are sterling silver and leather chains and the newer ‘funky style’ X by Trollbeads.
Trollbeads have been around since 1976 (the first beads had a troll face partly thanks to their Danish heritage); they are special in the composable jewellery niche because the glass is particularly thick so it can’t be accidentally broken – the beads are actually hammer tested! – and the ‘old silver’ colour of the pieces comes from a decision to make them in a way that wouldn’t tarnish, so the jewellery will look the same year on year. The silver core of the beads is narrow to allow for more glass and a deeper colour, so they really do look gorgeous.
Positioned right in the centre of Cambridge, Mercy Jewellery is the first Trollbeads concept store in the UK and the go to place to find these fabulous beads. And when it looks as beautiful as this…
… I can definitely see it becoming one of my destinations when I have a day out to Cambridge! I’m very much hoping they’ll be inviting me down for a special buying day quite soon 😉 I can bring friends 😆
Disclosure: I was given a Trollbead gift bracelet but thoughts are my own.
I have never heard of Troll beads before. But they look so nice and would make a lovely gift xx