Before the smartphone, there was this. A chunky little rotary telephone in 10k yellow gold, its handset textured to look like coiled cord and resting in the cradle, the dial pierced with finger holes. Four small pink stones and two blue ones are prong set on either side of the handset, like a switchboard lit up with incoming calls. A jump ring at the top takes a chain or charm bracelet.

Telephone charms were a staple of mid-century charm bracelets, often given to mark a first job, a long-distance romance or a teenager's notorious hours on the line.

The Details

• Era: Mid-20th century
• Metal: 10k yellow gold
• Stones: Four pink stones described as spinel and two blue stones described as quartz (untested)
• Marks: Stamped "10K" on the base
• Measurements: 20 x 18.5 x 8.35 mm (0.8 x 0.75 x 0.33 in.)
• Weight: 4.37 grams (2.8 dwt)
• Condition: Good; scratches to the flat base.