Stitched Bear Head Charm - Gold Stainless Steel Enamel - 12x16mm

Stitched Bear Head Charm - A Plush Toy, Rendered in Gold

Not a whole bear this time - just the face, filled to the edges of the charm. The head is domed in polished gold-tone stainless steel at 12.2mm wide, 15.5mm tall and 4.6mm deep, weighing 4.11g, with two round ears at the top corners and a soft matte muzzle. Small black enamel eyes and a deep enamel snout give it an actual expression, which is the hard part of any face this size.

The detail that makes it is the stitching. A line of short engraved dashes runs right around the outer edge and across the top of the head, exactly like the seam on a sewn soft toy - so the charm reads as a teddy that was made rather than cast. It is a quieter piece than our crystal-set bears and a warmer one than the plain gold teddies, and cropping to the face gives it more presence than a full-body charm of the same size. A good anchor for a JewelBuild™ stack, or a small pendant on its own.

FAQs

1. Why just the head rather than the whole bear?
Because at charm scale a face reads from further away. A full-body bear at 15mm has to fit a head, arms, legs and feet into the same space, so every feature shrinks; crop to the head and the eyes and muzzle get the room they need to carry an expression.

2. What are the stitch marks?
Engraved dashes cut into the steel around the outer edge and over the crown, imitating the seam of a sewn plush toy. They are cut into the metal rather than printed, so they will not wear away.

3. Is the enamel durable?
Yes - enamel is fired or filled into recesses in the metal, so unlike a glued stone there is nothing to fall out. It can chip if you knock it hard against something, which is the one thing worth avoiding.

4. It reacts slightly to a magnet - is that a problem?
No. Cast stainless steel normally contains a small amount of ferrite, deliberately, because it stops the metal cracking as it solidifies - that is what a magnet finds. Copper and brass are entirely non-magnetic, so a magnetic response actually rules them out. Full explanation in Is Magnetic Steel Jewellery Fake?.

5. What does a bear charm mean?
Bears carry strength and protection in most traditions, and comfort in nearly all of them - the guardian and the soft toy at once. Explore the meanings behind our motifs at JewelMotif™.

6. Is it suitable as a gift?
Very - the face is instantly likeable, there is no size guessing, and it suits a child or an adult equally. Every order arrives gift-ready - see JewelGift™.

7. How do I care for the enamel?
The steel body is hypoallergenic and tarnish-resistant, and enamel is far more robust than a set crystal - it will not work loose. It can chip on a hard knock, though, and strong solvents dull its gloss, so avoid ultrasonic cleaners and wipe with a soft dry cloth. Full guidance at our Steel Care Card and the JewelCare™ hub.

How to Style the Stitched Bear Head

Faces work best given a little space, so keep the charms either side of it plain and let the expression be the thing people notice. It pairs naturally with the Stitched Bunny Head as a two-animal set, which is a good way to build a bracelet with a story rather than a theme. Browse the whole MiniCharm™ range, or start your stack at JewelBuild™.