I got a permanent bracelet to 'last forever' using H Samuel's new service

The concept of coordinating your jewellery with a close friend, sibling, or parent is not new, harking back to the era of woven friendship bracelets. However, what if there was a more permanent option? The latest jewellery trend has landed at H Samuel, where they will permanently weld chains onto your wrist.

A delicately assembled piece of jewellery that is intricately welded together, and intended to be worn forever. It's part of the jeweller's recent Perfect Weld pop-up now available across four stores in the UK - in Liverpool, Birmingham, Essex and Newcastle.

The store provides a selection of high-quality sterling silver, filled gold, or 9ct yellow, white or rose gold bracelets, all of which can be customised with your preferred charms. As the trend of welded jewellery soars on social media, with rival brand Astrid & Miyu being another firm favourite, I was invited to try out H Samuel's own take on it, at their Liverpool One location.

And who better to invite to get supposed 'lifetime lasting' chains than my twin sister. We've both always had an affinity for jewellery, having been raised by a parent in the industry. We prefer pieces that are durable, won't tarnish or break after a couple of wears.

Given that these chains are designed to be worn continuously, my initial thought was the importance of selecting something that truly suits you. The process involves more than just selecting your preferred chain style and material (I chose a flat yellow gold filled chain); the fit is equally crucial. After we both opted for 'long and filled' chains, we moved on to the comfort factor, as first shared in The Liverpool Echo.

A skilled welder ensures a comfortable fit before fusing the piece. The process kicks off with the initial fitting of the chain loop, which is the only part of the bracelet that gets welded together.

So, if you ever need to remove it, this is where you'd cut. The chain loop is first welded to secure the chain, a procedure that takes mere seconds and serves as a permanent alternative to the traditional closing clasp. To protect me from any stray sparks, the welder provided me with protective sunglasses and placed a small leather strip between the chain and my skin.

The final step was to attach my chosen charm - an 'L' for my sister Lucy's initial. Unsurprisingly, considering we were there for matching bracelets, she chose an 'H' for my name, Harriet, in the 9ct 'Mini Initial'. You can add as many or as few charms as you like, including birthstone gems, starting at £40 each.

The charm is securely fused onto the chain, ensuring its permanence. The selected 14/20 gold-filled chains and one mini initial charm amounted to £90 each.

There's also an option for a higher quality 9ct chain, starting just over £100 each, although the gold-filled ones still surpass the quality of gold-plated.

The charm's simplicity is appealing, as it doesn't feature an overly conspicuous letter. Instead, the initial subtly complements the plain gold chain and can be stacked with other bracelets due to its small size.

After our bracelets were completed, we were guided through a few aftercare steps to maintain the chains' condition. Small precautions like avoiding excessive perfume on the chain and harsh chemicals that could weaken the welding are recommended.

From start to finish, the process was seamless, from choosing the band to the charms and getting the right fit. It added a special touch. If you're looking to surprise a best friend, mum, sibling or any significant other, the in-store experience makes it as sentimental as the actual welded jewellery.

H Samuel's pop-up has seen enormous demand since its inception, leading to a quick sell-out of the store's sterling silver chains. Store Manager Katy Leyland shared that it's been hugely popular among young adults, teens, and particularly mother-daughter duos.

As the pop-up draws to a close, there are hopes that the trial will be extended. The Liverpool Store has even hinted at potentially hosting 'Perm and Prosecco' evenings, where the entire store would open after work hours to cater for the welded trend.

However, confirmation of this in Liverpool is yet to be announced. For those seeking permanent jewellery elsewhere, Astrid and Miyu offer a welded service, currently with a 15% discount. Thorpe and Brown also have a permanent range. For smaller, intricate pieces that aren't welded, John Lewis' counter could be a suitable option.