Charm Bracelet History

Charm bracelets date back many thousands of years, the materials and designs have changed, but the concept itself has never gone out of style.

Charm bracelets initially had a religious function and has been dated back to the prehistoric era. According to Elizabeth Florence, president of the Jewelry Information Center, "The first charm bracelets were probably worn by the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians and Hittites from 500 to 400 B.C. Those charms were made of lapis lazuli, rock crystal and other gems and were inscribed with small designs, such as figures of gods, man and animals. They were immediately associated with special powers."


As time went by, charm bracelets lost their spiritual functions and became more of a fashion jewelry. The 1890's saw a regeneration of charms, all the more in Victorian England, where chichi and intricate jewelry was in vogue. Queen Victoria helped popularize the trend by wearing a charm bracelet of small lockets holding family portraits.

World War II caused another boost of charm bracelets in America in the 1940's and 1950's. Soldiers stationed overseas picked up charms as souvenirs in the European towns they visited and brought them back to the states for wives and girlfriends. The charm bracelet fashion trend continued even after the war.

Charm bracelets still remain a popular jewelry item to collect. Popular charm themes include zodiac signs, birthstone, travel, sports, religion, and family keepsakes. Many mothers start a charm bracelet for their daughters when they are children, so the charm bracelet can grow along with them to reflect hobbies and personal experiences. They are often passed down from generation to generation.