Since the time of the Pharaohs men, women and even children have been wearing charms as amulets to protect them from evil spirits, or as magical charms for good fortune and riches. Using charms attached to bracelets is thought to have begun in ancient Egypt where the people used charms as symbols of their devotion and to take with them to the afterlife in order that the gods would name them and give them their correct rank.

During the early days of Christianity men and women carried a charm fashioned as a fish to recognize one another. During the Dark Ages, charms were used for religious and political identification and to indicate the family of the bearer. In the Middle Ages, knights carried charms to shield them in combat and the common people also wore charms. All through the Renaissance the use of charms declined, mainly by the richer classes, as people became better educated and much less likely to believe in superstitions. However the less educated poorer people still believed in charms as protection against malevolence and to bring them luck.

The wearing of charms and particularly charm bracelets was rejuvenated in the UK by Queen Victoria who wore a gold charm bracelet with lockets which contained pictures of her family. This had a great influence on the wearing of charm bracelets by the people who began to wear charms, not as talismans, but as ornamental objects. Lockets and family crests became the rage of the day. Subsequent to the conclusion of World War 2 there was a huge outburst of charm wearing as soldiers brought home gems and beads to their fiancees from far flung regions of the world. Craftsmen in the States picked up the fad and began to make charms and silver charm jewelry. Since then the wearing of charms and charm bracelets has continued to thrive.

Today a large assortment of necklaces, bracelets and earrings are available with bracelets being the most common. Silver and gold are commonly used though some people choose bracelets made from pearls or beads with gold or silver charms. Bracelets differ in price from under $100 to more than $1000 and are therefore within everyone's resources. There are a lot of kinds of religious charms representing saints and a considerable array of charms depicting objects and animals including dolphins, rabbits, cupids, ballerina shoes etc. One of the most admired are angel charms.

If you'd like to have a go at making your own charm bracelet watch the video below!