4 Ways to Use Charms for Easy Jewelry Designs

Whether you’ve been a professional jewelry maker for a while now or are a hobbyist getting ready to open your first shop on Etsy, creating unique, wearable designs is no simple task, even if you’re using wholesale charms for your pieces. And coming up with truly great ideas that will be both beautiful and practical for everyday while selling well within your target market? Well, that’s something even harder yet. 

Are you struggling through this yourself right now? Rest assured that you don’t have to sit idly by while working through it all in the back of your head. Perhaps what you need instead is just a little inspiration, and we can definitely help out there. 

Want to hear more and hopefully find a few ideas that will pique your (and your potential customers’!) interest? Keep reading below for a brief introductory guide to using jewelry charms. With four different jewelry suggestions, something here is bound to charm you and become the basis for your next latest and greatest accessory design.

1. Pendant Necklaces

Among the very first accessories that most any jewelry creator makes, necklaces are super simple and easy to put together. Truly, all you need here is a type of cord or chain that you like, a closure or clasp of some sort, and you’re good to go. This makes it fantastic for beginners or long-time crafters who don’t have a lot of time on their hands. 

But there are ways to turn necklaces into something more appealing for customers, friends, and family without necessitating a whole bunch of technical know-how or extra time: add a charm! With a charm attached, you can elevate even a plain chain into a sophisticated statement piece that someone will love for years to come. Beads, wire-wrapping, fabric, or other design elements can be wonderful additions, too, helping your charm stand out further.

Of course, you’ll need to first figure out the kind of jewelry charm you want to add. Not quite sure on this front? Celestial charms are particularly popular right now in 2022, so why not use one of our crescent moon charms to create a pendant necklace that will really make a customer’s night (or day)? 

Need some pointers about how to add a charm to a necklace? Check out our blog about necklace making!

2. Classic Charm Bracelets

Wholesale charms might make for an exceptional no-fuss pendant necklace. Still, an even more obvious jewelry option will utilize their full potential, and that’s a classic charm bracelet. 

An oldie but a goodie, charm bracelets allow for a lot of personality and can be made either as busy or as basic as you want them to be. On top of this, they also allow customers more personalization options since additions can easily be made, colors and sizes can be mixed and matched, and current charms can quickly be swapped for others. The possibilities are essentially endless, and everyone loves a bit of versatility.

A classic charm bracelet is also fairly straightforward to make. Simply take a length of open link chain, install a clasp with some needle nose pliers, and use jump rings to attach your charms to the bracelet itself. Be sure to measure everything out first, though. Charm bracelets are supposed to be a little loose. Factor this into your sizing and you’ll get a far better look in the end.

3. Hook Earrings

When it comes to jewelry, some folks stick with the classic, whereas others will desire completely different － wanting to wear something flashy and new and different to distinguish themselves from the crowd. These two polar opposites don’t share a lot of overlap, but earrings manage to make the cut.

This is because earrings are somehow simultaneously subtle and standout. They offer a broad appeal regardless of one’s accessorizing preferences and loudly speak to who a person is without needing to scream it. They’re a brilliant addition to any accessory catalog because of this, but most newbies are nervous about venturing into this jewelry category when they’re not familiar.

If that’s you, no worries. You can actually use charms here, as well, and it’s not at all complicated. The most straightforward way to do this is by purchasing some hook earrings in bulk and then attaching your charms’ jump rings to the built-in loop. See － not so hard! You can even find post-earrings or hoops that were made to have charms attached should you want more variety. 

4. Repurposed Charm Rings

There’s something to be said for simplicity. But for those of you who think you’re ready to take on something a little more challenging and hands-on, then look no further than repurposed charm rings. Essentially, exactly what it says on the tin, these are rings that use charms rather than gemstones to generate visual interest, although there are several ways you can go about this.

The first way is by treating the ring as a miniature charm bracelet, attaching charms so they dangle onto the finger. It’s difficult to find a ready-made ring that allows for this, so it is recommended to make your own from scratch.

You can do as such by forming a stretch of your choice of wire － 20 gauge works nicely － into an open ring shape then bending the ends into loops where you can attach your chosen jewelry charms. Pretty, elegant, and delicate, this looks great paired with charm options like our Cubic Zirconia Charms or Heart Charms!

A second, more advanced option is to actually affix a charm either on top of a plain metal ring (similar to how a diamond might sit) or between the ends of an open wire ring, like mentioned prior. You’ll need some soldering skills and an eye for detail for the former, since you’re dealing with two rather small pieces of metal. But if you’re feeling brave and are able to have a little patience, the result is more than worth the effort.