Dating back to the Neolithic era, bone, shell, and wood, among other everyday materials, adorned leather bracelets as charms and trinkets in this earliest instance of personal adornment. Ancient Egypt saw the transformation of charms into potent symbols of protection and good fortune. Animal and symbolic objects evolved into amulets and talismans, believed by many to ward off evil and offer blessings on the wearer.
But it was the Roman Empire that ushered in a new era for charms, as they became identifiers of individuality. Christians, in particular, wore ichthys, or fish charms to recognize fellow believers. As centuries passed, charms took on an even-greater significance during the Victorian era. Queen Victoria’s endorsement of golden locket charms became personal emblems of status and sentimentality among Europe’s elite, often containing portraits or locks of hair from loved ones. It could also be said that chatelaine bags of the time period served as a fanciful accessory that influenced the nature of decorated and over-the-top bag charms of today. As for its latest iteration in the 20th century, charm jewelry expanded to decorating purses, but more so, became storytellers when showing the places we’ve traveled and marking each unforgettable event in our lives.
