Fashion Jewelry Charm Bracelets

An enduring fashion statement, the charm bracelet has undergone a multitude of changes throughout history. Going back to ancient times, people adorned and personalized jewelry with meaningful artifacts. For lovers of costume jewelry bracelets, today’s antique and designer fashion charm bracelets continue to evolve with different trends.

Charm bracelets became extremely popular in the 19th century when jewelry was often infused with symbolism. Queen Victoria popularized wearing charm bracelets and frequently gave them as gifts. (No single period has seen such a diverse group of jewelry attributed to it than the Victorian era.) One of her favorite charm bracelets had enamel hearts representing each of her children while another was made as a sentimental mourning piece in memory of her husband, Prince Albert. The heartbroken Queen donned black clothing at this time, and her taste in jewelry reflected her deep sorrow as well. This period is most often associated with mourning jewelry. While it first came into fashion during the Georgian period, mourning jewelry had a resurgence during this time.

Celebrated American luxury house Tiffany Co. introduced their iconic charm bracelet in 1889, and since then, charm bracelets have been revived in different trend cycles. Many great fine jewelry houses have created charm bracelets that echo the unique identity of the house, such as Cartier and Van Cleef Arpels.

Costume, or fashion, jewelry is designed to accessorize with current fashions and typically made with inexpensive materials. Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, the founder of the internationally revered luxury house, loved costume jewelry but couldn’t resist designing jewelry with diamonds. Whether you’re seeking a playful vintage fashion charm bracelet or an accessory that exudes elegance and grace, the offerings on 1stDibs present something for every collection.