In 2018, my house in London was broken into and quite a few things were stolen. At the time, these losses conjoined into one upsetting blur – but over the years I stopped caring about most of them: the laptops and iPads have long been replaced, as have my bike and radio, and the clothes would no longer be particularly fashionable even if they were still hanging in my wardrobe.
Contemporary designers recognise what my godmother knew all those years ago: that a charm bracelet or necklace is rarely just an accessory; instead, if it is done right, it becomes a nod in jewel form to the memories and identities we choose to carry with us.
“Charm jewellery taps into a sense of nostalgia, but in a way that feels very relevant right now,” says Liberty jewellery buying manager Ruby Beales. “People are increasingly drawn to pieces that hold emotional value – something that marks a moment, celebrates a milestone, or reflects their identity. After a period of minimalism, there’s a renewed desire for jewellery with storytelling and sentiment. Charms offer that beautifully. They allow for self-expression and they evolve with you. It’s jewellery you can truly live in.”
Designers have taken note. Some of the most interesting jewellery releases of the last year have come in the form of charm collections, and often these are mix-and-matchable, covering the entire spectrum from the amusing to the meaningful.
“I think people are craving jewellery that feels personal and expressive,” says jewellery designer Roxanne First. “There’s a desire for pieces that say something – about identity, memory, connection. Charm jewellery sits perfectly in that space: elevated, nostalgic and really personal. It allows you to create something completely unique to you, and that level of emotional resonance is very much what today’s customer is looking for.”
