How To Attach Charms To Bracelet

At some point you realise that you need to know how to attach charms to bracelet. There are a number of methods or see the bottom of the page for attaching the Italian style charms.

First - the easiest and the most expensive way! Take both the charm bracelet and the charm to a jeweler and he will attach it for you without you needing to understand a single thing about the process.

Second - do it yourself. It is perfectly simple, although time consuming to start with, to attach charms to bracelet yourself. It depends on the existing attachments as to how you would go about it.

Many charms come with what is called a "lobster claw". This makes it very easy to connect charms to either a bracelet, anklet or chain. As well, it is easy to change your charms around.

If your charm has a lobster claw it will invariably say so in the advertising. Read places like the "product description".

Here's a typical product description - This lovely 14k gold diamond turtle charm makes a fine addition to your collection. Available in your choice of white or yellow gold, it has a polished head, feet, and tail, and a beautifully detailed shell accented with genuine diamonds (1/10 cttw). A fancy lobster claw clasp makes it easy to attach to a bracelet or chain.

And here's a picture of the charm that description applies to. You can see part of the lobster claw attachment protruding at left of the ring.

Charms can also be attached by using a "jump ring". Charms always have either a hole or a ring and the jump ring is slipped through this hole. Jump rings come in different sizes and different metals to match with the color and thickness of your charm bracelet.

3 Steps To Attach Charms To Bracelet

You need your jump ring and a small pair of flat-nose pliers to join charms. It is easiest to practise this on a charm bracelet that has large links on it until you have the hang of it.

First step - hold the jump-ring in one hand and the pliers in the other. Gently pinch one side of the jump ring with the pliers while still holding the other side firmly between your thumb and forefinger. Gently push or twist the pliers to open the jump ring up enough to slide it through the hole of the charm so that the charm dangles on the jump ring.

Second step - holding your bracelet in one hand, find a link in the bracelet that the jump ring can slide through. If your charm bracelet is very fine then you will need a fine jump link (try a 3mm.) Slide the jump ring through the link in the bracelet where you want the charm to be.

Third step - hold onto the jump ring and let the chain dangle next to the charm. Again pinch one side of the jump ring between your thumb and forefinger and grip the other side with the pliers. Using the pliers, gently pull the wire back so that it meets up with the other end of the jump ring. If you are left with a slight gap squeeze the jump ring gently from the other side to push the two ends together.

Practise on a large linked charm bracelet and you will soon be able to do it quite quickly. This really is one of those skills where practise makes perfect!

Buy Equipment To Attach Charms To Bracelet

3mm is very fine, 5 or 6 mm is "average" size. For the "charm addict" (like me) it is best to have several different sizes and metal types on hand so that you can link any charm to any bracelet depending on what you want.

Jewelers Flat Nose Pliers

Attach Italian Style Charms

If you've just bought one of the Italian style charm bracelets such as Pugster then here are instructions on how to attach Italian charms.