I didn’t grow up in a jewelry family. I come from the practical people of the Midwest who are more likely to be sent 50 pounds of beef for the freezer at Christmas than to pass on a family heirloom. But I’ve always been fascinated by the everyday jewelry that people wear, ever since I started wearing my father’s wedding ring after his death.
A charm necklace is a great place to start, if you’re intrigued by jewelry that becomes a second skin. It’s not burdened with romantic notions like rings can be, and it’s a little easier to wear than a bracelet.
I made mine almost four years ago, borrowing a Tiffany pendant my dad’s boss gave me for my high school graduation and putting it on a gold chain I bought at a church garage sale with my best friend. My husband gave me a vintage charm from Etsy with our initials engraved on it after our first year of dating, which I added to my pile. Last year, I ran through another vintage Etsy charm, a red-tipped game of luck, when I became my own boss.
Building a charm necklace doubles as an act of service. My little sister, my constant phone call and reluctant business partner, asked for one of her own last year. I started with the chain, which I always suggest doing, being careful to find a clasp that could accommodate charms of many sizes.
Then came the fun part. What makes this person you love so damn? I bought an S for his first initial. A vintage corn ear for our childhood in Iowa. An Aquarius charm for our shared astrological sign. A bright white pearl for optimism that always seems to dig me out. A vintage blue bow for his favorite color and his sister’s nickname, Bowie.
Etsy is my favorite place to buy pre-loved charms. Think about non-obvious loves or interests that the person you are buying might have. And the next time you’re traveling or in an old-fashioned mall, scan the jewelry trays often locked behind glass. As for charm length, take note of how long the person in question typically wears their necklaces and does the same. Don’t be intimidated either. You could give a simple, elegant chain as a start and build a stack over birthdays and holidays to come.
My end result, for my sister, was a pile of my unspoken adoration. I watched with delight as he opened his gift during a Christmas party. The best part was seeing her smile with me, understanding the secret feeling behind each charm, no explanation needed.
Erika Veurink is a writer and consultant living in Brooklyn by way of Iowa. She writes the fashion newsletter Long Live and is the founder of EV Salon, where IRL online hookups happen.
Thoughts? Would you make your own charm necklace? I love this and these!
PS Erika’s outfit week, and an ode to signet rings.
