How to Make a Charm Bracelet: A Step-by-Step Tutorial

One of my friends has the most beautiful charm bracelet that she inherited from her mother. Each time she wears it, I love looking through each and every charm while she tells me the story behind each one. Lately, every single website has charm bracelets and necklaces on their new arrivals page, but nothing really speaks to me. So I decided to make one. I am so excited to share my step-by-step tutorial with you. The best part? This is a perfect project for beginner jewelry makers. Plus, this is a great gift idea for everyone on your list.

Materials Needed:

Chain: You can choose any kind of chain you want, but you will need to make sure that the links are big enough to accommodate the jump rings.
Unique Charms: You can collect or create charms. You can make gemstone or pearl charms simply by adding a ball pin. However, I purchased all of these charms on Amazon and was blown away by the quality and price. My daughter did a charm necklace workshop for her birthday and all of the girls loved these fruit charms.
Jump Rings: Small metal rings that are used to attach charms to the bracelet chain. You will want the kind of jump rings that have a split in them so that you can open and close them. Otherwise you will need to learn to solder and that is a more difficult and involved process. You'll want to use a 5-8 mm jump ring depending on the link size of your chain. The only thing to keep in mind is whether or not the ring fits into the links of the bracelet.
Jewelry Flat Nose or needle nose Pliers: You will need two pairs of flat nosed jewelry pliers. These are much different than hardware store pliers because they are narrow enough to grab onto the closed jump rings.
Clasps: If you are using a chain, you will need a clasp (such as a lobster clasp or toggle clasp) to secure the bracelet.
Wire and Chain Cutter aka jewelry nippers: You'll want to invest in quality nippers in order to cut through the chain. Alternatively, I have found that toe nail clippers also work great when starting out.
Bead board (optional): I like to have one of these on hand to lay out your charms. However, it is not necessary, but it helps you to keep organized when doing this kind of work.

Step 1: Measure your wrist or your neck

The first step in creating your jewelry is to measure before you cut the chain. Any easy way to do this is to grab a piece of string and wrap it around your wrist to determine the size. You can also use a store bought finished chain if you don't want to worry about adding clasps.

Step 2: Plan Your Design

Before you start attaching charms, take a moment to plan your design. Charm bracelets are a unique reflection of the person who wears them. Decide if you want to make them on a beaded bracelet using a seed bead variety or on chain. The trend lately is to make them on chain, but you do you!!

Choose the charms you want to use - you can start with a few and then build from there or you can start with a bunch. I like to build on the designs. So far I love adding religious symbols, flowers, travel charms and evil eyes. They tell a story about my travels to St. Lucia, the Dominican Republic, the Cayman Islands and the other U.S. outlying islands I've been to. I collect the charms everywhere I go. This is the fun part!
Layout each charm in the order you will want them to go. Lay the chain down and play around with how you would like to space them.

Step 3: Make the bracelet or necklace

Now comes the fun part - let's put it all together. The first thing you will want to do is to add the jump rings. You can do this as you go. Do not do this step in advance because the jump rings will still be open and will likely fall apart. Working with jump rings is easy, as long as you know how to use them properly.

Add the jump rings:

Jump rings are essential for attaching charms to the bracelet. Here’s how to do it:

Open a Jump Ring: Hold your jump rings using both sets of pliers. Hold them completely parallel. I like to think of the pliers as a good alternative to using hands. My hands are too big so the pliers are able to do the work for me. Hold them both and rotate one wrist away from you to open up the jump ring. Continue to hold the jump ring with one set of pliers (likely the set that are in your more dominant hand.
Attach a Charm: Find the loop on your charm and slip it onto the jump ring while it is open.

Add the charm to the chain:

Find the halfway point in your chain: Fold the chain in half to find the middle. Next, place your jump ring/charm combo onto the chain.
Close the Jump Ring: Hold the jump ring with both hands again and now you will keep one steady and rotate your wrist back towards you. You should hear a click. Sometimes it is necessary to go back and forth a few times to close the ring properly. The more you practice, the better the outcome.

Repeat this process for each charm you want to add to the bracelet. You will either want to measure the chain each time or count the chain link. Also, check to make sure that the ends of the jump ring are secure and that each charm is facing the right direction.

Add the clasp

Attach Clasp to Ends: You can either use an S clasp which is fast and easy or you can use a lobster clasp. If you go the second route, you will need to use a jump ring or some wire. If you use wire, you might also need a pair of round nose pliers. Jump rings are much easier in my experience.
Add another jump ring: Add a jump ring to the other side of the finished bracelet. You can also just have the clasp attached directly to the chain, but the jump ring will make it look more polished. However, I have found that attaching the clasp to the chain is much more secure because the jump rings have a split in them and they can open over time.

Step 7: Enjoy Your Bracelet or Necklace!

Once you have finished making your bracelet, experiment making some more personalized charm bracelets for friends and family. One of my friends lives in South Africa and every time she comes to visit me, she brings me a new charm. You can start collecting your own charms into a specific color scheme or you can add some beaded components or tassels to give it a bit more fun.

Tips for Success:

Before starting, do as much research as possible. I have always found that when I am starting something new, it is best to watch videos first to learn how. When making your own bracelet, be sure to check out my video tutorial over on Instagram!

Buy quality charms: while online sites in the United States offer free shipping, sometimes it is better to make cool new charm bracelets by sourcing your own cool charms. I found one at an estate sale with rhinestone rondelles and it is by far my favorite.
Do not cheap out on the pliers: chain nose pliers and flat nose are the way to go.
Follow the step-by-step instructions for the best outcome.

The best way to create your very own new product (your own charm bracelet), is to practice and collect cool things. Here are some ideas for charms and embellishments:

happy charm
good luck symbols (think about four leaf clovers, horseshoes, lucky stars, etc...
ocean symbols (seashells, lobster claw, sailboat, etc
Travel (eiffel tower, symbols of the places you've traveled. I have a pura vida charm from Costa Rica.
Add bead caps to pearls and gemstones
Symbols of love: heart charm, bow and arrow

Hopefully you've enjoyed this step by step guide. Let me know if you have any questions!

If you enjoyed making this charm bracelet, you’ll love making these rhinestone heart earrings!

How to Make a Charm Bracelet: A Step-by-Step Tutorial