Charm or Pendant - What is the Difference?

Precious charms and pendants are very popular jewellery items for all ages, but do you know how to tell the difference between a pendant and a charm? 

Are you able to tell whether the unicorn or heart pictured are bracelet charms or pendants?

The terms are often used interchangeably but there are a few things to look for to help identify what is a charm and what is a pendant and how they should be worn.

 

 

What is a Charm?

In jewellery terms, a traditional charm is usually a small symbol in sterling silver or solid gold that can be attached to a chain or bracelet to tell a story of people, places, special events or important moments and passions in life.

There are several different sorts of charms these days.  Bead charms (or charms with large holes) became very popular a decade or more ago - think Pandora - but traditional charms that dangle from a bracelet have maintained popularity for centuries.

Oh My Giddy Aunt is proud to have one of Australia's largest ranges of solid 9ct gold or sterling silver charms, made in Australia!

Traditional charms usually have an open jump ring that is designed to be soldered closed to a bracelet chain by a jeweller. There are also a few charm attaching options that you can do yourself. Some charms, such as the 9ct gold Ankh charm pictured, have open jump rings that are quite thick and are strong enough to wear with care on a chain without soldering.

Charms are usually between 5mm and 20mm in size, and are usually worn on a bracelet around the wrist.

 

 

 

What is a Pendant?

The term Pendant is most often used to refer to a jewellery symbol or design that has been created to wear around the neck on a chain or necklace.

Pendants can be a lot larger than charms, but this isn't always the case. Fine, delicate, petite pendants are also very popular and many of these can be smaller than a traditional charm.  Pendants can range in size from just a few millimeters to 50mm or more!

Pendants are not only symbols or designs. Pendants can also include lockets, perfume bottles, magnifying glasses, harmony balls, guitar picks and just about anything you can think of that would look fantastic hanging on a chain, cord or leather around your neck.

Pendants are usually made with a bail, closed pendant loop, or fold-over pendant loop that enables the wearer to thread a chain through the top of the pendant, without the need to visit a jeweller for soldering.

Can You Turn a Charm Into a Pendant (or Vice Versa)?

The major difference between a charm and a pendant, apart from where it is worn (around the neck or wrist) is HOW it is worn (attached to a chain or with a chain threaded through). 

Pendants usually have soldered or closed loops at the top for a chain to thread through. Charms don't.  HOWEVER, it is quite easy to turn a charm into a pendant by soldering the existing jump ring closed, or by adding a bail, a split ring or a closed "link lock" jump ring.

To turn a pendant into a charm, you will usually need to remove the bail and add some other sort of charm attaching option, such as a split ring, closed link lock or a clip on clasp. In some cases a fine bracelet chain will thread through the bail of a pendant, but it may still look like a pendant rather than a traditional charm. 

You can find more helpful information on charm attaching options or pendant attachments here. 

Pendants may sometimes have a flat back so it sits flush against the chest, whereas charms may be 3D or fully rounded back and front... but this isn't always the case and some charms have flat backs and some pendants are fully rounded.

Charms and pendants are both beautiful ways to tell very personal stories about the wearer, or loved ones.  If you would like a little advice about turning a charm into a pendant, or a pendant into a charm, please just ask us!  We are always happy to help create meaningful jewellery that will help you tell the stories of your life.