Purse Charms and More

Design Idea N E 4 7 - Small light pink purse decorated with black leather flowers and a shiny, stiff metallic handle. Dangling from the purse is a charm with a golden heart and a pink pompom.

Pink Purse with Pompom Charm and Leather Flowers

Purse charms are on-trend: everything from beads, gemstones, feathers, fabric, stuffies, toys and more in an abundance of themes are being used to individualize bags, backpacks and purses. They’re seen everywhere from fashion runways and celebrity events to the backpacks of schoolchildren and the purses, briefcases and luggage of their parents.

Purse Charms Through History

More than just a fad, purse charms have been used since the beginning of recorded history. From early charms and talismans offering hoped-for blessings and protection, to symbols of religious or political affiliation, these ornaments have never gone out of style.

Sterling silver outline fish charm with the nose pointed up. There is a loop on the nose.

Sterling Silver Christian Fish

Silvery round container pendant with a loop on the top and black and golden flower and leaf designs on the front.

Gold-Finished Watertight Container Pendant

In Ancient Rome, boys wore bullae, small lockets with amulets inside for protection. Early Christians, in a trend that continues to this day, subtly displayed their faith with fish charms. In many regions of the world, charms were worn for protection and good luck.

Brass-colored key with large teeth facing left and the top of the key pointed to the right. The top of the key is swirly.

Antique Brass-Plated Key Charm

A shift occurred in the Middle Ages, when locks—and therefore keys—became more commonplace. From simple loops of cord to elaborate keychains, the need for keys signaled the genesis of the purse charm trend.

Also during the Medieval era, many people carried small items with them continually. Muslims carried verses from the Koran, prayers and astrological symbols. Christian pilgrims traveled with Bible verses, crosses and relics. Knights carried charms with prayers and religious symbols as well as small wax discs blessed by the pope which were through to offer protection.

Design Idea P A 3 V - Three purse charms each have three ovals of cord hanging down in a straight line. The middle oval is the smallest. Beads are string in a straight line that goes through all three ovals. At the bottom of each charm is a round flat naturally hued wood component with a name painted on it: Jack, Briar and Holly. The charm on the left has white cord and blue beads. The charm in the middle has brown cord and beige beads. The cord on the right has green cord and red and gold beads.

Personalized Wood Charms

Design Idea Q J 2 X - A round pendant has a black background and a gold footprint, with a circle of resin sealing the components in.

Resin Footprint Pendant

Design Idea N H 4 4 - Charm has a long length of silvery links adorned with light and dark pink and pale green gemstone chips. A silvery circle pendant has a photo of a young man in black and white.

Personalized Gemstone Charm

The death of Queen Victoria’s husband in 1861 began a lasting trend toward sentimental charms and objects. Popular pieces included lockets with the hair of a loved one and acrostic jewelry, in which gemstones were arrayed so that the first letter of each gemstone was used to spell a word like “love” or “dearest.” Read “Personalized Jewelry” for more ideas about designing with purposeful customization.

Six silk tassels tied with gold-hued tread. The colors are, from left to right, multicolored, light blue, green, brown, white and blue.

Multicolored Imitation Silk Tassels

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, carrying lucky charms like a special coin or a rabbit’s foot became the fashion. With famous men like Theodore Roosevelt, Charles Lindbergh and Thomas Edison embracing the trend, it was hard to resist. Women began putting monograms, tassels and chains on their purses to symbolize their standing in society.

Trends in Purse Charms: 1950s+

Design Idea S G 2 H - Split ring key ring has a round black and white penguin-face charm hanging from a length of chain.

Penguin Purse Charm

In the 1950s, the popularity of charms soared, with Hermès and Gucci both creating luxe, themed charms. Hermès created leather animal-themed purse charms and whimsical metal bag locks. By contrast, Gucci’s early purse charms were dainty metal logos and other small baubles.

Ice Cream Cone Earrings

Design Idea N E 3 J - Each silvery earring features a polymer clay Pac-Man at the top, then a row of tiny black cube bead links, with a polymer clay ghost (red or blue) at the bottom.

80s Nostalgia Earrings

Design Idea S B 2 U - Each earring has a silvery fishhook component from which hangs a drop with a purple crystal cube bead surrounded by small fuchsia bicones. The pendant on each earring is a polymer clay frosted animal cracker with tiny beads to represent the sprinkles on the cookie. One cookie is pink and the other is white.

Animal Cracker Earrings

Japanese charms reached new heights of popularity in the 1970s thanks to Sanrio's Hello Kitty® and Friends line. Their sweet, playful designs helped define the pastel-loving, cute-centric trends of the early 1980s. Plastic charms flourished during this era, appearing in an endless array of shapes, colors and licensed character designs inspired by television, toys and pop culture.

Technology transformed the charm landscape in the 1990s with the introduction of the Tamagotchi®, a virtual pet housed in a keychain-sized device that demanded regular attention and care. More than just a passing fad, Tamagotchis foreshadowed the digital relationships people would later develop with smartphones, virtual assistants and AI, making them a fascinating milestone in the evolution of human-technology interaction.

Purse Charms Today

Forest green rectangular leather purse wider than it is tall. It has a leather handle at the top of each side. A strip of leather with golden components is horizontally placed on the bag near the top. A golden padlock hangs from one handle.

Birkin Bag

The current purse-charm trend traces its roots back to a 1984 collaboration between Jane Birkin and Hermès, resulting in the Birkin bag of enduring popularity. Birkin herself started the trend of adding charms to personalize her Birkin bag, displaying her personality not just by the contents of the inside of her purse, but by her choice of what side of herself to display on the outside.

Louis Vuitton Bag with Beaded Purse Charms

Today, all of the luxury purse brands have their own version of the purse charm – at prices comparable to those of their purses. From whimsical animals, playful robots and anthropomorphized fruit to anime and other pop-culture references and miniature purses, there’s nothing a purse charm can’t be. The contrast between a refined, upscale purse and a whimsical charm makes the entire ensemble seem intentional and timely.

Design Idea Q E 2 6 - Metal split ring holds a square polymer clay charm made to look like the front of a grey knit sweater with brown buttons over a white shirt and brown, tan and white tie.

Polymer Clay “Knit Sweater” Charm

Design Idea Q H 3 4 - Partial circle silvery component holds a polymer clay alien holding a flat disk. In the light, the alien is a pale greenish cream color and is holding a light blue disk. The polymer clay glows in the dark so that the alien is bright green and his disc is dark blue.

Alien-Themed Keychain

Manufacturers have amplified the popularity of purse charms through limited-edition collections and blind-box marketing, where the contents remain unknown until after purchase. This blend of scarcity and surprise has proven especially effective at encouraging collecting and repeat purchases.

Design Idea S A 2 K - Charm has a large clasp with a tassel of turquoise suede lace. Two silver charms—a star and a circle—hang from the suede lace binding the tassel at the top.

Tassel Purse Charms

Collectible keychains, Labubu® purse charms and other brightly colored accessories are also enjoying a surge in popularity. In today's social media-driven culture, maximalism reigns supreme, with influencers showcasing charm-covered handbags that inspire followers to create their own playful, highly personalized arrangements.

Design Idea R D 3 C - White purse has blue, aqua, grey and lime green bold circular designs. A charm with large sunflowers and a scarf hang from the zipper pull at the top of the rectangular purse.

Purse with Sunflower Charms

Why Purse Charms?

Design Idea S G 2 K - Silver split-ring keychain holds a small purple velveteen pouch with a snap closure embellished with flat back rhinestones in clear and shades of purple.

Mini-Purse Charm

Purse charms blend practicality with self-expression. While some are designed to hold keys, others serve as miniature accessories for earbuds, sunglasses, lip gloss, hand sanitizer, AirTags®, coin purses and more. One particularly popular trend is the tiny handbag charm, a miniature purse suspended from a full-sized purse.

Design Idea N D 2 P - Silvery split ring has three tassels: red, white and blue. Each tassel has a bead in its color, a silvery cone element, and tassels of suede lace or faux suede in its color.

Patriotic Tassel Charm

Design Idea N A 2 Y - Antiqued gold-color split ring hangs from links of similarly color chain with a lobster claw clasp with a heart design at the top. Hanging from the split ring are three charms: A key, a flat circular component that says, “Love is the Key” and a clear bottle with a cork filled with chip beads.

Wedding Favor Purse Charm

Design Idea J 5 2 R - Silvery split ring has a slender macraméd strand hanging down. Attached to the strand are a silvery “20 23” charm, a flat round charm that says “5 K” and a clear crystal heart bead.

Commemorative Charm

Beyond their utility, purse charms offer a way to showcase individuality. They can reflect a person's interests, heritage, faith, memories and personality, commemorate holidays and milestones, evoke childhood nostalgia or support a meaningful cause. In today's highly personalized fashion landscape, no two handbags are exactly alike. Instead, each charm collection is a unique reflection of its owner's story, style and experiences.

Design Idea F 4 0 J - Large silvery split ring has a chevron-like dark pink macrame component with a round silvery charm at the bottom that has a pink awareness ribbon in the center and the word “survivor” twice around the outside of the open circle.

Macramé Survivor Charm

Design Idea Q E 2 7 - Silvery split ring has a diamond-shaped flat copper component that says “papa” in italic font and a picture of a hat etched on it.

Father’s Day Charm

Attaching Charms

Split Ring

Heart-Shaped Split Ring

Silvery star has a swivel clasp below it and holds a silvery round ring.

Self-Closing Star Key Ring

The split ring is an obvious choice for attaching purse charms to a purse, but there are many other options. Use a carabiner, self-closing clasp or large lobster claw clasp for easily interchangeable charms. A strap of leather or cord works well also, whether you buckle, tie or clasp it to the purse. Attach purse charms to the strap, zipper pull or key holder on a purse, backpack or bag.

Lobster Claw Clasp

Gold-hued clasp has a loop on the left and a press-in opening on the bottom.

Carabiner Clasp

Silvery clasp has a small loop at the top, then a cone-shaped component with a larger loop below for attaching objects.

Self-Closing Hook Clasp

Purse Charm Design Ideas

When creating purse charms, consider your materials carefully. It’s important to choose something that is not too fragile to take the bumps and dings that will come with being suspended from a purse handle or zipper pull.

Design Idea S G 2 J - Purse charm hangs from a silvery split ring, with a shiny blue heart component and five strands of sparkling blue, black, clear and golden beads.

Bag Charms

Think about your purpose in creating. Many purse charm users opt for a maximalist design aesthetic, with bright colors and large pieces, but for others, a simple, minimalistic vibe with a single, neutral-hued charm will be appreciated. If your customers carry purses the charms may be smaller than the charms you would create for backpacks, briefcases or luggage.

Design Idea N J 3 C - Charm has a golden lobster claw clasp at the top. A golden feather charm hangs from the bottom of the clasp. A golden bail hanging from the clasp holds purple and green feathers.

Feathered Purse Charm

Design Idea N K 2 A - Silvery cat outline component has a loop at the bottom and holds a silvery ring. An abundance of translucent acrylic flower components in various shades of pink and peach with yellow centers hang from the ring. A lampworked glass butterfly on a blue butterfly-shaped component hang from the ring as well.

Floral Cat-Clasp Keyring

Consider whether you want your materials to match or if you’d rather opt for maximum contrast by using dissimilar components. Pair leather and plush, metal and fabric, plastic and tweed, gemstones and feathers and others for high impact purse charm designs.

Design Idea L 5 2 H - Silvery split ring holds a leather charm. A small loop of black leather attaches the charm to the ring. The charm has a blue seed-beaded design with a black arrow and red flowers with yellow centers. Beneath the beaded portion is a fringe of leather about the same length as the beaded portion.

Western Seed-Beaded Leather Charm

Design Idea N C 3 D - A tiny cup with a rounded lid and white straw appears to hold a tan liquid with dark brown orbs at the bottom of the glass. Along with a brown and tan tassel, it is attached to a silvery hammered round split ring.

Boba-Inspired Charm

Restyle Jewelry as Purse Charms

Design Idea P M 2 Z - Round, silvery locket with a clear front holds silvery butterfly and heart charms, a small purple flower and a pink bead.

Bespoke Locket

Design Idea R J 3 7 - Pendant is shaped like a key with a large round top. A circular clock is inside the top portion of the antiqued gold-hued key. Silvery bird wings stick out horizontally from the sides of the clock face.

“Time Flies” Pendant

Design Idea Q F 2 S - Black leverback earring holds a black oval wood focal with a scalloped edge. In the center of the earring is a polymer clay ghost with tiny black eyes. In the light, the ghost looks pale pink. In the dark, the ghost glows light green.

Glow-in-the-Dark Ghost Earrings

The Fire Mountain Gems and Beads Gallery of Designs is home to hundreds of jewelry-making projects that can spark ideas for unique purse charms. From necklaces and earrings to bracelets and mixed-media creations, these designs offer a wealth of inspiration in color combinations, materials, techniques and themes. Many include step-by-step instructions that can be adapted and reimagined for purse charms, making it easy to transform a favorite jewelry design into a personalized handbag accessory.

Design Idea S A 2 U - Open round silver pendant component contains five drops. Two have a faceted round brown crystal bead. One has a sterling silver coffee mug charm. One has a silvery circle charm with a sun motif and the words “you are my” I the center. The final drop has a yellow crystal rondelle bead.

Sunshine-Themed Charm Necklace

Design Idea Q F 2 T - Three clear corked bottles hang from silvery chain from a black cord. The jar with purple contents says “Fairie Tears.” The jar with green contents says “Eye of Newt.” The jar with black contents says “Vampire Blood.”

Potion-Themed Necklace Charms

Purse Charms from Non-Jewelry Materials

Consider incorporating a touch of nostalgia into your purse charm designs. Small, durable keepsakes from different stages of life can become meaningful charms that tell a story. If you're creating purse charms to sell, look to the trends and memories that resonate with customers—favorite childhood toys, collectibles from fast-food kids' meals, beloved television shows, iconic music groups or memorable movies. With the right adhesive and hardware, almost any lightweight object can be transformed into a charm, including upcycled items such as bottle caps, jar lids, game pieces and other discarded treasures. Not only does this approach create one-of-a-kind accessories rich with personal meaning, but it also gives new life to overlooked materials, making purse charm design a creative and sustainable endeavor.

Design Idea S G 2 M - Two purse charms featuring nostalgic dangles including polymer clay cassette tape, cheeseburger and bubblegum, brightly colored beads and small, colorful toys. Each purse charm has a ribbon bow at the top.

Bag Charms

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