Top 5 Favorite Antique Charms of 2025

One category of jewelry that I personally feel never goes out of style is charms.  Charms are… well charming! 

These pendants can be deeply personal like a dog’s paw print or your children’s initials, or they can be goofy and fun like a flip cell phone or a Labubu.

In this blog, I’ll be sharing 5 of my favorite vintage/antique charms I purchased this year.  Each charm tells a story and who doesn’t love a good story? 

Devil Cocktail Shaker

 I instantly fell in love with this devil cocktail shaker charm while searching for vintage charms on Ebay.

When I saved up enough cash, it was important to me that this charm was made of sterling silver and that the red and black paint on the devil wasn’t too worn.

The one I ended up purchasing is absolutely perfect, even with its flaws. The red paint is chipped but the black eyebrows and devious smirk are hilarious.

Hurdles Jewelry has an interesting quote about the charm, “The earliest temperance reformers were concerned with the over-indulgence of American drinkers and encouraged moderation and eventually led to US Prohibition in the 1920s--this particular charm would have been worn, perhaps, to mourn the of the end of Prohibition and the return to alcoholic indulgence.” 

Now that I’m in my 30s, and hangovers are hellish, I might just have to join the temperance movement.

Heart-Shaped Perfume Holder

As you read through this blog you might notice that all the charms listed are moveable in some way. 

This charm is utilitarian-ish due to the fact that it can hold an extremely small amount of perfume.

This charm is vintage and may have been inspired by 17th century Châtelaines.  A châtelaine is a belt hook with useful items attached with a chain.

For example, a seamstress might have a châtelaine with scissors and a measuring tape attached.  Where a homemaker might have a perfume bottle, and coin purse attached.

Personally, I don't have any perfume in this pendant, but it’s one of my favorite movable charms and may inspire something I might create in the future for Elani Jewelry (😉).

Mesh Purse Charm

When I saw this charm on instagram I knew I had to have some version of it; it was love at first sight.  Since childhood I have been collecting antique Whiting and Davis mesh purses (1920s - 1930s) so this mini purse charm was a must have. 

It may have been inspired by the châtelaine as well or maybe it was made for a doll!  It’s not big enough to hold even a penny but will hold something extremely small like a pill.  Whatever the case may be, I’m happy it was created.

Fashion retailers/designers like Coach, Zara, Jacquemus, and Marc Jacobs have also taken inspiration from purses worn around the neck as pendants. And of course I want to purchase each and every version.

Egyptian Sarcophagus Charm 

Coincidently, I found this charm in the middle of writing this blog post!  AND it’s been on my must-haves list for what feels like FOREVER.  I’m so glad I found a costume version of this pendant because I don't have the 14k gold version in the budget at the moment.

If you don't understand my excitement, get this: what makes this charm so unique is that when the sarcophagus opens, there is a mummy inside!!! I mean come oooon that’s cool.

It seems like people have always been intensely fascinated with ancient Egypt. 

From the movie The Mummy, the Christian Dior Spring 2004 couture show, to costume jewelry like this piece.

Egyptomania runs wild! They’re trying to track down Cleopatra's tomb as we speak!

I learned a little bit about Egyptomania when visiting The Octagon House in Irvington, New York where they have a whole music/painting room dedicated to Egypt.

That room was decorated in the Victorian era where there was so much death from diseases like tuberculosis and smallpox. Death was constantly around people in the Victorian era.

There were multiple funerals a week, they dressed in all black, and covered mirrors with blankets. This resulted in a fascination with Egyptian Revival architecture, art, and even mummies themselves. 

I’ll keep the tradition alive by wearing this piece that honors the ritual of death.

Sheathed Dagger Charm

Saving the best for last - the dagger charm!  This charm is made out of 14k gold, rubies and sapphires.

I adore how fierce it is but the swirling patterns and deep pink rubies give it a feminine feel.

Once the dagger is unsheathed, it hangs by a thin gold chain so it doesn't fall and get lost.

This charm is very much needed when having a stressful meeting with HR or having coffee with an ex.

Each and every one of these charms has inspired my jewelry designs in some way.  They can also influence my day to day life by giving me fierce strength or, conversely, a carefree party vibe. 

Share your favorite charms in the comments below and let me know what they mean to you.

<3,

Rachael Elani aka Elani Jewelry