This guide shows you how to make a beach charm bracelet with Serinity crystal beads, soft pearls and sterling silver sea charms. If you love stars, shells and watery colours, it is a charming, sophisticated make, perfect to wear all summer or to give as a thoughtful handmade gift.
It is a satisfying jewellery-making project with a little wirework, ideal once you are comfortable turning a simple loop. Here is everything you need, then the full method.
Project at a glance
- Difficulty: Intermediate (turning loops and linking with jump rings)
- Time: 2 to 3 hours
- Beads used: Serinity 5328 bicones (Aquamarine AB, Crystal Shimmer) and 5810 pearls (Azore, White)
- Charms: sterling silver starfish, seashell and seahorse
Watch the tutorial
See this project come together. Watch the full make below, then scroll down for the kit list and step-by-step instructions.
What you'll need
Add the beads, pearls, charms and tools to your cart from the cards below. The charms, headpins, jump rings and clasp all come from our jewellery findings range, and you will also need crystal pearls to soften the design. The pliers are reusable across every project.
- Serinity 5328 Bicone Beads, 4mm Aquamarine ABBeaded links7
- Serinity 5328 Bicone Beads, 4mm Crystal ShimmerBeaded links7
- Serinity 5810 Pearls, 6mm AzoreBeaded links4
- Serinity 5810 Pearls, 5mm WhiteBeaded links2
- Sterling Silver Starfish CharmFeature charm1
- Sterling Silver Seashell CharmFeature charm1
- Sterling Silver Seahorse CharmFeature charm (see note)1+
- Silver Plated Flat End HeadpinsOne per bead, approx20
- Silver Plated Jump RingsLinking and charms9+
- Sterling Silver Bolt Ring ClaspFastening1
- Jewellery Pliers Set of 3Round nose, chain nose, cutters1
Shop this project
Everything you need for this build. Quantities are a guide, so adjust to your design.
Not sure how many crystals you need? Use our Crystal Calculator to estimate by surface area.
How to make a beach charm bracelet
Step 1: Gather your supplies
Tip your beads into sorting trays or small dishes so they cannot roll away, and keep your pliers and headpins within easy reach.
Step 2: Prepare your beaded links
Place a bead onto a headpin, then bend the excess wire over to form an upside-down L. Snip off the excess with the side cutters, leaving a few millimetres, then use your round nose pliers to roll that end into a loop. Repeat for your chosen number and mix of beads.
Step 3: Link your beads
Using the round nose pliers, gently open one loop on a prepared bead, hook on the next bead, then close the loop again. Carry on linking beads in this way to build up your chain, until you are ready to add your first charm.
Step 4: Add the charms
Open a jump ring with your pliers, slide on a charm, then attach it to your bead chain and close the ring. To make a dangling beaded charm, thread two 4mm beads onto a headpin, loop it as in Step 2, and attach it to the chain. Space your charms along the bracelet as you like.
Step 5: Finishing touches
To finish, make a short chain of jump rings and attach it to one end of the bracelet, then fix the clasp to the other end. This little extender also makes the bracelet adjustable.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make a charm bracelet?
Make a series of beaded links: thread a bead onto a headpin, turn a loop at the top, and connect the loops into a chain. Add your charms with jump rings as you go, then finish each end with a short jump-ring chain and a clasp. It is simple, repetitive work once you have the loop technique.
How do you make a loop on a headpin?
Thread your bead onto the headpin, then bend the wire above it to a right angle. Trim the wire with side cutters, leaving a few millimetres, then grip the end with round nose pliers and roll it into a neat loop. Keeping the loops a consistent size gives a tidy, professional finish.
How do you open and close a jump ring?
Hold the ring with pliers each side of the join and twist the ends sideways, one towards you and one away, rather than pulling them apart, which distorts the ring. Hook on your charm or link, then twist the ends back until they meet flush.
What beads and charms suit a beach bracelet?
Ocean and seaside charms like a starfish, seashell and seahorse set the theme, paired with watery tones. We used aqua and shimmer bicone beads with soft pearls, but any sea-inspired palette of blues, greens and neutrals works beautifully.
What tools do I need to make a charm bracelet?
Round nose pliers for turning loops, side cutters for trimming wire, and chain nose or flat nose pliers for opening rings and closing links. A three-piece jewellery pliers set covers everything you need for this project.
Can I change the beads and colours?
Yes. Swap in any beads, pearls and charms you like to suit your own theme. We used our own Austrian-made Serinity beads and pearls; you can also use premium Swarovski, Czech-made Preciosa or budget Estella.
Make it your own
Switch the charms for your own favourites, or change the palette for a different season. For more seaside sparkle, see our beach pearl bracelet and crystal beach bag projects, or explore the full Craft Studio.
