Lucky Charm Jewellery: What Each Symbol Actually Means

Charm jewellery works because the piece says something before you do. Each symbol carries a specific job: some invite luck in, others keep harm out, and a few mark who you are. Here is what the main ones mean and where the beliefs come from.

Key facts

Protection versus fortune

Charms divide into two groups, and knowing which is which makes choosing one much easier.

Protective charms deflect something: the evil eye, the hamsa, the chilli. They are defensive, and they are traditionally given when someone is exposed, in a new place, newly visible, newly successful.

Fortune charms attract something: the horseshoe, the clover, the wishbone. They are given at beginnings, a job, a move, a marriage, a birth.

The horseshoe

Luck and protection at once, which is part of why it has lasted. Iron was long thought to ward off harm, the blacksmith held an unusual standing, the horse meant wealth and mobility, and the seven nails brought their own luck.

Traditionally hung over a doorway. Worn as jewellery, the protection travels with the person. The full history is here, and Alexandra Hakim’s Canter collection is built entirely on the shape.

The evil eye and the hamsa

The evil eye is the belief that envy can cause real harm, and that a watching eye deflects it. It runs across the Mediterranean, the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, which makes it one of the most widely shared beliefs there is. The charm is an eye looking back.

The hamsa is an open hand, often with an eye at its centre, and does similar defensive work. Both are traditionally given rather than bought for yourself, since the point is someone wishing you protected.

The chilli

Less familiar outside the Mediterranean and the Middle East, but long established there. A chilli, usually red and worn pointing down, guards against the evil eye in much the same way as the eye itself.

It is also simply a good shape for an earring. Alexandra Hakim casts real chillies, and the results run from the single Golden Chili Earring at 232 US dollars to the Golden Chili Necklace at 495. More in our guide to her fruit jewellery.

The zodiac

The odd one out, because a zodiac pendant is not a luck charm at all. It marks identity rather than inviting fortune, which is why it makes such a reliable gift: the recipient chose it by being born.

Alexandra Hakim’s Good Karma line runs all twelve signs at 429 US dollars each, with a customisable pendant at 232. See the full zodiac guide.

How to wear charm jewellery

Two approaches, and they do not mix well.

The single charm: one pendant on a plain chain, worn daily, meaning legible. This is the version that suits most people and most wardrobes.

The collection: several charms gathered on one chain over years, each added for a reason. This works when the charms have genuinely accumulated. Buying six at once to simulate it rarely lands.

If you are starting, buy one and let it mean something. The Lucky Necklace at 311 US dollars is a good beginning.

Frequently asked questions

What does a horseshoe charm mean?

Luck and protection. The belief draws on iron’s protective reputation, the standing of the blacksmith, the value of the horse, and the seven nails traditionally used to fix a shoe.

What does the evil eye charm protect against?

Envy and ill will. The belief is that envy can cause real harm and that a watching eye deflects it. It appears across the Mediterranean, the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia.

What does a chilli charm mean?

It is a Mediterranean and Middle Eastern charm against the evil eye, usually worn red and pointing down, working in much the same way as the eye itself.

Should you buy a lucky charm for yourself?

Protective charms like the evil eye and the hamsa are traditionally given rather than bought, since the point is someone else wishing you protected. Fortune charms like the horseshoe are fine to buy yourself.

Is a zodiac necklace a lucky charm?

Not strictly. A zodiac pendant marks identity rather than inviting fortune, which is why it works so well as a gift: the recipient effectively chose it by being born.

Read next

• What does a horseshoe symbolise?
• The zodiac necklaces, all 12 signs
• The chilli, lemon and tomato pieces
• The Canter horseshoe collection

Sources

• Alexandra Hakim, About the designer
• Alexandra Hakim, Jewellery care
• Arab News, Lebanese designer using natural resources to make jewelry
• FashionUnited, Career Q and A with Alexandra Hakim

Prices and stock are as listed on Coveti at the time of writing and change with availability.

Written by Gemma Deeks, Fashion Editor at Coveti.