A charm necklace is a chain you personalize by adding small decorative charms. At Mod + Jo you choose a base chain, then string on charms, spacers, and enhancers to build a one-of-a-kind piece that tells your story.

Start at our Memento Charm Bar in two steps: select your base chain (from about $28), then add your charms and accents (about $14–$104 each). Mix charms, gemstone spacers, and enhancers until it feels like you—every piece is interchangeable.

Any of our charm base chains work, but a sturdy link chain is ideal because charms and spacers thread directly onto it. Our charm spacers have a 4 mm inner opening, so choose a chain with links up to 4 mm wide.

Choose 14.5–16″ for a base or collar layer, 18″ for a classic mid-length, and 20-24″ to sit lower near the heart. Our collar necklaces are designed to layer easily with 16″, 18″, and 20″ chains.

There's no rule, but one to three charms reads modern and minimal, while five or more makes a bold, collected statement. Match the count to your charm necklace design - our stacking chains can comfortably hold more charms without crowding.

Place your largest or most meaningful charm at the center front, then flank it with smaller charms and spacers moving outward. Charm spacers (4 mm inner opening) hold each charm in place and stop them from bunching together.

Anchor a focal charm at the center and mirror the visual weight on each side with similar sizes. Alternate charms with 4 mm spacers and mix textures - pearl, pavé, enamel - so no single section of the chain feels heavy.

Yes! Mixing petite (10–12 mm), medium (15–18 mm), and large (18 mm +) charms adds depth and interest. For balance, center a larger charm and taper to smaller ones toward the clasp, using spacers to control the spacing.

Absolutely! Mixed metals are a deliberately modern look. Mod + Jo offers charms in gold-filled, gold vermeil, gold plate, sterling silver, and rhodium/silver plate, so you can combine warm and cool tones on a single chain.

Stagger lengths so each layer shows: pair a 15″ collar base with an 18″ and a 20″ chain. Vary chain weights and charm placement so pieces don't compete, and let one charm necklace be the focal layer.

Most fit any chain that passes through the charm's bail or a spacer's 4 mm inner opening. Threaded charms and spacers need links up to 4 mm wide, while clip-on and enhancer styles open to attach onto almost any chain.

All of our charm base chains and pendant chains are designed to work with our charms, spacers, and enhancers. Threaded charms and spacers need a link up to 4 mm wide; enhancers clip on with a 7.5–10 mm inner bail.

A charm is a small motif you string on; a pendant is a larger single centerpiece. An enhancer is a charm with a snap-open bail (7.5–20 mm) that clips on and off; a charm clip/carabiner opens to attach without restringing.

A single-bail charm has one loop at the top, so it hangs down from the chain like a mini pendant. You add it by threading the chain through that single bail - our "Classic ring" style engravable charms work this way.

A double-bail charm has a loop on each side, so the chain passes through both and the charm sits inline as a connector rather than dangling. Our connector-style charms (like the North Star and Pearl connectors) use this design.

Yes! Most of our systems are fully interchangeable. Threaded charms and spacers slide off once you open the clasp, while enhancers and clip-ons snap on and off instantly, so you can restyle, add, or reorder charms anytime. Our Stacked Charm Necklaces require our charms fixed on different links of your chain, therefore, it makes it a little more difficult to change out yourself. For your stacked necklaces, you can always send them in to be rearranged! You can reach out to us at hello@modandjo.com to begin the progress.

Many can - spacers and smaller charms slide onto our hoops for a custom drop, as noted on pieces like the Maia and Juno gemstone spacers. For dedicated ear looks, we also make a separate Earring Charms line.

Usually yes. If your chain's links are up to 4 mm wide, it fits our threaded charms and spacers; if the clasp opens, you can slide charms on. Enhancers and clip-ons attach to almost any chain via their snap bail.

Often yes - if the other brand's bail is wide enough to pass over your Mod + Jo chain's links, it will fit. Because our base chains use slim links, most standard charms, clips, and enhancers attach easily.

Both. Charms are sold individually (about $28–$104 each) so you can build your own, and we also offer pre-curated Memento charm necklaces that arrive already styled. Base chains are sold separately, starting around $68.

Our charms come in several materials: 14k gold-filled, gold vermeil (14k gold over sterling silver), 14k and 18k gold plate over brass, sterling silver, and rhodium/silver plate, and natural pearl, gemstone, shell, and enamel accents. All are nickel- and lead-free.

Each charm's exact material is listed on its product page. Options include 14k gold-filled, gold vermeil (14k gold over sterling silver), and 14k or 18k gold plate over brass - always check the listing to confirm which you're buying.

Gold-filled bonds a thick layer of 14k gold to a brass core - the most durable and water-safe. Vermeil is a thick 14k gold layer over sterling silver. Our gold plate is 1/2 the the thickness of Vermeil - making it 5x stronger than traditional plating over brass.

It depends on the material. 14k gold-filled resist tarnish and are water-safe; vermeil and sterling resist it with care; gold- and rhodium-plated charms can dull over time and should stay dry and away from lotions, oils, perfumes, and chemicals to prolong their life and keep their shine.

14k gold-filled and solid gold pieces are water-safe for everyday wear, and vermeil and sterling tolerate occasional contact. Gold-plated, silver-plated, pearl, shell, and enamel charms are not waterproof - remove them before any water to prolong their life and protect their shine.

Only if it's 14k gold-filled or solid gold - those handle showering fine. Avoid showering in gold-plated, silver-plated, vermeil, pearl, shell, or enamel pieces, since soap and moisture wear the finish and dull natural materials.

We don't recommend it for most pieces. Chlorine and salt water damage plating, pearls, shell, and enamel. Even 14k gold-filled and solid gold - though water-safe - last longest if you remove them before swimming and rinse afterward.

14k gold-filled and solid gold charms are durable enough for sleep and workouts, though sweat should be wiped off afterward. Remove plated, vermeil, pearl, shell, and enamel charms first, since friction and moisture wear them faster.

Yes! All Mod + Jo charms are nickel- and lead-free, which makes them suitable for most sensitive skin. Gold-filled, solid gold, vermeil, and sterling silver are especially good choices for anyone prone to metal reactions.

Yes! Every charm is made nickel- and lead-free, and many (our vermeil and engravable pieces) are also brass-free. This lowers the risk of skin irritation across all of our materials.

With proper care, our plating is long-lasting - typically a year or more of regular wear. We use heavy 14k and 18k gold plate with a protective e-coating that's 5xstronger than traditional standards; keeping plated charms dry extends their life significantly.

Yes. Pearls, shell, enamel, and natural gemstones are more delicate - keep them away from water, perfume, and lotions, wipe gently with a soft cloth, and store them separately. Never soak them or use polishing chemicals on these materials.