Christening Bracelet
A christening bracelet is one of the few gifts that follows a child from the font all the way to adulthood. Unlike clothes she’ll outgrow in three months or toys she’ll tire of, the right bracelet becomes a keepsake — something her parents will store safely until she is old enough to wear it herself, then something she will treasure long after.
At OD’s Jewellers in St Helens, we stock three brands that are particularly well suited to christening gifts: ChloBo for symbolism and delicate sizing, Clogau for Welsh gold heritage, and Nomination for a system that literally grows with the child. This guide explains what to look for, what to avoid, and which piece makes the right choice at every budget.
1 | Why Jewellery Makes the Perfect Christening Gift
The tradition of gifting jewellery at a christening stretches back centuries. Godparents, grandparents, and family friends have long chosen a piece of silver or gold as a keepsake to mark a child’s entry into the faith — and for good reason.
Practical gifts — blankets, muslins, nappy bags — disappear into the everyday. Jewellery does not. A sterling silver bracelet given at a christening can sit in a box alongside the christening gown, be brought out at 18 or 21, and carry the full weight of that day’s memory. The child grows up knowing the story behind it.
A Lasting Keepsake
Unlike flowers or chocolates, a quality silver bracelet exists in thirty years’ time. Every time she wears it, she is reminded of who gave it, and why.
Personal Meaning
A charm bracelet can be built over time — one charm for the christening, one for her first birthday, one from a special trip. Jewellery accumulates meaning.
Symbolic Value
Many christening bracelet designs feature crosses, angels, hearts, or doves — symbols that connect directly to the spiritual significance of the day.
Collectible System
A Nomination starter bracelet at a christening becomes a platform for future gifts. Every birthday, Christmas, and milestone can add a charm without replacing the original.
2 | Best Christening Bracelet Brands at OD’s Jewellers
Not every jewellery brand is suitable for a christening gift. The piece needs to be age-appropriate in scale, safe in material, and meaningful enough to last. These three brands from our collection are the ones we recommend most often for baby girls.
ChloBo — Delicate Symbolism, Children’s Sizing
ChloBo was built around the idea of wearing your story. The brand’s sterling silver stacking bracelets are made in Bali using traditional techniques, and they feature symbols — stars, moons, hearts, angels, trees of life — that carry real meaning. For a christening, the symbolism is the story.
ChloBo bracelets are petite by design. The delicate ball-chain construction sits naturally on small wrists, and the range includes specifically smaller sizing suited to children. Angel wing and star motifs are particularly popular for christening gifts.
ChloBo for Christening — Why It Works
- Sterling silver throughout — hypoallergenic and skin-safe
- Petite ball-chain construction suits small wrists
- Angel, star, and heart symbols align with christening tradition
- Stackable — future gifts can build on the original piece
- See our full ChloBo Brand Guide for more detail
Clogau — Welsh Gold Keepsake Heritage
Clogau contains a trace of rare Welsh gold from the Clogau St David’s mine in Snowdonia — the same gold used in Royal wedding rings since 1923. This provenance transforms a christening bracelet into something genuinely historic: a piece made from metal that has held the same meaning across generations.
The Tree of Life is Clogau’s most recognised motif, and it translates perfectly to a christening context — growth, family, roots, new beginnings. A Clogau bead bracelet in sterling silver with Welsh gold detailing is a gift that will be explained and re-explained as the child grows up. See our Clogau Brand Guide for the full heritage story.
Clogau for Christening — Why It Works
- Rare Welsh gold trace — a provenance story worth passing down
- Tree of Life and other symbolic designs suit christening gifting
- Sterling silver base is safe and hypoallergenic
- Bead bracelets adjust for small wrists and grow with the child
- Comes in a Clogau presentation box — gift-ready from the start
Nomination — The Bracelet That Grows With the Child
The Nomination Composable® bracelet is unique: a stainless steel link bracelet that is built one charm at a time. A starter bracelet at a christening is genuinely just the beginning. Parents, grandparents, and godparents can each add a charm at every milestone — first birthday, first day of school, first communion, 18th birthday — turning a single gift into a twenty-year collection.
For a christening, a starter bracelet paired with a cross charm, a dove charm, or a birthstone charm makes a thoughtful and practical opening gift. The system never becomes obsolete: new charms are released every season, and the bracelet remains the same.
Nomination for Christening — Why It Works
- Stainless steel links — hypoallergenic and extremely durable
- Small sizing available — the bracelet can be started with fewer links
- Cross, dove, and angel charms available for christening symbolism
- Every future gift becomes a charm addition — no duplicate problem
- See our Nomination Jewellery Guide for the full system explanation
3 | Safe Materials for Babies & Young Children
Material is the most important consideration when buying jewellery for a baby or very young child. Infant skin is sensitive, and some metals cause contact dermatitis even in adults. For babies, the standard must be higher.
Sterling Silver (925)
Sterling silver is the most widely recommended material for children’s jewellery. It is 92.5% pure silver with a small copper alloy for durability, and it has a long established track record as hypoallergenic for the vast majority of children. ChloBo and Clogau are both sterling silver at their core.
Stainless Steel
Nomination’s Composable bracelet links are medical-grade stainless steel. This is the same material used in surgical instruments and orthopaedic implants — it is extremely unlikely to cause any skin reaction. Stainless steel is also highly durable and resistant to tarnishing, which matters when a bracelet will be stored for years before being worn.
9ct and 18ct Gold
Solid gold is an excellent choice for a christening bracelet if the budget allows. Higher carat gold (18ct) contains fewer alloy metals and is less likely to cause reaction. Avoid gold-plated pieces for very young children — see the section on what to avoid below.
A Note on Welsh Gold
Clogau pieces contain a trace of Welsh gold within a sterling silver or 9ct/18ct gold setting. The trace element does not affect the hypoallergenic properties of the base metal. The sterling silver remains the skin-contact material.
4 | Sizing for Babies & Toddlers
Getting the size right for a baby bracelet matters both for safety and for wearability. A bracelet that is too loose is a choking and snagging hazard. Too tight and it will be uncomfortable and need immediate resizing.
| Age | Typical Wrist Size | Recommended Fit |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn – 6 months | 9–10 cm | Most standard baby bracelets too large. Store until older. |
| 6–12 months | 10–11 cm | Smallest available sizing. Supervised wear only. |
| 1–3 years | 11–12.5 cm | Children’s sizing. Check every few months. |
| 4–7 years | 13–15 cm | Junior sizing. Annual check advisable. |
| 8–12 years | 15–16 cm | Small adult sizing (16 cm). Standard Nomination bracelet fits. |
Practical Sizing Advice
- Many parents store the bracelet until the child is 4–5 years old, at which point supervised wear becomes more manageable
- Nomination bracelets can be started with fewer links and extended as the wrist grows — this is one of the format’s great advantages for christening gifts
- Clogau bead bracelets often have some adjustment range built in via the bead positioning
- ChloBo bracelets come in a single standard size — most suit children from around age 5–6 upward for regular wear
- When in doubt, size up — a slightly loose bracelet stored in a box is better than one that never fits
For our full sizing reference across all jewellery types, see the Jewellery & Watch Size Guide.
5 | Engraving & Personalisation Options
Personalisation transforms a beautiful bracelet into an irreplaceable one. For a christening gift, the most common and meaningful personalisation options are:
Engraving
Many sterling silver and gold bracelets can be engraved with the child’s name, the date of her christening, or a short message. Flat-surfaced bracelets and locket-style charms are the most suitable for engraving. Ask in-store about engraving availability for specific pieces — our team at OD’s can advise on what is possible for each item.
Birthstone Charms
Nomination’s Composable system includes a full set of birthstone charms — one for each month of the year. Pairing a starter bracelet with the child’s birthstone charm immediately makes the piece personal. ChloBo also produces gemstone bracelets that can be chosen by birth month.
Initial Charms
Nomination offers initial letter charms in both silver and gold finishes. A starter bracelet with the child’s initial is one of the most popular christening combinations: it names the bracelet as hers from the first day.
Symbolic Charms
For a christening specifically, the following Nomination charms carry direct meaning:
- Cross charm — Faith and the christening ceremony itself
- Dove charm — Peace, the Holy Spirit, new beginnings
- Angel charm — Protection and blessing
- Star charm — Brightness, guidance, reaching for potential
- Heart charm — Love from family and godparents
Gift Presentation
All OD’s Jewellers purchases come in brand packaging. We also offer gift wrapping in-store. If ordering for a christening, visit us or order in advance — we can ensure the presentation is right for the occasion.
6 | Budget Guide: £25 to £150
A christening bracelet does not need to be expensive to be meaningful. The thought and the tradition carry the weight, not the price tag. That said, this is a piece intended to last decades — quality of material matters more here than in almost any other category of gift.
Under £50 — Thoughtful Starter Gifts
The best options in this range come from Nomination: a single starter bracelet or a bracelet plus one charm sits comfortably under £50 and sets the foundation for a lifetime of additions.
- Nomination starter bracelet (stainless steel, 9 links) — from around £29
- Nomination cross charm — from around £27
- Nomination birthstone charm — from around £27
- Nomination initial charm — from around £22
A starter bracelet plus a cross charm plus a birthstone charm makes a complete, personalised, meaningful set for under £90 — or individual items can be given separately by different family members.
£50–£100 — A Piece to Remember
ChloBo bracelets fall comfortably in this range. A sterling silver angel wing or star bracelet at this price point is genuinely beautiful, hypoallergenic, and ready to wear (when the child is old enough). This is the range where godparents most commonly shop.
- ChloBo sterling silver angel bracelet — around £45–£65
- ChloBo star or moon bracelet — around £45–£55
- Nomination bracelet with two charms — around £65–£80
£100–£150 — Heirloom Quality
Clogau sits firmly in this tier and justifies every penny with its provenance. A Clogau bead bracelet in sterling silver with Welsh gold detailing, or a Tree of Life bracelet, is the kind of gift that grandparents and godparents give when they want to mark the occasion with something truly lasting.
- Clogau sterling silver bead bracelet with Welsh gold — from around £99
- Clogau Tree of Life bracelet or pendant bracelet — from around £119
- Clogau 9ct gold charm pieces — from around £139
Budget Summary
- Under £50: Nomination starter bracelet or individual charm — a thoughtful beginning
- £50–£100: ChloBo sterling silver bracelet or Nomination bracelet with charms — the most popular range
- £100–£150: Clogau Welsh gold bracelet — heirloom standard, story built in
7 | What to Avoid When Buying a Baby Girl’s Christening Bracelet
Not all jewellery is suitable for babies or young children. These are the things to avoid, and why.
Loose Charms and Pendants
Any bracelet with small detachable charms, beads, or pendants poses a choking hazard for children under three. If the bracelet is intended to be stored until the child is older, this is less of a concern — but if any supervised infant wear is planned, choose a design with no detachable parts.
Gold-Plated or Rhodium-Plated Pieces
Plating wears off over time, exposing the base metal beneath. On a piece intended to last decades and worn against sensitive skin, plating is a poor choice. Stick to solid sterling silver, stainless steel, or solid gold. Plated pieces can also tarnish unevenly and look worn within a few years.
Nickel-Containing Alloys
Nickel is one of the most common causes of contact dermatitis in jewellery. EU and UK regulations restrict nickel content in jewellery sold for direct skin contact, but fashion jewellery from non-verified sources may still contain nickel. All brands stocked at OD’s comply with UK regulations — buying from an authorised stockist removes this risk.
Very Thin Chain Bracelets
Delicate chain bracelets, however beautiful, tend to catch on clothing, hair, and cot fabric. For a piece that will be stored for years and then introduced to an active child, choose a design with a more robust construction — the ball-chain format of ChloBo and the solid links of Nomination both hold up significantly better than fine trace chains.
Magnetic Closures
Magnetic clasps are not appropriate for children’s jewellery. They can detach too easily and the magnets themselves pose a swallowing risk if separated. Choose bracelets with secure bolt-ring, lobster-claw, or spring-ring clasps.
Sharp Edges or Protruding Settings
Some fashion jewellery features raised stone settings with sharp prong edges. These can scratch delicate skin. Look for flush or bezel-set stones, or choose designs without stones altogether for the youngest children.
8 | Christening Gift Etiquette
There are no strict rules for christening gifts, but there are long-established traditions that guide the most thoughtful choices. Understanding them helps you give the right gift with the right intent.
Who Gives What
Godparents traditionally give the most significant christening gift, as they are taking on a spiritual role in the child’s life. A Clogau bracelet or a ChloBo piece from a godparent carries exactly the right weight. Grandparents often match or exceed the godparent gift. Other family members and friends more typically give in the Nomination charm tier — one charm that adds to a growing collection.
The Keepsake Tradition
The most meaningful christening jewellery gifts are those the parents store carefully until the child is old enough to appreciate them. It is entirely correct to buy a bracelet that won’t be worn immediately — that is the point. Include a card with the story of the gift: why you chose it, what the symbolism means, and who gave it. That card, stored in the box alongside the bracelet, becomes part of the gift itself.
The Building System Approach
If the family already has or is open to a Nomination bracelet, co-ordinating between family members and friends to each give a different charm is a beautiful approach. The christening charm opens the bracelet’s story. Each subsequent birthday and Christmas adds a chapter. By the time the child is 18, the bracelet holds a charm for every significant moment — and every significant person — in her life so far.
Presentation Matters
A christening bracelet should arrive in its brand box, with tissue paper, and with a handwritten card. These are the elements that elevate a jewellery purchase into a proper gift. All pieces from OD’s come in brand packaging — we can also gift wrap in-store, so the presentation is right from the moment it is handed over.
Click & Collect for Christening Day
Order before 4pm Monday to Saturday for same-day Click & Collect from OD’s Jewellers, 41 Barrow Street, St Helens — free of charge. Next-Day Delivery is also available when you order before 3pm (£5.95). If you need a last-minute gift, gift vouchers are available with instant email delivery.
Top Picks at OD's — In Stock Now
Three best-sellers our customers are choosing this month — all in stock, ready to ship from St Helens, available to try in our St Helens store before you buy.
All available in-store at 41 Barrow Street, St Helens, WA10 1RY — try before you buy.
Browse the full jewellery range at OD's.
9 | Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best christening bracelet for a baby girl?
The best christening bracelet depends on your budget and intent. For a gift that grows with the child, Nomination’s Composable starter bracelet is the most versatile option — future charms can be added at every milestone. For symbolic sterling silver jewellery in the £50–£100 range, ChloBo angel and star bracelets are particularly popular. For a heirloom-quality keepsake with provenance, Clogau Welsh gold bracelets in the £99–£150 range are the most meaningful choice. All three brands are available at OD’s Jewellers in St Helens.
What material is safest for a baby girl’s bracelet?
Sterling silver (925) and medical-grade stainless steel are the two safest materials for children’s jewellery. Both are hypoallergenic for the vast majority of children and have established safety records. Solid 9ct or 18ct gold is also safe if the budget allows. Avoid gold-plated pieces (the plating wears off to reveal the base metal), nickel-containing fashion alloys, and any bracelet with small detachable parts for very young children.
What size bracelet should I buy for a baby girl?
Most baby girls aged newborn to 12 months have wrist circumferences of 9–11 cm — smaller than almost all standard bracelets. The most practical approach is to buy a piece that fits a child of 4–6 years (around 13–14 cm) and store it until she is old enough for supervised wear. Nomination bracelets are particularly good for this because you can start with fewer links and add more as the wrist grows. Speak to our team in-store for advice on specific pieces.
Can a christening bracelet be personalised?
Yes. Nomination bracelets can be personalised with initial charms, birthstone charms, and symbolic charms (cross, dove, angel, heart) that are added to the starter bracelet. Many sterling silver bracelets can also be engraved in-store with the child’s name and christening date. Ask our team at OD’s Jewellers about engraving availability for specific pieces. Nomination’s system allows ongoing personalisation at every subsequent milestone, making it the most flexible option for long-term gifting.
How much should I spend on a christening bracelet?
Godparents and grandparents typically spend £80–£150 on a christening bracelet. Other family members and friends more commonly spend in the £25–£75 range — either a ChloBo bracelet or a Nomination starter bracelet with one or two charms. The amount matters less than the quality of the material and the thoughtfulness of the choice. A £29 Nomination starter bracelet that launches a twenty-year collection is a more meaningful gift than a £150 piece that sits forgotten in a box.