Bracelets are a popular and trendy piece of jewelry dating back to ancient civilizations. Back then, they had less options for materials and styles.
Today, there are numerous types of bracelets in jewelry stores. In this Learning guide you’ll learn about:
- What are the different types of bracelets?
- What is the best material for bracelets?
- What is a tennis bracelet?
- What bracelets are good for daily wear?
History of Bracelets
It was originally thought that the Egyptians in the time of Cleopatra were the first to bring the bracelet into the fold, but a discovery in 2008 changed that idea.
A bunch of jewelry was discovered in Siberia, and part of the collection was a green chlorite stone bracelet.
Researchers have now confirmed the bangle bracelet to be 40,000 years old, making it the oldest stone bracelet in the world.
Different Types of Bracelets
We’ve gone from ancient stone bracelets to a variety of different bracelet styles and types, each with their own benefit.
Bangle Bracelets
Bangles are a bracelet made out of a hard material, usually stone or metal. Old bangles were made out of shell, stone, terracotta, glass, rock and other found materials.
They can range in price, depending on materials and width. They have no closure or clasp. When you put on a bangle, it should slip over your hand easily, but not come off as easily.
Most are oversized and slide up and down the wrist. They can either be thin or wide. Thinner bangle bracelets are usually made of 925 silver, steel, or gold. Many people prefer to stack the thinner ones and wear the bigger bangles as an eye-catching statement piece.
These types of bracelets have been very popular in South Asian countries like India and Sri Lanka. Bangles have been worn by practirioners of Hindu and Buddhist religions and are an important staple. In these counties, it’s more likely to find bangles made of pure gold.
The downside to bangles is their stiffness. Bangles, bang. On. Everything. Against your desk, against a counter, etc. Some people also don’t like the weight and the way it slides up and down. Bangles can get in the way of your everyday tasks and be a lot noisier than you wanted.
If you’re looking for a bangle made out of a precious metal, they can become very expensive the wider the bracelet. For bangles that are worn everyday, they will compromise further, creating dents and scratches. This can become costly if you’re wearing a 14K gold bangle bracelet. Check out this sterling silver bangle bracelet from Blue Nile below:
Pros
- Gorgeous statement piece
- Easy slip-on
- Stackable
Cons
- Gets in the way
- Prices jump in gold
Cuff Bracelets
Cuff bracelets are similar to bangle bracelets, but they don’t cover the entire wrist. They actually rest on the wrist bone, leaving a gap on the wrist.
Originally, most cuff bracelets were wide, but as you can imagine, they get expensive quick if they’re in gold or sterling silver at that width. So, there are more cuff bracelets that are thinner.
Cuff bracelets are usually made of hard materials including gold, platinum, sterling silver, and stainless steel. The original cuff bracelet was plain polished metal usually, but engravings and vintage detailing eventually became more popular. Then, gemstones, and diamonds were added to designs, like this criss cross cuff bracelet from James Allen:
When putting on a cuff bracelet, you’ll want to outstretch your arm, spreading your fingers. Holding the cuff bracelet in your other hand, you’ll want to slide the cuff bracelet over the the thumb side of your hand.
Don’t try to stretch the cuff bracelet over your wrist directly. If you do this, it compromises the materials of the bracelet. Adjustable cuff bracelets are a thing, but they should still be put on with care.
A lot of people will stretch the cuff and squeeze the metal to enclose. The metal weakens and it can cause small gemstones or small diamonds to become loose.
Pros
- No clasp to fumble with
