Bracelets

The piece of jewellery most often worn on the wrist is a bracelet - traditionally made from leather, cloth or metal. Today’s bracelets are made from a wider variety of materials, including rubber, plastics, nylon, metal, cloth/string and leather. Ancient bracelets were adorned with shells, rocks and wood; modern embellishments include semi-precious gemstones, such as birth stones, and precious stones like diamonds. There are a variety of bracelet styles, from tennis bracelets encrusted with diamonds or other precious gemstones to charm bracelets that can be customised and added to over time. There are bracelets for men, women and children.

Popular bracelets today include: charm bracelets, bangles and gemstone bracelets. Charm bracelets are ideal for children as they are generally inexpensive, and allow for both growth and customisation as the child gets older and develops different interests. There are more sophisticated versions of the charm bracelet, suitable for stylish women – though these aren’t as cheap as their juvenile counterparts, adult charm bracelets are just as much fun, allowing the owner to add charms to personalise the gift.

Bangles are ‘solid’ bracelets - usually they’re not adjustable and have no clasp to speak of. They are generally made of metal, though rubber bangles and leather bangles are also popular. Bangle bracelets are sometimes made from glass and can be worn in specific groupings to create a twinkling sound when the wearer moves around.

Bracelets featuring gemstones are also popular gifts. Generally, a gemstone bracelet can cost as much as you’re willing to pay – this is because gemstones vary tremendously in value depending on their characteristics and rarity. Probably the most iconic gemstone bracelet is the tennis bracelet, comprised of tightly-linked segments, each adorned with a diamond or other precious stone.

It’s been said that jewellery isn’t just something to look at – it’s an investment. Just as there are a plethora of styles, bracelets also price ranges, some are suitable for collectors looking to enrich their precious jewel collections; others are great for people who are just starting to collect jewellery’; and some are even suitable for children.

Buying a bracelet online can seem daunting, however, there are a number of reputable online jewellers out there offering tremendous savings for savvy consumers. When considering which online merchant would be best for buying your bracelet, look for: a merchant with a phone number, so you can call and talk to someone if you have questions; a merchant with an actual shop, so you can stop in and take a look in person if you wish; a jeweller with a clearly stated returns policy; a shop that has a guarantee or certification of quality to dispatch with gemstones, precious metals, etc.

You’ll also need to know the wrist size off the person who will wear the bracelet – for most jewellers, simply measuring the person’s wrist in inches or centimetres will suffice. If you want to be sneaky, take a look at the person’s watch – there should be an indentation on the band at the notch the wearer uses, simply measure from that notch to the other end of the band to get your measurement. Often, bracelets can be adjusted to compensate for weight changes or mis-sizing – it’s important to check with the jeweller before buying if you’re concerned about being able to resize the bracelet in the future.