History and Evolution of Bracelets

Overview

It is unknown as to when the first bracelet was discovered, however, the bracelet has been a part of human culture for centuries. The bracelet of today is the result thousands of years of evolution of this piece of jewellery. Through continued development in the designs and materials used in the manufacture of different categories of bracelets, we have today arrived at what we know as fashion bracelets. Bracelets have evolved through various phases of time and centuries. Let’s take a look at the evolution of the cuff bracelet.

Bracelet History:

 

·         Early bracelets: Wearing the bracelet as an adornment may have started approximately 7000 years ago. Archaeologists have discovered evidences of the bracelet across ancient civilizations in Egypt, China and Mesopotamia. The ancient bracelets were made of brass, different types of grass, copper, shells, limbs and twigs. When the Bronze Age passed, bracelets started being made with silver and gold. Jewellery then started to be used as a means of emphasizing opulence and wealth.

·         Ancient Egypt: Till the time of their First Dynasty, the Egyptians had been wearing silver and gold bracelets that had been decorated with various semi-precious stones. The dexterous gold smiths of the New Kingdom crafted various inlaid designs made with African Gemstones. Though these bracelets were often buried in the tombs as the possessions of the deceased, there is evidence that suggests that these were worn as decorative or ritual jewelry.

·          Mediterranean influences: The ancient Greeks are known for wearing cuffs on their lower and upper arms as pieces of decoration. The ancient Greeks wore cuffs on the upper and lower arm as decoration. There is evidence that suggests that the Greek soldiers wore metal cuffs and cuffs made of wide leather as a part of their uniform. There was also the trend of wearing coiled gold bangles with the appearance of snakes.

·         Asian artistry: About as early as 2000 B.C., there existed intricate bangles and cuffs carved in jade, in China. Gold bracelets and metal bracelets were also greatly valued in China and they liked to etch these with elaborate patterns of animals, mythical creatures and components of nature.

·         European revival: During the 17^th century, the bracelets was revived as a fashion accessory by the European women. European women revived bracelets as common fashion accessories in the 17th century. They initiated the trend of wearing ribbons with thin bangles and often wore many at a time. During the 19^th century, the bracelet chain became a stylish accessory. The charm bracelets with lockets dangling off them also became a popular fashion accessory during the Victorian Era.

·         20th century: The 20^th century eased the accessibility of and brought with itself, bracelets of multitudes of designs and styles. The Industrial Revolution facilitated the mass production of bracelets and consequently, they became more easily available. The late 19^th century gave way to the clean lines of the Art Deco period. The jewelry designers added plastics and Bakelite to mainstream jewelry during the 1930s and plastic bangles became widely popular among young girls. Charm bracelets made of sterling silver and gold-plated brass became popular among women and girls during the 1950s.

·         21st century: There occurred several lasting innovations in the design and material of the bracelets during the past century. For cuff bracelets, bangles and link bracelets, silver became a more common material. Silver bracelets became immensely popular. This trend popularized with the mass production of silver jewelry during the 20^th century. Several lasting innovations in bracelet design occurred in the last decade.

Conclusion

Developing a basic understanding of the evolution of the different types of bracelets is essential for being able to understand the developments in the designs and materials used during different time periods. Having a knowledge of the various eras and the jewellery trends prevalent during those times helps in understanding the prevailing contemporary trends a bit better.

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