Fashion Bracelets: A Guide To The Most Popular Designer Bracelets

A Brief History of Bracelets

While it’s not known exactly when the first bracelets were created, it’s thought to be somewhere between 7,000 and 40,000 years ago. These early examples were made with materials that were accessible and available to each country or continent. In Greece, bracelets were made with silver, bronze and ivory. On the other hand, Roman bracelets were gold and embellished with elaborate gemstones as a way to signify wealth and power. This is vastly different to the first necklaces, which were found to be made of shells, stones and bone fragments. You can read more about the history of necklaces in our Buying A Necklace guide.

There are many reasons why bracelets and other jewellery pieces have been worn throughout history. They were used to denote social standings, for protection (metal cuffs were worn by soldiers during battle to shield against sword attacks), to demonstrate religious affiliations or family origins, or to bring the wearer good luck. For thousands of years, people have been carrying talismans to ward off evil and bracelets became a great way to do this.

As with everything, the bracelets trend has changed over the years, ebbing and flowing in line with era-related developments. Following a dip in their popularity, charm bracelets became one of the most popular bracelets in the late 1800s thanks to Queen Victoria, the head of the British monarchy at the time. She was a huge fan of charm bracelets and was often seen wearing one. (We like to imagine she had charms in the shape of a crown and Buckingham Palace.) She also frequently gave them as gifts, creating a trend among even the elite classes of Europe. This led people to believe that charm bracelets were the best bracelets for women during this time.

Bracelet Trends

On that note, let’s take a look at the trendy bracelets over the years. Over the past few decades, many different fashion bracelets have stolen the spotlight. In the ‘90s, popular bracelets came in the shape of delicate chain and beaded styles. The subtle chain design also made coveted fashion ankle bracelets, which are still popular today.

By the '00s, thick wrist cuffs were the cool bracelets of the time as the chunky look was taking over. They were made with leather or metal and could be very decorative with lots of embellishments. The diamond cuff bracelet was a popular designer bracelet style on red carpets during this era, with many celebrities wearing them to accessorise their glamorous dresses.

Around the same time, leather became a popular choice if you were looking for men’s fashion bracelets. These are still just as popular today and many men are probably wearing the same exact ones that they bought over 20 years ago as leather is a natural material that’s guaranteed to last. We would know, we’re experts in it. If you’re wondering ‘where does leather come from’ and are looking to find out more about it, you can Discover Useful Answers To All Your Leather Questions in our guide.

Bright and beaded styles were the next trendy bracelet that everyone needed in their jewellery box. In the early 2000s, these statement pieces were worn day-to-day with both casual and glamorous looks.

During 2014, bracelets were very common with women of all ages, and it was during this time that many variations of the bracelet were popular, all at the same time. These included thin chain bracelets (that were delicately layered up with others), chunky bangles (also stacked one against the other on the wearer’s wrists), clasp bracelets, friendship bracelets, charm bracelets and more.

Trends always have a way of returning. And it was the chunky, cool bracelets that came back for 2022, as seen in trend reports. These bangles came in coloured, metallic or black styles to add a statement finish on the arms of fashion insiders and celebrities. It’s being reported that cuffs are set to return again as popular bracelets for spring/summer 2024 according to Vogue, alongside metallic chain link styles.

What are Types of Popular Bracelets?

Bangles

A bangle is most often crafted in metal with a rigid, inflexible shape. They are typically a solid circle or C-shaped design without a clasp, that can be put on by pushing it on over the hand.

Friendship Bracelets

A symbol of friendship, often gifted to a person’s close friend. These are popular bracelets that might be crafted with decorative beading or colourful threads. They may even be handmade for a personal, thoughtful touch.

Tennis Bracelets

A sparkling diamond fashion bracelet that has nothing to do with tennis – except its name. We have professional tennis player Chris Evert to credit with that as she famously paused her US Open match in 1987 in order to find the diamond bracelet that had just falling off her wrist. (It has been argued that the term tennis bracelet was coined before this event in reference to the fact she wore this particular accessory during all her matches, but it cannot be denied that became more widely used after the events of 1987.) An interesting piece of general knowledge – we’d recommend remembering this as you never know when it’ll come up in a quiz.  

Charm Bracelets

One of the most popular designer bracelets, the charm bracelet is often made with a metal chain that can be personalised with detachable charms in all shapes. These are deemed as very cool bracelets that, along with the individual charms, may be given as gifts or specifically chosen by the wearer as a way to express their individuality. Some of the more minimal, lightweight styles can also make popular fashion ankle bracelets.

Multi-Strand Bracelets

The multi-strand bracelet is designed to look like lots of trendy bracelets layered together. They are typically crafted with delicate metal chains that have extra loops to order for an adjustable, extendable fit. The chains may be uniform in design or may differ with gemstones or pearl bead details to create a decorative, layered look.

Slider Bracelets

While most bracelets have dainty lobster clasps, the slider bracelet has a toggle that slides up and down the ends in a similar way to a drawstring. These are one of the best bracelets for women due to the way they can be tightened and loosened in order to fit the wearer’s wrist. This adjustability means they can be worn by anyone.

Leather Bracelets

This is one of the most common types of men’s fashion bracelets. Simple, subtle and incredibly durable, they’re most commonly crafted with a strip of leather and some form of clasp to connect the ends. They’re considered one of the best, cool bracelets for men, partly due to their sleek look and also thanks to their quality and durability. Find out how our gold-standard leathers are sustainable and get the most out of your leather accessories with our guide on how to care for genuine leather. 

Medical ID Bracelets

In contrast to the above popular designer bracelets, these are a way to keep your important medical information on you at all times. Medical ID bracelets are worn in case of emergencies, to provide medical responders with vital information about your health. They are most often worn by people with known allergies, diabetes, epilepsy and more.

Adjustable Bracelets

These may be extendable charm and chain bracelets, or friendship bracelets with slider fastenings. Whatever the style, these are the best bracelets for women as they can be adjusted easily to fit anyone’s wrist. On the other hand, one-size bracelets would need to be taken to the jewellers to be altered for a better fit.

Jewellery Tips

When you’ve invested in new jewellery pieces, such as popular designer bracelets, fashion ankle bracelets and necklaces, you’ll want them to last. To ensure they do, make sure you’re buying high quality styles made using the best materials. Once you’ve got them home, you can also keep them in top condition by taking care of them. Use our handy tips below to ensure yours stay in perfect condition.

1. Be sure to remove jewellery when washing your hands, cleaning or when coming into contact with anything but water. It's recommended to also remove your jewellery while you sleep, although high quality jewellery pieces can often withstand some tossing and turning during the night.
2. Take your bracelets off when swimming in pools or the sea as salt water and chlorine can damage and tarnish metal.
3. Be extra careful when wearing genuine pearl jewellery as these mineral gems are porous. This means they will absorb particles on their surface – from make-up to sun cream. Even water can damage and change pearls, so avoid getting them wet.
4. Always check the care instructions that come with your accessory. We’d suggest this same advice whether you’ve purchased a new gold-plated bracelet or a leather handbag.
5. Regularly clean your jewellery and fashion bracelets to maintain their condition and ensure they keep their lustre. For men’s fashion bracelets that are crafted in leather, make sure you have leather care cleaners to hand.
6. Store fine jewellery items in individual dust bags or stacking jewellery boxes to avoid them tangling or accumulating dust.