Gold & Silver Bangle Bracelets

Gold & Silver Bangle Bracelets

The never-ending trend of bangle bracelets is being seen everywhere. Not just on television and in fashion magazines. But even at malls and grocery stores – bangles are hot fashion accessories. And with so much popularity found with bangle bracelets, designers are now coming up with bracelets that are trendier and very different from the bangle you remember from years past.

The bangle bracelet category runs wide encompassing everything from thick to thin, wide and narrow, bright and conservative to just about any other combination you can come up with. In addition to the size of the bracelet, you have to consider color, texture and overall design. You can use your imagination to build upon your current style to create something new and trendy.

BANGLE BRACELET FROM AMAZON.COM

If you favor skinny bangle bracelets, then try something new and unique by using interlocking bracelets in different hued metals. As an example, try rose gold, yellow gold, and sterling silver intertwined bracelets for a new casual look. Or, look for bracelet sets that use thick and thin designs. Choosing a set with an interesting main design and pairing it with smaller wire thin bracelets will create a great sense of balance.

If you enjoy the boho chic look, then you can add bangle bracelets that have more earthly textures. Try thick carved wooden, cork or even plastic bangles with unique designs. Or, pile on an armful of thread wrapped thin bangle bracelets in bright colors to liven up any summer outfit. Anything that uses fabrics or beads is great for creating a new bracelet look that is easy chic when paired with a tee and cut off jeans.

When it comes bangle bracelets, don’t be afraid to mix and match. Shake things up. For example, find a bracelet that is very skinny on one side, and thicker on the other side. This will add a lot of interest to your look. Play around and buy a few bangle bracelets that you really like and mix with ones you already have. This is an excellent way to expand your options, as you’ll get a ton of new looks.

Don’t be afraid of wild colors or extreme designs. Mix and match using new bracelets with your old bracelets and it will always be easy to find just the right look for whatever the wardrobe or occasion.

Gold Bangle Standing The Test Of Time

There are very few “new” ideas in jewelry. Every part of the body seems to be taken care of – chains and necklaces for the neck, combined with amulets for the upper chest; rings for the fingers and toes; earrings for the ears; even nose rings for the nose.

There is an interesting clash of cultural ideas when it comes to the wrist, however. Males generally only wear watches, being, as they are, traditionally bound to “functional” jewelry rather than “aesthetic” jewelry. Around the world, however, woman, the more elegant sex, seems to be undecided over the question of whether to wear bracelets or bangles.

History

It is a very curious fact that the bangle style seems to have originated in many places at once. India is the most popular example, of course – in today’s culturally aware world, who is not familiar with the classic image of an Indian woman clad in a colorful silk sari with her arms covered in sparkling bangles? Interestingly, however, most Indian bangles are made of colored glass – while one can find bangles made of precious metal in India, they are not all that common (the exception being Indian royalty, who wore gold and silver bangles). Simultaneously, bangles also seem to have arisen in many African cultures, where they are most commonly made from pottery-style earthenware or ceramic – again, excepting royalty and upper-class nobility, who wore metal bangles.

And when the style of wearing bangles finally migrated to Europe, the Italian jewelers put their usual classic touch on it by taking metal bangles (gold or silver) and engraving them with detailed goldwork and filigree. The French jewelry houses adapted the traditional Indian bangle design and turned it into the gold bangle bracelet, with added layers of detail and a generally higher quality of craftsmanship. Originally, Indian gold bangles were made of 24k gold (which is 99.99% gold by purity), which meant that the gold was so pure that the bangles would occasionally get misshapen due to regular use. European jewelers rectified this by creating 14k gold bangles, which were made of a gold-heavy alloy that was strong enough to withstand the stresses of daily use.

Of course, there were some people who preferred the original Indian designs – particularly, the Indian bangle bracelets, an absolutely luxurious (albeit heavy) work of design. These bangles became quite popular since they dazzle as nothing but gold can. They were followed by several other variations on the theme. For example, look at the white gold bangle – an absolutely beautiful creation, and unique to Europe since the Indians did not use white gold. Even today, many jewelry fashionistas agree that yellow gold can sometimes be limiting, since it draws attention away from the outfit; also, it cannot be worn with a wide variety of colors. White gold eliminates both of these problems, adding a much more subtle touch to any dress – as tasteful jewelry should. Most Indian jewelry is higher in karat, 21k and 22k gold bangles are the most common, lower karat jewelry is not desired and thought of as being a lower class to the masses in India. At a traditional Indian wedding, it is common to find that guests will offer gifts of gold bracelets, gold earrings and gold necklaces, again all usually being 22k, and usually in complete sets.

Modern Day

Of course, one of the most striking effects about bangles is their sparkle, and the best way to maximize this is to incorporate jewels into the design – and as far as jewels go, nothing sparkles like a diamond. A diamond gold bangle can be pricey, but the effect of the dazzle that they give off is absolutely stunning. In a well-lit room, absolutely nobody will miss the light glinting off your wrist and catching their eye.

Bangles are an interesting design; some would say they offer more versatility than bracelets. They are certainly more exotic, and far more unusual – and after all, if jewelry is about creating uniqueness in appearance, then bangles would certainly seem to fit the bill.

Sterling Silver Bangle Bracelet Set

For a hip way to accessorize that never goes out of style and works with practically any outfit, you can’t go wrong with a set of sterling silver bangles. They are simple and elegant and contribute a youthful quality that adults can easily pull off. Whether you are a preteen or a mature woman, silver bangle bracelets tell the world how great you feel. They can go with nearly any kind of other accessories, too, which makes them extremely versatile. Combine a few silver bangles with some great earrings and heels, and you’ve got a great, updated look for any outfit. Bangles come in all sorts of shapes, styles, and sizes. You could find even find an engraved silver bangle with any message you want.

Silver Bangles

The jewelry world has long been divided on one particular issue – the question of bracelets versus bangles. However, these days it is generally agreed that bangles are probably the more elegant solution, particularly because they have a certain feminine touch about them. The bracelet has always been more of a man’s device, but bangles are the perfect statement of femininity – the perfect circle, symbolizing elegance and perfection. They are also far more versatile and offer a much wider variety of choice and customizability than do bracelets.

Choice and customizability in bracelets are primarily limited to a couple of things – what metal the bracelet is made of, the size of the links, and the jewels that are embedded into the design. The choices become even narrower for women’s bracelets – the metal is usually either gold, silver or white gold; the size of the links is always kept to a minimum, because feminine bracelets are expected to look petite; and as a result of this size issue, the jewels are almost always unnoticeable, even when they are diamonds. This means that every female bracelet is, in essence, more or less identical.

Not so with bangles. They are a reflection of the exotic Indian and African cultures in which they originate – they are far more adventurous, prettier, and have a much more original sparkle to them. They are not, in the words of one leading jewelry fashion expert, “as dull” as the creations of some of the staid and less inspired European designs that have not been innovated on in years. On the contrary, bangles make a statement and celebrate the liberation and exhilarating freedom of the modern girl.

When purchasing bangles, it is important to keep in mind the kind of occasion that you are purchasing them for. Bangles, unlike more conservative designs like bracelets, cannot always be worn at every occasion – for example, copper bangles with rich orange highlights will only work with certain kinds of outfits and at certain kinds of events.

It is important to remember that bangles can always be dressed down, but not always dressed up. If you attend a lot of formal events and want bangles that offer you the maximum versatility, it is hard to beat the silver bangle, which is appropriate for a wide range of events. If you are purchasing a silver bangle, it is important to make sure they are pure or sterling silver bangles – keep in mind that pure silver will bend more easily, which is why a sterling silver bangle will be the better choice for longevity and durability. There are also crossover designs, such as the sterling silver bangle bracelet, which can be quite suitable even for more formal events.

Of course, Indian tradition says that more formal bangles – such as those worn to commemorate an event or a special occasion, such as the marriage of a close relative – should be heavier. This is because bangles with more weight to them have more presence; there is something quite arresting about a solid gold or solid silver bangle that cannot quite be put in words. These, of course, can be expensive; but then, they are not meant to be worn every day.

Bangles offer a wide range of choice for the forward-thinking fashion expert. Gold bangles are another alternative if silver isn’t your thing if you tend to stick to costume jewelry you’ll find another alternative such as glass, plastic and a load of other metals and materials to suit your taste.  If you are a person that enjoys being the center of attraction, take advantage of the opportunities afforded to you by brighter color combinations that you would not be able to get with more traditional jewelry, such as bracelets or necklaces.