Wearing 1920s bracelet goes way back to the medieval ages. There were used as wrist ornaments to complement the beauty in women.Throughout history, many prominent women wore bracelets for decorative purposes. Among these women are Cleopatra, Marilyn Monroe, and Michelle Obama. The wearing of bracelets can be traced back to 5000 B.C. in Ancient Egyptians. However, several archeologists have claimed to find artifacts with bracelets that are believed to date 9500 back.
Bracelet is a word derived from the Greek word “brachile,” meaning “of the arm.” Various materials were used and are still used to create bracelets. They include metals, clothes, leather, plastic, and many other materials. They were worn with or as jewelry. In the past, materials such as sea shells, stones, pearls, and crystals were also used to create bracelets. Bracelets are available in many types and our article today focuses on antique and vintage bracelets, especially 1920s bracelet styles. Read on for interesting facts about these bracelet types.
Cuff Bracelet
Cuff bracelet styles are often rigid and broad that rest around the wrist without closing together. A cuff bracelet has a gap in the inner side of the wrist. Cuff-style bracelets are often worn around the lower wrist instead of further up the arm. Navajo and Zuni silversmiths are believed to craft cuff bracelets for traveling tourists in the 19th century.
The tourists used to travel on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad to Los Angeles from Chicago in the 1920s. Large pieces of turquoise dominated these 1920s bracelet styles. Others chose to highlight them with grid formation or small stones.
Charm Bracelet
Charm bracelets are delicate jewelry pieces used for decorative purposes around the wrist. It is not quite clear when this type of bracelet came into existence. It has trinkets or charms that make it attractive as a hand jewelry piece. This type of bracelet was found in Africa and is estimated to be over 75,000 years. The bracelet was decorated with shells. These types of vintage bracelets can be traced in Europe over 30,000 back. As a 1920s bracelet style, charm bracelets became fashionable around the world. Soldiers who fought in the 1st and the 2nd world war sent charm bracelets to their wives, mothers, and daughters who were stationed as mementos. Actresses in Hollywood began wearing charm bracelets on the screen in the 1950s. The trend continues to this age.
Book Chain Bracelets
This is another 1920s bracelet style that regained its popularity now in Europe. This type of bracelet has links of rectangular folded metal. Each link looks like a tiny book. This type of 1920s bracelet style came into existence first in the Victorian Era. It continued to the Edwardian Era when they were engraved as wrist jewelry. What made it even more popular was the Victorian Jewelry Revival, which happened in the 1930s and 1940s in the Art Deco period.
Gate 1920s bracelet
The origin of these 1920s bracelet styles is not yet established, but they became popular in the Victorian Era. The name gate bracelet means an unusual chain style that consists of interlocking barred panels. They sort of look like the fences and gates of country estates and English castles. The gate bracelet style is the same as the fetter and Belcher links.
The key difference is that gate bracelets have large-sized heart-shaped charms. The lock and key of the charm convey the Victorian concept of romanticism and innocence. These bracelets were often made of 9, 10, or 14-carat gold. Platinum was not yet discovered in the Victorian Era, and silver was not fashionable.
Clamper Bracelet
You will notice this 1920s bracelet style from the spring-type clasp fixed around the wrist. Various materials were used to design these types of bracelets, including gold, silver, iron, rhinestones, plastic, and diamond. Clamper bracelets were often complemented with other jewelry pieces, such as brooches and earrings. The 1960s saw neon clamper bracelets becoming quite popular. They are still fashionable now, with those having matching earrings and brooches gaining more popularity.
Torsade 1920s bracelet
Together with a clasp, torsade bracelets have several strands of pearls and beads. The name torsade in French stands for “cable” or twist. They are relatively older 1920s bracelet styles that were found in Ancient Egypt. You can easily find these types of bracelets at Alex and Company and order them online.
Chain Link Bracelets
If you are a vintage bracelet fanatic, these types will amuse you. They are precisely what their name suggests since they are made from chains. The chains may consist of different types. They can also be thin and delicate or chunky and robust. As 1920s bracelet styles, these pieces are beautiful when worn with colorful attire.
Tennis or Line Bracelets
Line or tennis bracelets are made up of a series of square or rectangular links set in one line. These bracelets are slim and flexible. The stones used to make these bracelets may be a combination of different types or identical. The first pieces of the line of tennis bracelets can be traced back to the 20th century when they became quite popular. As 1920s bracelet types, they reflected the geometric design ethos and regular patterns of the Art Deco time.
They were popularly worn with flapper dresses, and they had a revival in the 1980s. Setting these bracelets with diamonds changes their name to a tennis bracelet. Fine jewelry can consist of a gemstone with a silver or gold setting. They can also be silver or gold and set with crystal stones or glass as costume jewelry.
Slide Bracelets
A slide 1920s bracelet style is an open clasp where a chain or ribbon can go through. The back looks like a buckle, while the front slide is quite detailed. A slide bracelet has a chain in one or two rows with individual slides. Small balls are used to separate the slides. These 1920s bracelet styles go way back to the Victorian Era. Victorian slides included miniature portraits, bejeweled or engraved pieces, and small watch faces. The watch faces came from removed watch fobs or stick pins.
In the 1940s and 1950s, a slide bracelet revival saw them become fashionable again. Instead of using recycled fobs that were common in older versions, slide bracelets use antique slide imitations, which make them look prominent and chunky.
Bangle 1920s bracelet
Bangle bracelets date back to ancient times, even though they are still popular. Any material that is easily forged, curved, or molded may make bangle bracelets. They include silver, gold, wood, beads, leather, or copper. These bracelets are often worn by slipping through the hand and over the wrist.
However, there are others with hinges or clasps, known as hinged bangles. You can wear one or several bangles, depending on your preference, and they can be narrow or chunky. What makes bangle bracelets popular is their low cost and versatility.
Pearl Bracelets
Since time immemorial, pearl bracelets and other pearl jewelry have enjoyed a huge amount of popularity. In the Renaissance and Baroque periods, Baroque pearls were quite popular. In the 20th century, glass and natural pearls were common materials for making bracelets and necklaces as costume jewelry.
Conclusion
Even though these 1920s bracelet styles are still popular, their origins can be traced back to the ancient times and medieval ages. Back then, bracelets were mostly worn by women to complement their beauty. Some wore them as a symbol of stature, depending on the material they were made from. Nowadays, bracelets are worn by both men and women as jewelry or as a form of symbolism. The cost of 1920s bracelet styles will depend on the material they are made from.
