There are many different types of handmade jewellery, earrings, pendants, necklaces, brooches and of course bracelets. Bracelets are one of the most versatile pieces that can be worn both buy the young and old and come in many unique designs.

A bracelet is a piece of jewellery that is worn around the wrist and can be crafted from may different types of materials and different designs. You can have bangles that are usually made in one piece and these can be carved out of wood, a semi-precious stones or made from glass. Cuff designs made from metals like gold, silver, copper, brass and you can see these design crafted from leather. Charm bracelets are also very popular and these can be found with beads or charms or a mix of both. Bracelets are worn by both women and men.

The word bracelet comes from the Latin word brachile which means arm. If we look back through history we can see that both Roman and Greek soldiers wore bracelets that had been handmade from soft leather straps and to these were added designs that were inlayed with gold and silver. Woman would wear small versions and only on the wrist now up their arms and many of these designs were crafted from precious metals and set with semi-precious gemstones and so the bracelet was born.

Today the modern day bracelet can be found in many forms and is one of the most popular pieces of handmade jewellery. We have mentioned charm bracelets and in the last few years these have become very popular and can be found in many forms. The traditional designs where made from a heavy gold bracelet that was made from chain that had large links. On these links would be placed charms and these would come in many forms. These would be given to you on special occasions to celebrate a birthday or anniversary or a special event. The charm usually symbolised something like an Eifel tower if you had paid a visit to Paris, a rose if that was your favourite flower or something with a secret meaning and these pieces of unique handmade jewellery were treasured as there was a lot of sentimental value with them along with the monetary value. Today you will see these that have been crafted from many different types of materials, silver is very popular and to these are added charms in plain silver and many that have been enamelled with beautiful bright colours. Some of these charm bracelets have lots of beautiful beads added to their unique and original designs and now you are able to purchase bracelets that only have beads. This is a single bracelet that opens so you can add beads that have a large hole through the centre.

You will find handcrafted bracelets that have been made from precious metals like gold and silver and you will find these in simply elegant designs or you can find some with intricate engravings. These precious metals are also used as settings for semi-precious gemstones and sometimes crystal beads to add shine and shimmer to the unique piece of handmade jewellery.

Bracelets beaded from both glass and semi-precious beads are also very popular and many of these designs have the beautiful beads strung on elastic so that they stretch and will fit any wrist size. This is one of the reasons that make them so popular because it means you can by anyone of these pieces and know that it will fit. It also means that you could buy a bracelet beaded onto elastic as a gift and be confidant that it will fit the recipient. Bracelets of every kind can be worn in for both casual and formal events on their own or with another complimenting piece of handmade jewellery.