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Cuff example

Categories: Products; Instruction and information; Jewelry

Word count/read time: 729 words; 3 minutes

I'm certain the sh!t has been written about this but here's my version of bracelets 101. There are essentially four styles: cuff, bangle, chain, and cord. There are hybrids combining several styles and subcategories though this sums everything up. Other bracelet types are merely a version of the above.

Charm, birthstone or gemstone, pearl, and more are just marketing terms. They can be attached or incorporated into any bracelet. A car is a car, though it might be an SUV, sport car, or family sedan. It's still a car, not a motorcycle or bus.

Style: Cuff - It has a slit so it can slide over the wrist. It is generally a solid piece though a soldered chain or similar construction can act as a solid piece. Regardless, it relies on its rigidity to hold its shape.

Pros: No clasp. Easy to wear. Can be sized so it stays close to the wrist instead of traveling the length of your forearm like a bangle. Its shape can more closely resemble the actual anatomical structure of a wrist as opposed to a bangle, which has to be round.
Cons: Depending on how it's constructed, the slot can be too large and it can slide off easily. If it's not strong enough, the ends can get caught on clothes or other objects and spread open. Extra wide examples can restrict wrist movement.
Ideal Fit: Close to the wrist. Slot should be small enough to require spreading it a little to get it on.

Style: Bangle - It is designed to slip over the hand. This is generally a solid piece without a clasp or slit. It can also refer to a bracelet which has a slot but acts like a bangle (similar to a bypass ring).

Pros: Generally no clasp, easy to wear.
Cons: It is much larger than a cuff given the extra diameter required to slide over the hand. Thus, it can be "all over the place." Too large and it can fall off, which is a big concern since the default position of someone's arm is hanging at their side. It can also interfere with hand and wrist function.
Ideal Fit: It should require some wriggling to get it over the hand though it will still travel a lot along the forearm.

Style: Chain or segmented - Like the word says, it is composed of chain links or small units that are interlinked. This includes beads, tennis bracelets, pearl strings, and similar ones. It may be a simple, narrow 2-in-1 chain or a wide, complex chainmail weave. For precious metal examples, a little metal goes a long way.

Pros: Among the most beautiful and diverse styles of jewelry, there is a chain to suit every preference! They are easy to make with pliers and a pile of jump rings - at least the novelty or accessory versions. Dainty gold or silver ones are nearly weightless.
Cons: They require clasps which can be troublesome for some. More delicate than cuffs or bangles, their fluid nature can become caught or snagged easily. Poorly made metal chains, which are far too common, tear fabric and cut flesh due to sharp edges and shoddy construction...if they don't fall apart first. More expensive due to the labor involved.
Ideal Fit: Smaller than a bangle and usually equal to or larger than a cuff. The clasp may require additional length to function properly. Like many pieces of jewelry, how it fits is subjective.

Style: Cord or rope - These are mostly textiles or natural substances, like a fabric, leather cord, or plant fiber, and are often a woven design. Some metal construction (snake chains or certain chainmail weaves like Jens Pind Linkage and Candy Cane Cord) could be categorized here along with kumihimo, Viking knit, loop-in-loop, braids, plaits, and wire-wrapped. Wire and solid bands would fall here, too. They are usually flexible and/or sinewy but not always round. Most have clasps of some sort.

Pros: Natural and synthetic fibers are the least expensive, lightest weight, and the most hypoallergenic. Color selections are unmatched.
Cons: It might have a clasp and the resultant problems. More prone to wear, fabrics and leathers get dirty and smelly, as do natural fibers. Fouls odors and ugly stains are not high-fashion.
Ideal Fit: Similar to a chain.

Posted by M: November 11, 2025

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