Gold Bracelets - A Buyers Guide

There are many different types of gold bracelets on the market today and different styles suit different people, so any buying guide needs to inform the consumer about as many types as possible. Whether you are into the latest fashion 'must haves' in the shape of fine jewellery lovelinks bracelets, more traditional ornate styles or the more simple gold bangles, you will be spoilt for choice both in independent jewellers shops and in the bigger chain stores.

Gold Bangle Bracelets

Gold bangle bracelets though very understated in design can show a sense of style and class purely by the reflectiveness of the gold itself catching the light as you move. There are more stylised bangles on the market however that cater for those who like to get people's attention in the street or when they're out for the evening. Stylised bangle bracelets range from simple designs, to enamelled shapes being incorporated into the bangle surround or even gold snake shaped bangles which appear as though a snake has wrapped itself around your wrist. Not a style that would appeal to everyone, but certainly eye-catching.

Gold bangles come in two main types, solid gold and hollow gold. The advantages of solid gold bangles, is that they are less likely to dent or deform than hollow bangles, however they are more expensive as you are getting more gold essentially. Plus solid gold bangle bracelets are harder wearing which means they'll last longer and can be handed down through the generations.

Gold bracelet bangles are a versatile item of jewellery which will compliment a wide range of fashions and suit any occasion whether you are attending a dinner party, birthday or going on a date they will always look classy.

Lovelink Gold Bracelets

If you are buying for the younger generation or for someone who likes to change their look on a regular basis, then you may wish to opt for lovelinks gold bracelets as they allow the wearer to become a jewellery designer themselves. They are basically bracelets with beads which are inter-changeable and the wearer can really put their own touch on the design by adding silver, gold beads and even other types of jewellery along the bracelet. Different lengths of bracelet leather are available so you can style yours to be tight around your wrist or loose with more beads. Jewellers even sell beads which have names engraved onto them, so you could have your partners name featured in your lovelinks bracelet.

Ornamental Gold Bracelets

For those of you who want a bracelet with a little more style and finesse then there are a range of handmade and ornate gold bracelets which are available on the market which have various shapes and designs. The types of designs which are available are things such as inter-twined loops, chain-links in various sizes and also bracelets with more complex loops and twists.

Two Colour Gold Bracelets

If you really want to stand out, why not consider gold bracelets made with both white and yellow gold segments. These range in style from heart shaped loops made from yellow gold and smaller intricate white gold chain links which really have the 'wow' factor. There are even some gold bracelets that are made entirely of white gold if you don't like the idea of wearing silver and don't like the colour of yellow gold.

Which ever style of gold bracelet you choose, you're sure to look classy as bangles and bracelets add another level to other types of gold jewellery. Whether you want to impress friends with unique animal shaped bangles, inter-changeable lovelinks jewellery or ornate classically styled bracelets, you'll be amazed at the choice available online or on the high street.

Find a wide selection of quality gold bracelets, from lovelinks and bangles to white & yellow gold bracelets at the John Hollins Fine Jewellery website.

Collecting Vintage Silver Charms & Charm Bracelets

Charms bracelets are back in fashion! Very trendy in the 1960s AND 1970s, they faded from popularity for over 20 years but are back in a big way. Old or new, ready made or lovingly assembled to reflect the owners personality, silver, gold, glass, opening, moving, gem studded, traditional and Italian charms - the variety seems endless. When selecting your charm bracelet you have a choice of buying one with charms ready attached or purchasing a suitable bracelet and adding your own charms or even getting one with some charms already attached and still having room for a few of your own.

It is usual for a silver charm bracelet to fasten with a heart shaped padlock; this padlock snaps shut and does not use a key despite being fashioned with a key hole. Often the bracelet will also have and attached safety chain. If you look carefully there is often ( but not always) an English silver hallmark to be found on the padlock, by reference to a silver hallmarks book it is possible to translate the hallmarks and find the date when the bracelet was made. Other marks which can be found on charms include: Silver, sil and manufacturer's markings such as the highly sought after Nuvo & Chim.

What is a Charm? These are decorative little items of jewelery, often figural in shape. In the past charms have been associated with Good Luck and have been given as Love Tokens. Normally charms are made of metal, silver being the most commonly seen. Gold charms have increase in price recently along with the rising price of gold. Base metal or plastic charms are the budget option however these will probably not wear as well as silver and so silver better buy for those wanting to actually wear their charm bracelet. Please note that most English silver charms do not carry hallmarks. British hallmarking law does not require individual silver items weighing less than 7.8 grams to be hallmarked and it would be very unusual for a silver charm to even approach this weight. Vintage English silver charms will almost certainly be made of .925 grade sterling silver, theoretically it is possible for them to be of a higher grade but English silver would normally adhere to this standard.

Anne Haile - Dealer in small decorative British Antiques & Vintage Jewelry & specialising in Vintage silver charm Bracelets from England. My vintage silver charms : http://www.antiquesavenue.co.uk/vintage-charms-154-c.asp I write regularly about antiques, collectables, vitnage and Jewelry on my blog http://www.antiquesavenue.com

Elegant Charm Of Gold Bracelets

Wearing a gold bracelet or several bracelets stacked altogether along the wrist would certainly grab people's attention. Bracelets are a fun, elegant and sexy way to accentuate your wrists and your outfit.

Gold Bracelets in History

Bracelets have always been around for centuries. These are accessories worn on the wrist and are sometimes called wristbands or bangles. They have been fashioned from a bracer, a covering used in the medieval times.

Gold bracelets vary in designs, in materials, size and shape all over the world, depending on the culture and society. They are small, beautiful and dazzling. These days, they have now become a basic daily accessory like watches and earrings.

Gold Bracelet Styles

They are made out of different materials, like cloth, plastic, silver, gold and other metals. A common gift and a common purchase by women themselves, gold bracelets may be just plain thick or thin bands or they could be accentuated by precious stones. Emeralds, rubies and other gemstones render additional elegance to gold bracelets. This design made a big impact on wealthy women looking for social acceptance as they have always been a reflection of status of prestige and wealth. Unlike other accessories, they were never associated with bad omens. Although, suspicious individuals could always avoid buying gold bracelets with particular stones that they are wary of.

Bracelets vary in sizes according to current fashions of a certain era. The styles were continuously reinvented with the Romans extravagant designs, to the Victorian's design suitable for women, to the 20th century's chic designs.

Anything goes these days in terms of designs, unlike in the past where there were limits and regulation to what kind of pattern or mould would be used. In spite of the varying patterns, the drawback is that, there is mass production of the same mould, and most of the time, you would find the same design on almost every store. Similar to every other trend, the craze in fashion determines what kind of bracelet cut will come out. Gold bracelet fashion has become bolder with time and because of this you can have a lot to choose from. You could also consider getting white gold bracelets as they are more elegant and dazzling in appearance.

If you are thinking of buying one for yourself, or for someone else as a gift, you could always try a local jewelry store or shop. You can also go online as the internet offers a lot of websites selling gold bracelets in all kinds of sizes and designs that you would really love. You can find thousands of bracelets with different patterns, with or without gemstones, made of white or plain gold. You can opt to have gold charm bracelets, gold I.D. bands for your husband, or gold name bracelets for your sister's newborn. There is no need for you to restrict yourself to just one kind of bracelet. If you can afford it, give your outfit some zest. Don't be afraid to be a little bit more dazzling, modeling a very stylish gold bracelet.

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Shopping For White Gold Bracelets in Comparison With Other White Metals

A lot of people are a bit undecided when it comes to buying white gold bracelets, and this is because the metal looks very close to silver, and compared to silver ones, these bracelets are of course more expensive. So how would you know if the piece you're buying is an authentic bracelet and not just a silver one with an overly inflated price tag? Here are some tips.

Look at the markings. Stores don't put the markings on the jewelry they're selling. The Craftsmen do that. If the bracelet is made from silver and not white gold, the markings on the lock would read "92.5" and "S.S". These stand for the grade of the silver and the words "sterling silver". On the other hand, if you're looking at an authentic piece, the lock should have the karat grade of the gold. This can be either 14k or 18k.
Look at the pricing. Naturally, a store wouldn't put an overly expensive price tag on a sterling silver bracelet unless it's set with valuable precious stone. If you're looking at a sterling silver piece, weigh it with your hand. If it's heavy and it costs $200, don't be too impressed yet. It's definitely a silver bracelet. Pricier silver bracelets are chunkier and heavier than other silver pieces. And if the piece of jewelry weighs that much and you expect it to be made from white gold, think again. It's bound to cost a lot more than that.
Look at the tint of the "whiteness". While both bracelets appear whitish gray, silver pieces have more gray in them, while pieces made from other materials are noticeably more radiant. These bracelets also won't tarnish even when you expose it to water or even as it ages. On the other hand, even the highest grade of silver will tarnish with age after a few months. You will have to purchase a cleaning cloth or powder to maintain its sheen.

While these bracelets are very valuable, other "white" metals are even more expensive. These include titanium and platinum. Most people prefer these two metals despite the bigger price tags.

Platinum bracelets, for example, are the only bracelets which can be acquired in their purest form. When you buy platinum bracelets, you can be sure that you're getting 100% platinum and not just an alloy. White gold is an alloy that's mixed with silver and another precious metal, which is why you can only get it in its impure form: either 14k or 18k. A piece that's 24k is going to be too soft. This is not an ideal grade for jewelry pieces.

Titanium, on the other hand, is the hardest precious metal on earth. It's more scratch and dent resistant compared to most other bracelets. However, because of the hardness of this metal, it's also not versatile when it comes to design. Titanium bracelets are great for men's jewelry, but not as impressive as women's bracelets.

To get more ideas about bracelets made from sterling silver and some other materials try visiting also Italian charm bracelet charms, where you will find this and a lot more tips to create your own Zoppini Italian charms bracelet.