Bracelets have been worn for thousands of years and are made of fine metals. They have been worn by both men and women in different cultures and can be an ornate piece of art or a simpler metal band. Armlets are also worn as part of a uniform to indicate rank or status.
A bracelet is a piece of jewelry worn around the upper arm much like a bracelet is worn around the wrist. Archaeological discoveries and works of art have shown that bangles have been worn for thousands of years and were a part of many ancient cultures. Sometimes also referred to as an arm or bracelet, they are usually made of fine metals such as silver or gold and can be wider with elaborate designs or narrower bands of delicate shapes or features.
While worn more often by women in recent times, historical works have often depicted men and women wearing bracelets. In some cultures, such as Sri Lanka, some men still wear a traditional bracelet on their wedding day. Many Eastern and Middle Eastern cultures also have a large amount of art showing heroes and deities wearing armbands. Kandyan drummers can be seen wearing armbands while performing, even in the 21st century.
Normally, however, a woman wears a bracelet as a piece of jewelry. Typically this will be worn with a sleeveless garment to show how the metal contrasts against her skin and because the binding nature of the jewelry accentuates a woman’s features to a slimming effect. This is similar to how a bracelet can draw someone’s attention to the narrowest part of a woman’s wrist or ankle and have an overall slimming effect. A bracelet can draw the viewer’s attention to an attractive arm and give a woman a more striking appearance.
A bracelet can be an ornate piece of art or a simpler metal band. Many bracelets will also have a particular style or motif, such as a Celtic knot pattern or a serpentine texture and sculpted snake head. Such pieces can often be popular as costume jewelry, especially when a person wishes to appear as an ancient Egyptian queen, Arabian dancer, or Greek goddess.
The term armlet is also used in British English to refer to what is known as a brassard in American English. This is a piece of cloth that is worn around the arm as a bracelet. Such items are typically worn as part of a uniform to indicate rank or status, or to indicate that someone is part of an organization such as the American Red Cross or the government agencies of several different countries.
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