The Ultimate Guide to a Fine Jewelry Wardrobe – Part 5 BRACELETS

The Ultimate Guide to a Fine Jewelry Wardrobe – Part 5 BRACELETS

No matter how many wonderful earrings, necklaces, or rings you may have in your jewelry box, no jewelry wardrobe is complete without bracelets. Like rings, bracelets can be enjoyed by the wearer as much as by the viewer, because they are visible without a mirror. Also, unlike bands that signify commitment, bracelets are often associated with self-empowerment. Many women convey something unique about themselves with their bracelets, such as personalized stacks that showcase individual style, chunky charm bracelets that commemorate beloved memories, statement cuffs that convey power and status. Here we will explore the essential types of bracelets that should be in your fine jewelry wardrobe. 

“Throughout my six decade journey in high jewelry design, bracelets have often been a source of both delight and frustration,” says Giuseppe Picchiotti, lead designer and founder of the PICCHIOTTI maison. “I love designing bracelets and helping women choose the perfect bracelet for themselves, mostly because they get to enjoy it every time they look down at their hands. But I have often heard consistent complaints about the difficulty of clasping bracelets. I always felt driven to find a luxury solution, and the Xpandable™️ technology that we pioneered at PICCHIOTTI is one of my proudest achievements. The bracelets easily slide on and off, with no clasp and no safety required. I hope it inspires my clients to wear their bracelets more often and to wear as many as they want!”

Tennis Bracelets – Contemporary Classics

The tennis bracelet is a classic line bracelet, also originally referred to occasionally as the eternity bracelet, that features a consecutive strand of individual diamonds all linked together. The style was popularized in the 1920s but it earned the nickname “tennis bracelet” in the’80s, when tennis pro Chris Evert famously stopped a match to retrieve her broken diamond bracelet. The versatility of this jewelry wardrobe staple has made it a best seller over the decades as it can easily be worn with black tie, business, and casual attire alike.  Contemporary styles include not only a line of identical diamonds but also of various shapes of diamonds, as well as different sizes and colors of diamonds. The designers at PICCHIOTTI have also reinvented this iconic bracelet by introducing a wide variety of styles with colored gemstones – rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and fancy yellow diamonds. Many styles include exciting alternating patterns of diamonds and rubies, or diamonds with sapphires or emeralds or both.  PICCHIOTTI also offers their tennis bracelets in yellow, rose, or white gold, or mixed metals, depending on your personal preference. Be sure to choose the metal that works best with your skin tone. 

 When shopping for a tennis bracelet, always try it on. Assess the comfort of the bracelet, make sure it does not pull your arm hair or feel too tight. Also, ensure that it feels secure and will not easily come off as you move. PICCHIOTTI’s remarkable Xpandable™️ technology has revolutionized the classic tennis bracelet, offering both comfort and ease to fans. The technology is invisible. It gently expands and contracts to slide over your hand, so it is always easy to put on and easy to take off. No cumbersome clasp or safety required! To see how it functions, watch the video here. The science behind the technology is very durable. The bracelets will always contract back, never getting stretched out. So, wear the bracelets with confidence and style. Giuseppe recommends wearing them daily. The Xpandable technology is strong enough to endure daily wear. No need to let your favorite tennis bracelets sit in the safe. Wear them regularly to add a little everyday elegance to your overall style.

Bangles – Your Signature Stack

Another bracelet favorite is the beautiful bangle. Worn by many global cultures in layers for the pleasant aural sensation of the gentle clinking of the precious metal, the bangle does inspire creativity and the fun of building your own signature stack. Usually defined as a rigid or perfectly round bracelet that holds its shape, the bangle is often a hard bracelet made of durable precious metals like silver, gold, and platinum. Basic gold bangles with minimal or no design are often gifted to Indian brides as a store of wealth over the long haul. Should anything happen to the groom, the bride can sell the bangles or have them melted down to liquify the asset. But many designers today enjoy re-creating the bangle in fun new ways that help you to personalize your look, either when wearing a single bracelet or when stacking them up one or both wrists. Recent ready-to-wear runway looks from fashion designers in New York, Milan, Paris, and London have featured bracelets on both wrists. So don’t be shy about doubling your stack. 

PICCHIOTTI encourages women to stack and layer their bangles for a unique look. No one else will choose exactly the same bracelets, so the perfect stack can help you stand out. The Xpandable technology, as referenced above, makes it easy and comfortable to wear more than one. The Xpandable bracelets are very similar to a bangle in that they hold their shape and they slide on/off over the hand. PICCHIOTTI designers have recreated the typical gold bangle in their Gold Accent Xpandable assortment with gold channels that frame the gemstones or with sections of gold in between diamonds and gemstones. 

Bangles also come in a variety of widths. Bolder fashion personalities tend to prefer wider bangles, while those with more demure tastes opt for slender bangles. Lovers of color will appreciate the vast variety of designs from PICCHIOTTI. The brand’s iconic “8158” bracelet has been reinterpreted in a wide variety of looks, often with hard or opaque stones like coral, lapis, onyx, turquoise, mother-of-pearl, and more, along with some options that add more white diamonds or black onyx into the geometric design. Offered in both wide and thinner designs, these bracelets make a unique stack and can be collected over the years as new designs emerge. The Xpandable Fashion Gems assortment also evokes a remarkable sense of style for everyday wear, no special occasion required. Once again offered in both thin and wider versions, these designs embrace opaque colors and gem ceramic to create distinctive designs in mother-of-pearl, turquoise, white ceramic, and more. These bangle bracelets are offered in yellow, rose, white gold for added variety.  In the contemporary world, there is no longer a need to separate or match your metals. Your stack can include metals of various colors, as well as gems and designs in more than one color of gemstone. Almost every PICCHIOTTI bangle design has at least some diamond accents, so you can feel free to stack your bangles together with your tennis bracelets for a varied and sophisticated look. 

Cuffs – Wrist Wrapping Perfection 

Cuff bracelets have been symbols of high status and divine protection since the ancient civilizations. Worn by strong women throughout history from Cleopatra to Wonder Woman, the heft and width of cuff bracelets immediately evoke power. In the hands of modern jewelry designers, cuffs also create a canvas for creativity and color. Fashion designers are incorporating the bold cuff heavily on the runways for the last few seasons. Marie Claire editors recently touted the comeback of the cuff bracelet – “cuffs are back in the spotlight and have cool girls embracing them as their go-to jewelry to instantly elevate any look…”  

 PICCHIOTTI has handcrafted a wide variety of cuffs since 1967, experimenting with incorporating superlative gems for which the brand is widely known. The design team recently introduced gem ceramic – a titanium infused ceramic that can be made in any color of the rainbow. Together with Master Goldsmiths, they have mostly created new styles of cuff bracelets using black or white ceramic, given the brand’s ongoing commitment to a classic aesthetic. The high jewelry gem ceramic cuff created with exquisite colorful sapphires explores the richness of color in the gemstones when set in 18K rose gold and black gem ceramic. The look is further enhanced by the variety of shapes of the gems – heart-shaped blue sapphires, pear-cut pink sapphires, and a gorgeous yellow sapphire center amongst trump l’oeil patterns of gold and black ceramic.  Similar styles exist in yellow gold with slightly different patterning and sapphire shapes, as well as a stunning white ceramic cuff that really makes the pink, blue, and yellow sapphires stand out. An even more conservative look is achieved with all white diamonds and black ceramic with the warmth of yellow gold.  Each of these are distinctly classic cuffs that, like Cleopatra’s bracelets, will feel just as relevant for many future generations. 

The Xpandable technology has also created some brilliant cuff bracelets. Wide rectangles form a geometric pattern that can be covered with diamonds or an alternating pattern of gold with diamonds. Though they appear rigid with hard-edged frames, these cuff bracelets expand and contract to easily slip on over the hand. They add a sense of Italian gold flair to any outfit, be it a dress or sweater set, or even a floor-length gown. The Gem Ceramic look also has allowed the development of some architectural styles with an Art Deco sensibility – in white ceramic with turquoise, black ceramic with coral or turquoise. 

Wear wide cuffs to offset some of the bolder sleeves and/or ruffled blouses and dresses. A single cuff also makes a nice complement to a shift or sheath dress or a one-piece pantsuit. For a fresh look, try wearing singular cuffs on both wrists, super hero style, as seen on the runways of late, or pile up your bangles and your cuffs for a jumbled layered look, especially with sleeveless and/or high neck blouses. Cuffs also act as great anchors for flowing fabrics, fringe, and feathered garments. 

Masterpieces – Statement Making Style 

No fine jewelry wardrobe would be complete without a true masterpiece in the bracelet category – the go-to style for special occasions, milestones, black tie galas, and the infamous girls’ night out. Perfect with almost every variation of the little black dress (even worn over the sleeve in long-sleeved dresses), the statement bracelet should include some sparkle – at least some diamond content. Go big or go home, as the saying goes. The search for your perfect statement bracelet might take some time, and that’s ok. This type of investment piece is worthy of special consideration.  

As you shop for a statement or masterpiece bracelet, filter your search to only include highly reputable brands and jewelers you trust. Always look for the hallmark stamp on the piece, and Giuseppe recommends turning the bracelet over. You can tell a lot about the artistry of craftsmanship by looking at the back of the piece, inspecting the individual stones’ settings and the handwork of the master goldsmiths. Many masterpiece bracelets at PICCHIOTTI also incorporate layouts of truly superlative gemstones. Sometimes, special stones will come with gem certificates. Ask your jeweler if such certificates are available, ensuring the quality of the stone(s). 

Statement styles tend to be wider, more like a cuff bracelet, taking up ample real estate on the wrist. PICCHIOTTI’s Waves bracelet is an excellent example. The undulating waves of diamonds repeat forming a radiant sparkle as it wraps the wrist in elegance. Similarly, geometry plays a part in the exceptional design of the new Ruby Lace bracelet. The diamonds and rubies create an almost checkered or tartan type of pattern, achieving a purity of form, pristine geometry that is pleasing to the eye, refined elegance that will stand the test of time. For ruby connoisseurs, this bracelet is sure to be a treasured part of the fine jewelry wardrobe. Sapphire lovers can delight in the Masterpieces Sapphire bracelet. Its edges lined with deep blue oval Sapphires alternating with round white diamonds in an Art Deco type of geometric grace. A bracelet such as this is versatile enough to wear with all types of evening attire from wedding gowns to cocktail dresses.  

Other masterpiece wrist treasures from PICCHIOTTI include a slightly more fashion-forward aesthetic, in the warmth of yellow gold. The bold and beautiful Ruby Masterpiece cuff invites the harmony of the baguette diamond, one of PICCHIOTTI’s favorites and a signature of the brand’s iconic style. Baguette diamonds cover the large cuff with a mirrored arrow or checkmark motif creating a bold center motif. This bracelet exemplifies the architectural design inspiration for which PICCHIOTTI is beloved. 

Links or Station Bracelets – Everyday Elegance

Another staple that many women return to or wear on a daily basis is the gold link chain. Italians have mastered the art of the open gold link, having gold jewelry manufacturing in their DNA since the ancient Etruscans. Gold link bracelets offer a casual aesthetic to wear with denim and athleisure attire or to add a subtle sophistication to a sweater set or business suit. More recently, gold link bracelets have been worn with luxury watches and/or stacked together for a more robust look at the wrist.  

When shopping for link chains, pay attention to the length, as not all wrists are the same. Also, be sure to examine the clasp to make sure you can put it on yourself. 

There are many types of gold link bracelets, those with a flat profile (Curb, Cuban, Figaro), those with a textured or flexible appeal (Cable, Rope, Wheat, Box), to name a few. PICCHIOTTI prefers a station bracelet that has an element of design to it, for an additional sense of refinement. PICCHIOTTI offers station bracelets and link chains in their Easy Wear collection, most of which feature some diamond accents. Timeless styles in 18K red and white gold, as well as diamond bead motifs, also in 18K rose and white gold offer the subtle femininity of style but an everyday luxe casual appeal. Newer designs include a diamond accented gold rondel station that is connected by classic gold links. Or for a colorful fresh take on the station bracelet, check out the new ceramic bead bracelets that combine round white or turquoise gem ceramic (and matching necklace) with small gold links in between. Station bracelets add a chunkier appeal than basic link chain. 

For a true statement of status on your wrist or in your jewelry wardrobe, try the PICCHIOTTI link chain with double diamond rondels. Also available with no diamonds, the artistry in this chain link bracelet is unsurpassed and will stand out from any machine-made chains out there. The design is also available in a necklace and features a strong magnetic clasp that is very easy to put on without assistance and more importantly, allows the bracelet to be added to the necklace for a longer length. This type of thoughtful design and versatility will continue to prove beneficial over a lifetime of wear.  

Charm bracelets are also worthy of a luxury jewelry box. Use them to curate your personal style or tell your own unique story. They also make great hand-me-downs as children and grandchildren can carry on your story and add their own charms to keep it fresh and personal.  

Every fine jewelry wardrobe deserves a few styles of bracelets that you can wear when the mood or outfit is appropriate. Tennis bracelets make welcome gifts, given their ubiquitous appeal. Bangle stacks take time to curate, so have fun choosing and adding to your stack each year.  For those occasions when only bold will do, opt for your favorite cuff or statement bracelet. For extra sparkle, pair it with a gem-studded cocktail ring. Wrap your wrist in luxury – you deserve it. And remember, you get to enjoy it as much as everyone else, without ever having to peek in the looking glass. Wear them in good health!  

Feature image at top – clockwise from upper left – model wearing PICCHIOTTI Waves bracelet and earrings, model wearing PICCHIOTTI Gold Accent Xpandable bracelets – turquoise, white gold, yellow gold, PICCHIOTTI Xpandable Emerald Cut Lovers tennis bracelets – white diamond, ruby, sapphire, PICCHIOTTI Gem Ceramic statement cuff. 

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