On 1stDibs, there are many options to choose from in our inventory of hinged bakelite bracelets. All of the items for sale were constructed with extraordinary care, often using
Silver Plate,
Silver and
Steel. Our inventory has long been popular, and it includes earlier versions that date to the 20th Century and newer variations that were made as recently as the 20th Century. The designs in our inventory of hinged bakelite bracelets bearing
Art Deco hallmarks are very popular. There aren’t many items for
men in our collection of hinged bakelite bracelets, as most of the options available are for
women.
Fascination with the Jazz Age is endless, and even today jewelry designers continue to be inspired by authentic Art Deco jewelry and watches.
The Art Deco period, encompassing the 1920s and ’30s, ushered in a very distinct look in the design of jewelry. There were many influences on the jewelry of the era that actually began to take shape prior to the 1920s. In 1909, Serge Diaghilev brought the Ballet Russes to Paris, and women went wild for the company’s exotic and vibrant costumes It’s no wonder, then, that jade, lapis lazuli, coral, turquoise and other bright gemstones became all the rage. There already existed a fascination with the East, particularly China and Japan, and motifs consisting of fans and masks started to show up in Art Deco jewelry.
However, the event that had the greatest influence on Deco was the excavation of the tomb of King Tut in 1922. When the world saw what was hidden in Tut’s burial chamber, it sent just about everyone into a frenzy. Pierre Cartier wrote in 1923 that “the discovery of the tomb will bring some sweeping changes in fashion jewelry.” And he couldn’t have been more right. “Egyptomania” left an indelible mark on all of the major jewelry houses, from Cartier to Van Cleef & Arpels, Boucheron and Georges Fouquet. (Cartier created some of the most iconic jewelry designs that defined this era.)
While a lot of Art Deco jewelry was black and white — the black coming from the use of onyx or black enamel and the white from rock crystal and diamonds — there is plenty of color in jewelry of the era. A perfect accent to diamonds in platinum settings were blue sapphires, emeralds and rubies, and these stones were also used in combination with each other.
Many designers employed coral, jade and lapis lazuli, too. In fact, some of the most important avant-garde jewelers of the period, like Jean Després and Jean Fouquet (son of Georges), would combine white gold with ebony and malachite for a jolt of color.
A lot of the jewelry produced during this time nodded to current fashion trends, and women often accessorized their accessories. The cloche hat was often accented with geometric diamond brooches or double-clip brooches. Backless evening dresses looked fabulous with sautoir necklaces, and long pearl necklaces that ended with tassels, popular during the Edwardian period, were favored by women everywhere, including Coco Chanel.
Find unique Art Deco necklaces, earrings, bracelets and other jewelry on 1stDibs.
Antique, new and vintage clamper bracelets are chic accessories for any formal or casual outfit. A clamper bracelet is essentially a bangle that opens and closes with a spring hinge.
Bracelets are truly a versatile type of jewelry, and while iterations such as Cartier’s legendary Love bracelet have played a role in the skyrocketing popularity of cuff-style bracelets, a cuff is far from the only glamorous option for collectors. Decadent yet elegant clamper bracelets with eye-catching carved designs or sparkling gems offer an impressive fashion boost.
Designers love a clamper bracelet. Many jewelers have worked with this style for years, creating variations on the accessory that can complement any ensemble. An Atlas bangle, for example — part of the greater Atlas collection from storied American luxury house Tiffany & Co. that includes rings, watches and other pieces — might be adorned in diamonds set in white gold, while a bold statement is made by BVLGARI’s Serpenti Jaeger-LeCoultre watch bracelet, a circa-1970s collaboration between the iconic jewelry house and Swiss watchmaker that dazzles with vibrant, multicolored enamel. (BVLGARI's Serpenti collection includes the Serpenti bracelet, the Serpenti watch and more and remains one of the Italian fine-jewelry house’s most recognizable to date.)
On 1stDibs, find a wide variety of antique, new and vintage clamper bracelets, from those with diamonds, rubies and finely carved designs to minimal but striking silver and white-gold bangles.