On 1stDibs, there are many options to choose from in our inventory of rare bracelets. All of the items for sale were constructed with extraordinary care, often using
Gold,
18k Gold and
Silver. Our selection of items includes 419 vintage examples as well as 70 contemporary versions. Our inventory has long been popular, and it includes earlier versions that date to the 19th Century and newer variations that were made as recently as the 21st Century. There are many different pieces in our collection of rare bracelets to choose from, but
Art Deco and
Victorian rare bracelets are of considerable interest. Many examples in our inventory of these items are appealing no matter their origins, but
Hermès,
Chanel and
Cartier produced popular versions that are worth a look. Many pieces in our collection are stylish for most occasions, but
Diamond versions, from our inventory of 44, can add a particularly distinctive touch to your look, day or night. A selection of
round cut,
cabochon and
antique cushion cut can be found today on these pages. There aren’t many items for
men in our collection of rare bracelets, as most of the options available are for
women.
Today, antique and vintage bracelets are versatile and universally loved accessories that can add polish and pizzazz to any ensemble.
Bracelets were among the jewels discovered to have been buried with Pharaoh Tutankhamun when his tomb was unearthed in 1922, and wrist and arm bracelets were allegedly worn by Queen Puabi in Sumer, southern Mesopotamia. But preceding the adornments of Ancient Egypt and elsewhere, the people of prehistoric times likely wore the decorative accessory, fashioning it from shells and fish bones. When the Bronze Age allowed for more durable materials and semiprecious stones to be incorporated into jewelry, bracelets became a treasured symbol of wealth.
In the thousands of years following the debut of the world’s first bracelets, the artistry behind this common accessory has only broadened, with designers at popular jewelry houses growing more venturesome over time. David Webb looked to nature for his Animal Kingdom bracelets, and for her best-selling bracelets and more at Tiffany & Co., Elsa Peretti would frequently do the same. From bangles to tennis bracelets, the modern age offers plenty of options.
Internationally acclaimed bracelet designs have on occasion become powerful symbols of status, style and, in the case of Cartier's iconic design, love. The Cartier Love bracelet can be found on the wish list of most jewelry lovers and on the wrist of some of the world’s biggest stars. Its arrangement of mock screwheads and distinctive functionality — it was initially locked and unlocked with an accompanying vermeil screwdriver — is an enduring expression of loyalty, unity and romance. (Do you know how to spot a fake Cartier Love bracelet?)
While the Love bracelet has played a role in the skyrocketing popularity of cuff-style bracelets, they are far from the only glamorous option for collectors. Make a statement with an Art Deco design, a style that sees all kinds of iterations fitted with studded cuffs, one-of-a-kind shapes and dazzling insets. A chunky vintage gold bracelet in the Retro style will prove eye-catching and elevate any outfit.
One of the best things about bracelets, however, is that you never have to choose just one. Style icon Jacqueline Kennedy stacked her Croisillon bracelets — designed by Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co. — with such frequency that the ornate bangles were eventually dubbed “Jackie bracelets” by reporters. Contemporary silver pieces can easily complement each other, rendering a layering of luxury almost a necessity.
Find a diverse collection of bracelets that you can sort by style, stone cut and more on 1stDibs.
