Bracelets and bangles are basically fairly simple things, a band or a series of links, usually joined by a clasp of some sort, worn around the wrist. And yet, there are so many different types and shapes, with different methods of construction. It is hard to group them. Sometimes, we group them depending on when they were constructed, Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian and so. But there are other ways to group them and in this post, I decided to focus on those comprising only metal, specifically gold.
Gold bracelets and bangles, without gemstones, enamel or other embellishment, may be just a plain gold band or ring. The bangles in the photo are are just that, plain gold bands. Known in Australia as golf bangles, they were popular in the late Victorian era and into the first three decades of the 20th century. They were called Nellie Stewart bangles, as a famous Australian actress and singer from the late 1880s wore one and made them popular (see my earlier post on Nellie Stewart bangles). They could be sometimes tubular, sometimes solid. They might be hinged or unhinged. They were not thin, ranging from around 0.5 cm upwards in thickness. They were called golf bangles for some reason which is not clear but one person (see https://www.ohmygiddyaunt.com.au/blog/why-a-golf-bangle ) suggests that the name arose because the bracelets were common prizes for women at golf tournaments.
The Art Deco gold bracelet in the photo at the top of the post is a much more elaborate piece. It depicts rows of alternating opened and closed flowers, with etching on the leaves of the opened flowers.
The bracelet above is an Edwardian era gatelink bracelet. Gatelink bracelets are comprised of panels of vertical bars wrapped with horizontal bands of gold. This one has an inscription indicating it was a prize for V Hall being successful in singles and doubles games, presumably tennis, in 1909.
The next bangle is an antique Etruscan revival bangle with a hinged back and a cross over front ending in gold decorated balls.
The final gold bracelet is a vintage one. It is comprised of a clasp and a byzantine chain, a fairly complex arrangement of 4 links, each of which passes through another link. Two of the links are engraved while the other two are plain.
navette jewellery 