5 Under $55 Bangle Bracelets

Bangle bracelets are fun, flirty and versatile. Available in many widths, styles and materials, they can spruce up a casual look or add sparkle to a dressy one. Wear several thin sterling silver bracelets together or a single stunning diamond and gold bracelet by itself. Here are five different styles we especially like all for under $55 bucks. Which one is your favorite?

Novica sponsored artist Busarin created the Garland Wrap Bracelet in garnet and dyed quartzite. $48

Brazilian designers J. Vieria and Fernando Magriffi created this Bamboo and Leather Bracelet in the fashion of the Amazonian tribes. Dyed thread and bamboo cylinders are held together with leather borders. $35

Jewelery designer Neeru Goel shaped this cuff bracelet from sterling silver and three carnelian stones. $55

Hiroshi Kimoto draws his inspiration from cubism for his Sunflower Cubism bracelet. Fashioned from glass cubes and sterling silver. $50

The Water Palace sterling silver bracelet was inspired by the palace baths of Yogyakarta, Java. $50

• Posted at 11:03 PM
• bracelets, handmade jewelry
• Permalink
• 0 comments

Be Original in a Museum-Inspired Cuff Bracelet

Cuff bracelets came into fashion with Cleopatra who wore them high on her upper arms as a symbol of royalty. Through history women around the world have adopted the fashion. Perhaps the most famous modern cuff bracelet is the Chanel Cuff Bracelet named for famous designer Coco Chanel herself. The bracelet is hand-crafted of gold and set with Akoya cultured pearls and diamonds. Currently on loan to the American Museum of Natural History, it is traveling the globe in a special exhibition.

Cuff bracelets, worn on both the upper and lower arms, have fallen in and out of fashion for centuries, but for the last few years have had a place in the fashion forward woman's jewelry arsenal. However, unlike the trendy bracelets hitting the fashion scene now, these artifact inspired bracelets will become a classic piece in your jewelry wardrobe for years to come.

This sterling silver bracelet was inspired by the Egyptian of the Eagles, Jatayu.

The Bali Thai Wave Flower Cuff was crafted in sterling silver by a National Geographic Novica-sponsored artisan.

This gold bracelet, featuring an intricate historic motif, is part of the Kuwait Museum of Islamic Art jewelry collection.

• Posted at 5:31 PM
• bracelets
• Permalink
• 0 comments

A Girl's New Best Friend

Sure diamonds are the most popular classic choice among women of all ages, but we think other sparkly stones deserve their moment to shine. For instance, we love topaz. Interestingly enough, the most famous topaz is colorless and originally it was mistakenly thought to be a diamond. With 1680 sparkling carats, it currently sits amongst the Portuguese Crown Jewels.

Occurring in many colors, topaz is found in Brazil, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Russia. The blue topaz in particular is a popular choice for jewelry designers around the world such as when setting the stones in a sterling silver bracelet. The different intensities of hues from stone to stone is caused by irradiation.

Take a look at the two bracelets following, one is a diamond bracelet that is available for a breathtaking $39,995 and the other is a blue topaz bracelet which is a much more attainable $175. We think they are both equally as fabulous in their own way and look alarmingly similar. What do you think?

30 carats of blindingly beautiful diamonds adorn this 14 carat white gold bracelet at $39,959.

98 dazzling oval cut blue topaz are paired with a gleaming sterling silver bracelet for a cool $175.

Interesting Fact: Topaz is a Sanskrit word meaning fire. Ancient cultures thought the topaz had magical properties: the Greeks thought it increased human strength; the Egyptians believed it protected them from injury; and the Romans believed it improved eyesight. 

• Posted at 1:51 AM
• bracelets
• Permalink
• 0 comments