As I slowly acquire more readers, I want to reiterate the mission of the Sparkle On blog. If you are joining me for the first time, you may be mystified as to why I describe certain features or characteristics of a piece of jewelry that should be obvious to anyone who has seen it. Well, for people who are blind or visually impaired, it may not be quite so obvious. In some cases, a person who is blind or who has low vision may never have seen a photo of a particular thing, let alone have ever handled it. A great deal can be learned by touch, but I don’t know many people who would buy something as expensive as jewelry just for the benefit of exploration. So, I attempt to provide meaningful descriptions of jewelry, parts and pieces, styles and trends, as well as to supply definitions of industry terms. Okay? If you’ve been with me since the beginning, I promise I won’t repeat this forever. Today’s post is a perfect example of how something as simple as a specific bracelet style could be quickly and easily explained in a photo, yet might still be unclear for someone who is blind.
The cuff bracelet is a deceptively simple profile that packs a lot of style punch. Simple, yes, in that there are usually no moving parts. There is usually nothing that is attached, or that dangles, or that is constructed using complicated or sophisticated metal tooling or crafting techniques. The appearance of a cuff bracelet can be deceiving, though, because it can take a lot of engineering to create what otherwise looks like a simple piece of metal.
The cuff bracelet gets it’s name from the idea of a shirt cuff. the bracelet is worn close to the wrist, the way a watch is snug around the wrist, and it is also usually worn close to the hand, at the wrist bone, as opposed to traveling freely up and down the forearm. A cuff bracelet is open at the bottom, and does not have a clasp. It does not encircle the wrist like a bangle bracelet. The opening at the bottom of the cuff is just wide enough to allow for the bracelet to slip over the wrist bone, which may require that you turn your arm sideways in order to slide the bracelet onto your wrist, then give the bracelet a little turn to set it straight. Depending upon the design, the cuff may be wider as it curves over the top of the wrist, and taper as it curves around to the bottom. Some cuff bracelets can be very wide, anywhere from one-half to two inches or more. It may seem that because the cuff is open at the bottom this type of bracelet might easily fall off. Usually, the bracelet can be gently squeezed to fit more closely to the wrist, and can narrow the gap at the bottom, ensuring the cuff stays put.
A cuff can offer a lot of look for the price. Because of the wide surface area, there’s plenty of room for design elements. Often, cuff bracelets are hammered, stamped, stippled, domed, or textured. these are all ways to describe how the metal can be manipulated using tools to create eye-catching surface effects.
Cuff bracelets can be sleek, high polished metal sheet, or they can be cast. Metal casting is where liquid metal is poured into a mold, cooled, then filed and polished. A bracelet that is made from metal sheet is lightweight and bendable, whereas a cast metal bracelet is typically a heavy gauge that feels solid and rigid. Either type can accommodate the addition of riveted or soldered elements such as layers of other metals, enameling, inlaid, or prong-set gemstones.
One reason cuff bracelets are especially beautiful is that they usually have a clean line, lacking the jingle-jangle or movement of a charm bracelet, and if one is going to a job interview or a place of worship, wearing jewelry that is quiet is most appropriate. Also, since a cuff does not move freely the way a bangle or chain bracelet would, the fact that it will always remain close to the hand means it will peek out from the hem of a shirt cuff, instead of getting stuck inside your sleeve.
If you have a very small, or larger than average wrist, you might want to measure your wrist size and check it against the “fits as,” size if sizing is mentioned in the product description. Repeatedly pulling open and squeezing closed to fit is not recommended, especially if the bracelet has riveted or soldered parts, gems, stones, or other features that are set into or applied to the bracelet. You might pop out gems or rivets, or pull apart an overlaid metal sheet. You can always ask a jeweler to add a safety chain to the bottom opening, if you are really concerned about the cuff slipping off. The addition of a safety chain can be attached without disrupting the design, but it could also make clasping the bracelet difficult if you don’t have nearby help. One of the benefits of wearing a cuff is that it’s easy on, easy off.
If you are going to wear a wide cuff bracelet, make it your only bracelet on that arm. Because cuffs are typically large and visually unbroken bands of metal, it is a statement piece that would be diminished by the addition of other bracelets. If you really want to wear multiple pieces, keep the cuff on one arm, and layer your chain bracelets on the other. that’s a lot of jewelry,, though, so keep that in mind if you are going for the “less is more” look. As a side note for my readers who use a mobility device, such as a white cane, I have found that I cannot wear a bracelet on my cane wielding arm. Either the grip or the cord gets in the way, and I find it distracting, and therefore, potentially dangerous. If you are already wearing a smartwatch on your left wrist, and carrying your white cane with your right hand, you may find that you have to choose between the watch and a cuff. It’s personal preference, obviously.
Cuff bracelets are also sometimes worn on the upper arm, just above the elbow. These are usually a little thinner, and they can be very attractive on someone with cut biceps. I’ve seen these on both men and women. If you have great guns, wear an upper arm cuff, also called a biceps band, with a sleeveless top.
Finally, this post would not be complete unless I acknowledged the ultimate glamazon, Wonder Woman, the diva superhero who could rock the cuff on both wrists and fight crime at the same time. We’re not worthy…we’re not worthy… So,,, be a superhero and sparkle on!
Laura