DIY Bracelet Ideas

The bracelet is one of the world's oldest and most popular articles of jewelry. Manufactured from a wide range of materials, its history stretches back several thousand years. According to historians, the first civilization to produce decorative bracelets that had cultural significance was the Ancient Egyptians. Before that time, ornamental accessories were made from primitive materials like shells, rocks, wood and bones. And they were purely decorative.

But the bracelet held a special place in Egyptian society. We know this because they often included Scarab Beetles, which were sacred to them. The insect was a popular symbol of regeneration and rebirth. Archeologists have uncovered Scarab Beetle Bracelets that are over seven thousand years old. They were worn by both men and women.

The elites of Egyptian society had special affinity for certain types of bracelets. Charm bracelets, for instance, were thought to ward off bad luck and evil spirits. When made with gold and precious stones, these accessories served as early ID bracelets for wealthy people who had passed into the afterlife. Many well-to-do Egyptians were interred or entombed with their most expensive bracelets and jewelry.

The bracelet was also popular with the Ancient Greeks, but for them, it was a more demotic piece. Worn by both men and women of all social classes, it was used as both a decorative and a utilitarian accessory. Greek soldiers often wore bracelets on both wrists as defensive bands. Since warriors often swung their swords for the wrists in order to disarm (literally) their adversaries, thick leather bracelets protected many a soldier.

But these defensive bands were also a sign of status or rank. High ranking soldiers often wore elaborate, highly decorative bracelets. Generals, for instance, often wore defensive bands that were made from precious metals and gemstones, while the average field soldier wore a thick leather bracelet with hardly any adornment.