Bracelets : Novica Team Favorites(94 items)
Discover the unique designs in our Bracelets : Novica Team Favorite Collection that NOVICA artisans have crafted for you:
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The Village Council
Your answers straight from the village experts


Artisans the world over utilize the natural materials at their disposal to create beautiful, sustainable jewelry. Wood, bamboo and dried gourds. Coconut shells, rattan and terra-cotta. Even natural grasses lend themselves to a jewelers creativity while art glass beads and pendants can be made from discarded bottles. Some artisans reclaim precious silver from photographic negatives. Colorful magazine pages can become tightly-rolled beads protected by a coat of varnish. Always creative, artists craft their bracelets out of innovative, eco-conscious materials.


Handmade womens bracelets each have their own unique characteristics. Color, texture, size and design all vary. Often, the technique alone will tell you, for example, hand-knotted, braided or woven bracelets. Leather bracelets with cutout motifs or embossing are usually crafted by hand.Thai jewelry by Karen silversmiths shows hand-stamped geometric or floral motifs and beads are usually made of fine silver, which is more malleable than sterling. Similarly, filigree jewelry is a meticulous handcrafted process. Most bracelets with natural, sustainable or recycled materials are handmade. Even some of the most sophisticated and modern gold and silver may be signed by the artist who made it.The most common indicator that a bracelet is handmade is the detailed and intricate design. Novica artisans demonstrate their techniques in the many videos on www.novica.com youll find the links on their product descriptions and also on the artisan bio page.


Traditional bracelet-making techniques have been passed down over generations around the world. Womens bracelets in gold and silver are usually crafted with the lost wax technique. The image is sculpted in wax and enveloped in a mold materia. As molten gold or silver is poured into the mold, the wax image melts and the metal takes its place. However coiling fine strands of metal results in Andean filigree jewelry. Balinese artistry applies polished spirals and tendrils as well as tiny globes known as jawan to sleek silver jewelry. And a few contemporary artisans even weave or crochet the slender silver strands.Jade was highly prized by the Maya and still has an important place in modern Guatemalan jewelry. Amber from the rich mines in southern Mexico adorns the womens bracelets, necklaces, and earrings of the area. Macrame and beading are popular everywhere for boho style. And West Africas handmade beadwork is renowned the world over.


Womens bracelets carried immense cultural significance in ancient times and they still do. In Perus pre-Hispanic societies, gold represented the sun, and jewelry indicated social status and identity, as it also did among the Maya of Mexico and Central America. In India, bangles or kangans showed a woman was married and are a part of the 16 adornments customarily worn by a Hindu bride. Traditional West African beads are a sign of cultural identity. Each one has a meaning and tells a story.Today, womens bracelets are still culturally significant. In India, jewelry often depicts religious symbols and meditative mantras. Balinese bracelets may also depict dragons, thought to be the protectors of the gods, or the Hindu Barong deity, also a protection symbol. Motifs stamped into Karen hill tribe silver encourage living in harmony with nature. The hand-knotted bracelets of Guatemala symbolize friendship but evolved from a silent protest for loved ones missing during the countrys armed conflict. Today, friends each tie a bracelet on the others arm and make a wish. The bracelet is worn until it wears out and falls off so the wish will come true.


Silver, gold, brass and copper have been popular for thousands of years and are often set with colorful gemstones. Artisans in different regions of the world take advantage of unique local resources, such as Brazilian golden grass, leather and coconut shell from Thailand, and carved bone jewelry from Bali. Intricate openwork carving, known as jali, can be seen in bangles from India. West Africa has a long tradition of beadwork, with beautiful beads made from recycled glass and even plastic becoming popular in recent years.


Excellent question! There is no simple test that can tell you whether an artisan hand-crafted your jewelry or not. No easy way to know if an item is handmade or factory-produced. But there are details that you can look out for, and hopefully a discerning eye will guide you right. First, look at materials. If a bracelet is made of leather with embossed detailing, or sterling silver with intricate carvings or stone settings, you are entering the realm of the handmade. If a bracelet is made from bone, or makes use of complicated beadwork, if there is evidence of welding or carving, then you can feel good about your purchase. Any true artisan will tell you: no two pieces of jewelry will come out identical if they are made by hand. Beware of sameness. Celebrate the idiosyncrasies of the artists hand and help preserve the techniques and traditions of the past.
Featured Reviews on Bracelets : Novica Team Favorites
Blue topaz cuff bracelet, 'Floral Iridescence'





By Julie
Stunning Bracelet!!
This is the second bracelet I ve purchased from the vendor. The quality and craftsmanship is unmatched, and the value is outstanding for this piece.
Glass beaded wrap bracelet, 'Country Land'





By Linda
I have worn it every day
This is such a lovely, effortless bracelet to wear! Its even prettier in person. The clasp was something I worried about when ordering...but it works great. Well designed and beautifully made!
Copper cuff bracelet, 'Brilliant Waves'





By Mary
Simply beautiful!
Simply beautiful! The cuff design makes it adjustable, which is a definite plus. The finish is beautiful. And the workmanship is flawless. Love it!
Featured Artist



Rosy and Daniel Handcrafted copper jewelry and decor accessories
"In each of our copper designs, I want to share the awareness that you're holding a piece of history in your hands. In colonial Mexico, it was one of the most widely used metals…"
We are a married couple that, with your help, has grown in a way we never imagined. We are enthusiasts of the beautiful copper tradition of Santa Clara del Cobre in the state of Michoacan.
We are very happy to work with you. You've allowed us to grow and... read more
Popular Bracelets : Novica Team Favorites
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Bali Obsidian and Sterling Silver Cord Unity Bracelet, "Silver Handshake"
$44.99Crafted of sterling silver, hands come together to clasp an orb of obsidian. They seem to share both its weight and responsibility in a single gesture of friendship. Henry Anthony Sanny displays the lovely pendant on a black cord unity bracelet. The sliding clasp reads "Fight Racism."
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Colorful Glass Beaded Wrap Bracelet from Guatemala, "Country Waters"
$49.99Filled with passion for the beauty of his country, Guatemala's Cristóbal Ramírez designs a fantastic wrap bracelet. It is handcrafted with blue glass beads that are meticulously strung along nylon cord using a small, specialized loom to feature triangular motifs and enlarged diamond shapes along the length. The bracelet is finished with an antiqued pewter button.
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