Off the Cuff
August 17, 2009 by The Briefer
Filed under Bracelets, Features, Jewelry Trends
Bold yet easy to wear, cuff bracelets are our new (old) favorite. The statement making bracelets can be found in every material; and they look just as great with a sweater and jeans as they do with a little black dress.
The best classic cuff design is the Maltese Cross by Verdura. Originally designed in 1936 by Duke Fulco di Verdura for Coco Chanel, the bracelet is still produced by Verdura today. Each bracelet is fitted to the customer’s wrist and some of the bracelets have a detachable cross that can be interchanged with cuffs of various materials. Elsa Peretti’s Bone Cuff for Tiffany & Co. is quite possibly the sexiest piece of jewelry around. The classic organic design is available in 18kt yellow gold, silver, or ruthenium over copper for the budget conscious.
Bakelite, which is a dense synthetic resin, is a colorful option for cuffs. Invented in 1907, it was popular in kitchen items and jewelry through the 1940s because of the ease with which it could be molded and carved. It can be found in modern and vintage jewelry; although some of the very colorful, unusual period pieces can be as expensive as their precious metal counter parts.
If you dare follow in the path of the great style icon Coco Chanel you may want to stack your cuffs or wear a pair, one on each wrist.
The Brooch as Messanger | The Jewelry Brief | The Best Jewelry Blog on Tue, 8th Sep 2009 1:02 pm
[...] and often most versatile pieces of jewelry. This is not my hottest fashion trend to send you (read “Off the Cuff” for one), but there are still a large number of women who wear suits and dresses to work each day and there [...]
Fashion Trends Year in Review | The Jewelry Brief | The Best Jewelry Blog on Wed, 16th Dec 2009 1:29 pm
[...] Cuff Bracelets: My favorite trend from 2009 are the bracelets. Cuffs and bangles have their place in jewelry history; we recall the style and designs of Queen Victoria, Coco Chanel and Elsa Peretti. To expand this style to every budget I will add Tory Burch and Kate Spade to this list. [...]