This amethyst bracelet features a long leather thong set with inlaid semi-precious stones, that wraps around the wrist several times showing different facets at every turn.
The Ancient greeks made drinking cups from amethyst, believing that the mineral had anti-intoxication powers, indeed the name means not intoxicating. With its large deep purple amethyst stone, this bracelet looks fabulous (regardless of the observers state of intoxication). In the mid 16th centry Remy Belleay wrote a poem “L’Amethyste” where the eponymous heroine overcomes the advances of Bacchus, the God of the Greek pantheon associated most with drink. For those not persuaded by this aspect of the history of the amethyst, it may be more comforting to know that it was regardes, in the middle ages as one of the 5 most precious cardinal gems. Tibetan Buddhits use amethysts as prayer beads, (so it’s not all about sin) which may explain the relaxation properies beleived to be intrinsic in the stone.
Find out more about amethyst as a gemstone and it’s potential powers, here.
See all of our range of bracelets featuring natural inlaid stone here.
Bracelets, bangles and Cuffs
Firstly, just to be clear, bracelets and bangles go all the way around the wrist whereas cuffs do not. The difference between bangles and bracelets is that bangles are solid whereas bracelets articulate. That means that to be put on bracelets require hinges and catches or even simple elastic.
So much of our jewellery is worn because of its protective or healing powers. Copper is trusted to ward off rheumatism whereas in Greece wearing a bracelet protects you from the sun. In Greek folklore a martis bracelet, made out of red and white fabric acts, as a sunscreen. But you must wear it from the beginning of March until the end of the summer for it to work. OK, well perhaps not, otherwise the purveyors of factor 15 would be out of business. It’s not clear to me if the red and white is important but when I am lucky enough to go back to Greece, perhaps I’ll try it.
Making a Statement
Bracelets always say something about the owner, sometimes more than others. In some parts of India the number of bangles that a woman wears declares her marital status. In other parts of India, as elsewhere, Sikhs wear an iron bracelet as one of the “5 Ks” required by their religion. These days steel is used for the Kara as well as the Kirpan or dagger. Abrahams store offers a number of beautiful bracelets and bangles but none have any hidden meaning (unless you want them to).
Types of Bracelet
The names of bracelets come from a variety of sources, such as the Hololith Bracelet. The lith part derives from the Greek for stone (e.g. neolithic means new stone) and holo, likewise, means all or whole. Thus a hololithic bracelet is made from a single piece of stone. A more recent innovation is the Tennis Bracelet. Not necessarily invented by but certainly inspired from the Tennis Bracelet worn by Chris Evert, star of the Tennis circuit. She was hugely successful on court in the 1970s and 80s, maybe less so off court. During one match at the US open she lost her diamond studded bracelet causing something of an uproar. In the ensuing media frenzie, the Tennis Bracelet was born.
Material Girls
Historically these arm accoutrements were made of metal, stone and wood but the advent of plastics meant more adventurous designs could be made and others made more cheaply. Josie has a wonderful collection of bangles, bracelets and cuffs. Some are on the right, ranging from the very old to the very modern.
See the collection of Jewellery available from Abrahams Store, here .
