By Chloe Gib


Hand ornaments have a long history. Archaeologists have uncovered bangles that date back to five thousand years before Christ. These were made out of various types of materials, with gold being particularly common. Contemporary armlets are still fashioned out of this precious metal, but their pricing keeps them out of reach for most ordinary people. Fortunately, a lot of affordable bracelets are available.

Jewellers use a wide range of materials to make bangles. These range from metal to a variety of plastics. Ultimately, the decision to use a particular type of glass, jewel or any other material depends on a number of factors. Among the main ones are what the armlet will be used for, its expected selling price, whether it has to be custom made or not, and so on. Its vital for consumers to take time and learn about these factors.

As pointed out in the previous section, gold still remains a highly popular material for making armlets. This is due to several attributes of this precious metal. Among the most important is the fact that it does not rust, is hypoallergenic, and maintains its attractive looks for a long time. It cannot be used in its pure state, as it is too soft to withstand abuse. To strengthen it, gold has to be mixed with other metals.

A carat is a measure of gold's purity; the more its proportion in a sample, the higher this measure would be. Mixing the precious material with other metals also makes it cheaper, and can be used to change certain attributes, such as color. Armlets made with alloyed gold have one drawback; they need to be polished more often, as they tend to lose their lustre very quickly.

Low cost bangles are sometimes made from stainless steel. Like gold, it does not corrode. Because it is not made with nickel, the material is hypoallergenic. Its also hard, and can withstand abuse without getting damaged. This metal lacks the lustre found in more expensive materials; oddly enough, some people, especially men, prefer that. Unlike silver, this kind of steel will not tarnish quickly.

Another material that is popular with armlet makers is brass. This is actually an alloy, a blend of copper and zinc. Its relatively hard, yet workable. It has a golden colour that is very attractive. Depending on the proportions of copper and zinc used, the material's lustre can range from muted to sparkling.

Synthetic materials are also popular with makers of affordable bracelets. Plastics have a number of attributes that make them suitable for bangle making; they come in a wide range of colors and designs, are relatively hard, do not cause allergic reactions.




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