Did you know that bangles have a long history that can be traced back to 2500 BC? In the Mohenjo-Daro settlement, located in today's Pakistan, archaeologists uncovered a statue that featured a teenage girl who wore stacked bangles on one arm. That Dancing Girl statue is regarded as the earliest example of the modern-day bangle, and these accessories were also found in tombs of ancient Egyptian tombs. Story has it they wore bangles inscribed with prayers for protection, and gold ones were favoured as status symbols too.
Gold bangles have also played an important role in Indian culture and people have worn them for millennia. Brides wear chooda or gold bangles at weddings as a symbol of love, loyalty and marital bliss. At the celebrity-filled wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant , which reportedly cost over US$600 million (S$806 million), the bride wore armfuls of gold bangles, albeit flanked by many other bangles studded with precious gems.
It's safe to say this shiny circle of gold never lost its sparkle. After all, there is something to be said about the timeless elegance of its unpretentious design. In contemporary times, examples of iconic gold bangles include Cartier's Love bracelet.
Inspired by the concept of chastity belts, it remains one the brand's bestsellers since its creation in 1969. Meawhile, Tiffany & Co’s celebrated Bone Cuff, designed by Elsa Peretti, has been part of pop culture since the 1970s, while Bvglari’s Serpenti design from 1948 was famously inspired by Cleopatra’s serpentine necklace. So what's the best way of wearing these? If the plan is to wear them stacked, you’ll essentially need several of them – preferably an armful, in order to achieve that artful bohemian heap.
You can wear multiples of the same bangle or mix textures, stones, shapes and materials for a decided air of insouciance. Consider making the stack personal with secret messages engraved on the back of the bangle or add meaningful charms that bear special significance to you. Below, a curated list of buy-now-wear-forever gold bangles.
THE NEW CLASSICS 1. APM Ete Bold bangle in APM yellow alloy and 18K gold plated, S$403 Bold and beautiful, this statement bangle can either be worn on its own or stacked for maximum impact. Available at APM .
2. Gucci GG Running yellow gold cuff, S$2,300 Unlike other obvious iterations of the brand’s interlocking Gs, this clever play of the brand motif is so quietly understated that only those who know will know. Available at Gucci .
3. Cartier Trinity bangle in 18K white gold, 18K rose gold and 18K yellow gold, price upon enquiry For 100 years, the endlessly enduring Trinity design that symbolises love, loyalty and friendship has been collecting fans the world over. From Grace Kelly to Diana, Princess of Wales to Kate Middleton, the most graceful women all wore the Trinity.
Now is your cue to join the fold. Available at Cartier . THE CONTEMPORARY 1.
Monica Vinader Signature Skinny bangle in 18K gold vermeil, S$415 A straight line on a bangle may sound like an oxymoron. British designer Monica Vinader didn’t just make that work, it has become her signature style that her devotees now wear. Available at Monica Vinader .
2. Chanel Coco Crush bangle in 18K yellow gold in mini version, price upon enquiry The quilted motif on the bangle riffs Chanel’s signature quilted bags, giving the bangle a 3D-esque, textured finish. Available at Chanel .
3. Chopard Ice Cube bangle in ethical yellow gold, price upon enquiry Reminiscent of cubes of ice, this minimalist take on geometry has been spotted on celebrity such as K-pop girl band Aespa, Hollywood sweetheart Julia Roberts and Bollywood superstar Deepaka Padukone. Available at Chopard .
THE EMBELLISHED 1. Louis Vuitton LV Volt Upside Down bracelet in yellow gold and diamonds, price upon enquiry At a glance, you’d easily be forgiven for mistaking the motif for a heartbeat. Though it is, in fact, a reinforcement of one’s love of the French institution.
Look closely and you’ll spot the inverted letters L and V. Available at Louis Vuitton . 2.
Tiffany & Co Tiffany T T1 Wide diamond hinged bangle, price upon enquiry Need to add a little sparkle to your life? Power over to you in deciding how little or how much sparkle since this style comes available from lightly paved to fully paved versions. Available at Tiffany & Co . 3.
Dior Bois de Rose bracelet in 18K yellow gold with diamonds, price upon enquiry Don’t want just any old gold bangle? Then look this way. The organic design pays homage to the rose – Christian Dior’s favourite flower, reinterpreting its thorny stem with an almost poetic flair. Available at Dior .
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