Originally bracelets were worn by men only as a badge of honor in the roman army. The term bracelet comes from the Latin brachile which means arm. This practice became popular in Italy and eventually caught on as a fashion trend and bracelets became a popular fashion accessory of both men and women alike. Today bracelets are worn by men but are most popular with European men albeit the leather bands are becoming very trendy among the young males of Hollywood and the trend is spreading across the US the past few years.


There are different types of bracelets that will cover all tastes from diamond encrusted bangles to heavy gold link chains and leather wrist bands there is a scratch for every itch so to speak. Friendship bracelets are a phenomenon that has lasted over the centuries people that have special feeling for each other or have a close relationship like to symbolize it in some way and exchanging bands either as a ring or a bracelet is a tradition that still holds out today.


Friendship bracelets have taken on there own specific type of style to distinguish them from all other types of bracelet. Friendship bracelets are usually inexpensive and contain beads or pendants that represent the relationship between two people. If you opt for a cheaper style of bracelet that most teenagers go for then your bracelet can be made of leather or beads and usually people like to engrave a special phrase or word that represents the friendship either on the beads or engraved into the leather.


Other more expensive options are precious metal bracelets that can come in silver, gold or platinum depending on your price range these types of bracelets are more up class and can hold a birthstone or other pendent that will be symbolic of the relationship. Birthstones are called such due to the fact that each month on the annual calendar is represented by a stone. The stone doesn’t have to be representative of your birth it can be an anniversary or special date. The following are months of the calendar that are represented by each stone: January – Garnet, February - Amethyst, March –Aquamarine, April –Diamond, May – Emerald, June – Pearl, July – Ruby, August - Peridot, September –Sapphire, October – Opal, November –Topaz, December –Turquoise,


This ritual has survived the passage of time and each accessory can be worn either casually as a wrist band or formally as an expensive jewelry piece either way the meaning is still the same which is the marking and importance of human relationships. They are a fun way to express you love when you have little money as they can be hand made with ribbons and beads the idea is to encapsulate the relationship in some way through colors or words. The more expensive type can be handed down through generations as a family heirloom with unequivocal sentimental value.