Gemstone Bracelets

Not every bracelet has to be diamonds. A gemstone bracelet adds colour to a collection that might otherwise be all white metal and clear stones, and for a lot of people, that's exactly the point of buying one. It's the piece you reach for when you want your jewelry to say something a little different than usual. And because it isn't the "serious" purchase a diamond piece can feel like, it's an easy way to try a bolder look without the weight of a big decision behind it.

A Splash of Colour

A gemstone bracelet is also one of the easier ways to make a gift feel personal without going the initial or name route — the colour itself can be chosen to mean something, like a birth month, without having to spell it out. It gives you something to switch between, too: a diamond piece tends to work the same way no matter what you're wearing, but a coloured stone can be picked to suit an outfit, a mood or the season, then swapped out again without feeling wasteful, since it was never meant to be your one signature piece. Worn alone, it stands out simply by not being diamonds; stacked with a plain metal or diamond bracelet, it adds a single point of colour without overwhelming either one.

Choosing Your Metal

Gemstone bracelets come in two base metals, each available in more than one tone:

• Sterling silver bracelets, left in their natural white tone, have a bright, cool finish.
• Yellow gold-plated bracelets take that same silver base and coat it in a layer of yellow gold, for a warmer tone at a lighter weight than solid gold.
• Rose gold-plated bracelets work the same way, with a warm pink plating over the silver base instead.
• 10K gold bracelets, in yellow, white or rose, carry their colour all the way through the metal rather than as a surface layer.

Because plating sits only on the surface, a gold-plated bracelet can start to show its silver base after years of daily wear, while a solid 10K gold bracelet keeps its colour for as long as you own it.

Related Categories: Tennis Bracelets, Classic Bracelets, Bracelets with Initial Letters

Choosing the Right Bracelet Size

The right bracelet size should give you enough room to move comfortably without sliding too far down your hand. To find the right size, start by measuring the circumference of your wrist at the point where you normally wear your bracelet. Use a flexible measuring tape or a strip of paper, keeping it comfortably against your skin without pulling it tight. Your wrist measurement is the best starting point, but the ideal bracelet length also depends on how closely or loosely you want the bracelet to sit.

For a more detailed guide on how to measure your wrist and choose the right bracelet length, see our Bracelet Size Guide.