3 Types of Lab Diamond Bracelets for The Perfect Gift 

Spring has sprung and it’s time to put away the puffy coat and get out the short sleeves. 

Out come the wrists that have been under cuffs all winter long; and on the wrists: the bling. Whether it is watches or bracelets, people tend to wear wrist jewelry during warmer months. 

It's also another season of gift giving, with spring welcomed as a traditional engagement and wedding season for many Western cultures; not to mention the U.S. holidays of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, as well as a number of other dates coming along on the calendar. 

It is the perfect time to wear a diamond bracelet or to give one. 

Diamond bracelets make some of the most appreciated gifts, whether it's for a loved one or for yourself, and with lab-grown diamonds, they are also much more affordable. 

Lab-created diamond bracelets use real diamonds that have been produced by real people working in laboratories, and not mined out of the ground. Other than their origin, they differ from mined diamonds in only one major way- their price. Lab diamonds are a much more cost-effective way to get the real carats you want- and maybe even a bit more- than buying mined diamonds. 

Other than that, lab-grown diamonds have the same physical properties, chemical composition, and optical properties as natural diamonds. They are the same pure carbon crystals, have the same tetrahedral atomic structure, have the same hardness, the same weaknesses, and the same beauty. In fact, dollar per dollar, lab-grown diamonds are more beautiful since they generally are a higher quality diamond than most natural diamonds. 

Here are three types of lab-diamond bracelets that will be perfect this spring and summer. 

1) Diamond Tennis Bracelets

One of the most famous and sought-after types of diamond bracelets, tennis bracelets are sometimes assumed to have a specific origin story. 

The story goes like this: 

In 1978, three-time US Open Champion Chris Evert’s diamond bracelet came off during a match, and she asked that the game be paused while they searched for it. 

“When I competed, I wanted to wear something that gave me confidence and empowered me both as a woman and an athlete,” she reported to the New York Times. 

The pause and search apparently confused the crowd, and in a post-game interview she used the famous nomenclature for the first time, telling reporters she had dropped her “‘tennis bracelet.’” (NYT)

And so it goes…

Back to reality: Tennis bracelets are the beloved of many people with absolutely no connection to the “sport of kings.” Nor did they begin in 1978, and they were originally known as “eternity bracelets.” 

The design as we have it today comes from the Art Deco movement in the early 20th century, though the original idea was already in use long before. 

Diamond bracelets go back centuries - Marie Antoinette had a famous pair of diamond bracelets each carrying more than 140 carats. But it was the Art Deco movement that inspired the style of seamless white diamonds with little or no metal showing that characterizes a tennis bracelet.

This may have been as much practical as stylistic, since the Art Deco movement benefited enormously from the massive deposits of diamonds found at the end of the 19th century and early 20th, flooding the market with gleaming stones, as well as the then relatively new use of platinum and white gold- two common metals used for tennis bracelets. This made the tennis bracelet style as we know it today a commercial possibility that was almost impossible to have before. 

Today they are a coveted staple of any fine jewelry collection, and a lab-diamond tennis bracelet may become an heirloom possession that you will enjoy throughout life. 

Tennis bracelets are so versatile they are practically the apple tart of jewelry, pairing well with a large diversity of looks. 

You can determine how dramatic that look is by your choice of diamond shape and the orientation of those diamonds. A bracelet made up of squared shapes, such as rectangular emerald cut diamonds, or 1:1 ratio princess cut diamonds will create a seamless, clean-looking row of glittering diamonds. On the other hand, using rounded shapes such as cushion cut diamonds or round brilliants will lend more fluidity to the bracelet's features. 

You can create a more complex style by a combination of different shapes, or orient them in unusual ways to mesmerize admirers.

2) Cuban Link Diamond Bracelets

The Cuban link chain origin story is a bit of a mystery, but the story of its popularity in the U.S. is not. 

This year is arguably the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop, the birth of which is largely attested to a number of parties given in the Bronx in 1973 by the Godfather of Hip Hop, DJ Kool Herc, and his sister, the first Hip Hop producer, Cindy Campbell. 

It was at the “Back to School Jam,” on August 11, 1973, and the several subsequent parties, that many of the first MCs got their feet wet; and allegedly where Cuban link chains began to appear on Hip Hop artists. 

Since then the flat-laying chunky chains have grown exponentially in popularity, and over time developed many sub-styles, such as Miami Cuban link chains, diamond-covered Cuban links and Cuban link bracelets. 

Inspired by the enormously popular Cuban Link necklaces, diamond Cuban link chain bracelets let you bring the bling to arm's length in a grand way. 

These statement-making, dramatic bracelets are among our most sought-after items at Michael Gabriels. 

Our Cuban link bracelets are handmade in New York City by expert artisans and craftspeople who have the knowledge and experience to make these iconic works. 

Available in yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold, and set with real diamonds they are easy to pair with watches, other jewelry, or ensembles to complete your look. 

Our Cuban link bracelets come in any size you want, though fair warning that a 5 Kilo chain with 20 carats of diamond pave may give your arm a real workout. 

As a custom-jewelry house, all of our Diamond Cuban Link bracelets are customizable to your specific needs and desires, so you will be able to add the details and features that encompass the kind of personality and character you want to show off. 

And what are diamond Cuban link bracelets if not a major flex? 

 

3) Diamond Bangles 

Bangles are a kind of non-flexible bracelet that has been worn since ancient times. Early bangles were made from wood, ivory, bone, stone, and sea shells, which gave way to metals, resin, lac, and famously, glass, perhaps as early as 2600 BC. 

In India especially, and to a certain extent in other parts of South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, various types of bangles may have special significance or meaning. 

Today bangles are found all over the world, and made of almost every material imaginable, though a traditional trade in luxury bangles of glass, resin, lac, stone, and metal continues to be prominent in India. 

In the West, luxury bangles are more often made of precious metals and are decorated with precious and semi-precious stones. 

Customarily quite narrow, these bracelets tend towards a more delicate look than the chunkiness of Cuban links. They also have a slightly more “casual,” look, that can be easily dressed up or down. 

Set with diamonds they are reminiscent of tennis bracelets, but their rigidity allows for smaller diamonds, diamond pave, and delicate design features in precious metals, such as filigree and milgrain gold detailing. 

Famous for being stacked together, a number of bangles on the arm creates a light jingle-jangle sound. 

Bangles make a great gift for someone with a sense of whimsy. 

 

At Michael Gabriels

Michael Gabriels is a family-run custom-jewelry house based in New York City.  We are excited to lend the expertise of over a hundred years of experience across three generations to help our clients create the perfect diamond jewelry. 

We primarily use lab-grown diamonds and recycled precious metals, preferring them for their accessibility, and ethical and environmental advantages. 

Please contact us with any questions you may have about lab-grown diamonds or jewelry, our online collection of fine jewelry, and how we design and produce custom lab-grown diamond jewelry. 

If you would like to see us in person, feel free to contact us and make a personalized appointment at our showroom, or if you are in the Soho area, just walk right in.