Bangles are traditionally rigid bracelets which are usually made of metal, wood, glass, or plastic. These ornaments are worn mostly by women in the Indian subcontinent, Southeastern Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, and Africa. It is common to see a bride wearing glass bangles at weddings in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and in other Asian countries. Bangles may also be worn by young girls, and bangles made of gold or silver are preferred for toddlers. Some men and women wear a single bangle on the arm or wrist called kada or kara.
Dancing girl of Mohenjo-daro (2300–1750 BCE)
Bangles made of glass stacked for sale in Jodhpur, India
Laad Bazar
Multicolor glass bangles in Gangotri
A bracelet is an article of jewellery that is worn around the wrist. Bracelets may serve different uses, such as being worn as an ornament. When worn as ornaments, bracelets may have a supportive function to hold other items of decoration, such as charms. Medical and identity information are marked on some bracelets, such as allergy bracelets, hospital patient-identification tags, and bracelet tags for newborn babies. Bracelets may be worn to signify a certain phenomenon, such as breast cancer awareness, or for religious/cultural purposes.
A decorative gold charm bracelet showing a heart-shaped locket, seahorse, crystal, telephone, bear, spaceship, and grand piano.
Chain mail bracelet, in Byzantine weave, with silver-plated copper rings and green aluminium rings
Ancient Egyptian hinged cuff bracelet, c. 1479 –1425 BCE
Penannular bracelet, Oxus Treasure, Achaemenid period, c. 500 BCE