Throughout human history, we have looked upon precious metals, stones, and minerals as sacred, often equating immense value to these elements and at one time, even considering them to be gifts from the Gods. Today, we still search, sift, and mine the Earth for these elements and use them in a variety of applications.

As humans evolved, they began making jewelry and started wearing precious objects for decoration. Many cultures around the world also used jewelry as a means of distinguishing the various class systems prevalent in society, especially when it came to ornaments like crowns, rings, and bangles.

In India, bangles have been worn for thousands of years, usually to symbolize the marital status of a woman. Bangles have been made from a variety of materials like wood, glass, gold, and other sacred metals. Today with online markets becoming an integral part of human culture, you can also find diamond bangles online.

History of the Bangle

On the Indian subcontinent, bangles have long been a part of the Hindu culture and are still worn by many women as a symbol of wedded bliss. Women generally wear multiple bangles on the arm, which tend to vary in terms of the material used. Although bangles are popularly made from gold, wood, or glass, sometimes they can also be manufactured out of seashells, or even encrusted with diamonds.

Bangles have a cultural significance that can be traced back over 5000 years in Indian history to the Mohenjo-Daro settlements, initially found along the banks of the Indus River in present-day Pakistan. History proves that this piece of jewelry has been of significance for thousands of years now.

Modern humans generally associate the use of bangles with the Hindu culture; however, the earliest known discovery of the accessory is of a stone bangle-style bracelet found in the Siberian region. Through radiocarbon dating, it was found that the bangle was over 40,000 years old, and worn ornamentally by the Denisovan species, a distant relative of modern-day Homosapiens.

Additionally, bangle-style bracelets have been adorned across the globe. They were also worn by people from the Maya, Maurya, and Roman empires. Bangles, considered to be the oldest piece of jewelry ever constructed or worn by humans, are as historically significant as they are unique to cultures across the world.

In ancient times, bangles were generally made out of terracotta, stone, seashells, bronze, copper, glass, or any other available material. Today, more elaborate versions are constructed, ranging from very inexpensive plastic bangles to highly valuable diamond bangles. Online markets have brought the popularity of this item to communities across the world. With the demand for fashion in nearly every city and town, its reputation is sure to grow.

Considering Bangles

Bangles, often considered to be rigid bracelets and worn mainly for their cultural significance, are now becoming a fashion statement. The ornate bracelets nowadays are sought after items in the United States by young teenage girls, only to be used as an accessory.

Though the significance and history behind this piece of jewelry is quite rich and an integral part of Indian culture, the global marketplace has managed to cross all cultural boundaries, making nearly every traditional item available to everyone.

In this day and age, you no longer have to travel to India to buy an authentic bangle. Whether you want a bangle made from diamond, gold, or any other element, these bracelets can now be purchased online to suit any taste, culture, or fashion style.