Designers give consumers a dose of cuff love

April 15, 2007
By Beth Braverman

New York—Wrists will continue to be a hot spot for jewelry throughout spring and fall, with charm bracelets, bangles and cuffs rising up as the top options for 2007.

But judging from their ubiquity in spring fashion magazines and on the runways of Fall Fashion Week in New York, cuff bracelets have emerged as major must-have items for spring. They also made a strong showing at recent awards shows, with trend-setting celebs such as Beyoncé Knowles, Christina Ricci and Vanessa Minnillo wearing cuff bracelets to the Grammy Awards; and Felicity Huffman and Nicollette Sheridan donning them at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

These celebrities certainly are not the first style-savvy women to discover cuffs. From Cleopatra to Coco Chanel, women have always coveted the bold baubles.

January jewelry shows in New York and Vicenza, Italy, confirmed that designers remain on top of the trend as they offered a bevy of new creations sure to appeal to a wide-ranging consumer base.

From tough cuffs to slim and slinky [ones], designers are pulling out all the stops this spring to design attention-grabbing cuffs and bracelets," says Helena Krodel, media manager for the Jewelry Information Center.

Eighteen-karat white gold and diamond cuff by Chad Allison; suggested retail price is $26,000.

Equal-opportunity designers are utilizing both sterling silver and gold. Look for those with interesting textures such as hand-hammering, carved work or fabric-like details," she adds.

The trend appears in a variety of incarnations, with the most fashion-forward pieces measuring two or more inches in width.Organic or geometric motifs emerge as the most popular styles and cut-out designs and filigree work make for lighter pieces and keep prices down for those concerned with the bottom line.

Bright, primary-color gemstones such as turquoise and coral appear in unusual cuts or clean cabochon shapes, keeping the attention-attracting pieces popping with color. Earthy details, used here and there, such as wood, bone, pearls or shells, add personality.

For more conservative followers of fashion, crisp, concave metal cuffs or graphic black-and-white pieces will allow access to the trend without much sartorial risk.

Pair of cuffs in sterling silver with diamonds by Lyric; suggested retail price is $695 for solid cuff and $525 for cut-out cuff.

Versatile cuffs appeal to consumers because they work with this season's quintet of apparel trends: mod, minimal, ethnic, '80s and menswear-inspired. Cuff bracelets also make an easy transition from work-appropriate to evening-appropriate, and vintage-inspired, diamond-saturated pieces can add the finishing touch to a red-carpet or wedding-day look.

"Tricorno" cuff bracelet featuring peridot and diamonds set in 18-karat white gold by Garavelli; suggested retail price is $17,620.

Snug-fitting cuff styles work exceptionally well with the three-quarter length sleeves that have moved to the fashion forefront on print dresses, breezy tops and colorful tunics. Cuff bracelets also work well to complement other of-the-moment accessories such as clutch purses, cocktail rings and wide belts.

Daring fashionistas will layer two or more cuff bracelets in varying sizes, colors and textures for an impossible-to-miss, style-savvy look, or they'll push the cuffs above the elbow for a casual look that works with summer tank tops. -National Jeweler Network