Fashion Jewelry Beaded Bracelets

Wearing a unique vintage fashion beaded bracelet is a subtle way to make a bold statement. Like a lot of costume jewelry, these all-occasion items pair perfectly with both casual and formal attire and never look out of place, no matter whose wrists they’re adorning.

From the dazzling glass and shellwork jewelry favored by the Roman gentry to traditional Buddhist ceremonial mala, beaded bracelets have a storied history that spans centuries. These simple yet elegant accessories have held many different meanings in many different cultures.

The ancient Egyptians wore beaded bracelets whose symbolism was connected to specific colors of stones. The rosaries of Catholicism likewise infused sacred meaning in each bead. Native Americans used beads made from whelk and clamshells, known as wampum, as a form of money.

The beaded bracelet has become an object of importance and value over time owing to craftsmanship, design and materials — in the case of fine jewelry created during the Art Deco era for example, a beaded bracelet might feature diamonds and carved emeralds. Costume jewelry, which is also called fashion jewelry, is designed to accessorize with current fashions and is typically made with inexpensive materials such as rhinestones or milk glass. 

On 1stDibs, browse fashion beaded bracelets — and other types of bracelets in the collection of fine jewelry — to explore the variety and beauty of these unique pieces that reflect an ever-evolving form of personal adornment.