What are cuff bracelets?

Cuff bracelets are wide bands of metal or hard material that you slide onto your wrist like a thick bracelet, instead of putting them on and taking off with a clasp. Imagine the difference between taping your shoelaces together versus sliding a stiff plastic sleeve over your foot; a cuff is like that sleeve for your arm.

Most bracelets have a tiny metal loop called a clasp that clicks shut, but a cuff stays on by squeezing gently around your wrist bone. This squeeze creates friction, which is just a fancy word for the grip that holds things together. Think of how you hold a toy tightly in your hand; the tighter you squeeze, the harder it falls out. The metal is bent slightly open, so when you slide it over your knuckles and let go, it springs back to hug your wrist snugly.

People choose cuffs because they look bold and stand out more than thin chains. They are easy to put on, too. You just twist them onto your arm or push them up until they sit comfortably near the bottom of your hand. Some people like wearing two or three different colored metal rings together to make a stack, similar to how you might stack your favorite building blocks on top of each other.

Cuffs are sturdy and do not tangle up in your hair when you put on a jacket. They are like little metal hoops that say "hello" to everyone who looks at you.