The Bronze Age brought the first bracelets to the west, although the adornment appears to have been created earlier in the east. Bracelets were worn as a visible sign of wealth, although Greek and Roman soldiers also wore armlets (bracelets on the upper arm) as a means of protection and to awe their adversaries. The Greek armlets were crafted of leather and adorned with gold and silver, as well as gemstones. The Roman designs were more frequently made of gold.

In addition to these ancient bracelet wearers, the jewelry has been found in the ashes of Pompeii, Ur's tombs and crafted from bronze on the British Isles. Despite this early prevalence, bracelets were less common in Europe until after the Byzantine Empire fell. During the Middle Ages, bracelets were worn exclusively by women, as they were thought to be too feminine for men.

During the 17th century, the popularity of bracelets grew and came to offer many more options and designs. Medallions, cameos and stones began to be used in styles, often connected by metal rings and chains. In the 18th century, matching sets of gemstone jewelry, including bracelets, came into vogue and a woman's ensemble was not complete without these decorations.

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