The palm cuff, the cocoa pod bracelet and botanical bangles from St Lucia, and what the palm has stood for over thousands of years
Why is a bracelet the piece I reach for when I want to feel put together?
A bracelet is the only jewellery you see while you’re doing something. Writing, pouring, pointing, waving someone over.
The one on my wrist is Anitanja’s cocoa pod bracelet. It goes on when I want to feel finished without trying, a little row of cacao pods moving every time I move.
Anitanja Lawaetz designs her nature inspired bracelets in St Lucia, from the plants and coast around her. Artisans in Bali make each one by hand, and every piece ships from the UK. The full range is in bracelets and cuffs.
Should you choose a cuff, a chain bracelet or a bangle?
Among nature inspired bracelets, you should choose a cuff for one bold piece with no clasp, a chain bracelet for movement and layering with a watch, and a bangle for a clean, finished line.
| Style | How it goes on | Best for | From the collection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuff | Slides on from the side | One strong statement | Palm cuff, Flower end cuff |
| Chain bracelet | Clasp | Movement, layering | Cocoa pod bracelet, Lattice disc bracelet, Textured disc bracelet |
| Open bangle | Eased on | A clean line | Twin stone bangle |
What is the palm cuff?
The palm cuff is a wide gold cuff bracelet wrapped in fine ridges like a palm frond, the boldest of her nature inspired bracelets, and the showpiece of the leaf and flower collection.
Up close, the ridges catch light the way a frond does in full sun, bright on the edges, shadowed in the folds. It’s a confident piece. It doesn’t dangle and it doesn’t apologise.
What does the palm symbolise?
The palm symbolises victory, peace and eternal life, a meaning it has carried since antiquity: palm branches were carried in triumph across the ancient Mediterranean world, and Christians still carry them on Palm Sunday, as the history of the palm branch as a symbol shows. In the Caribbean, the palm is simply home. Wearing one is a quiet statement of strength.
What other nature inspired bracelets does Anitanja make?
Anitanja makes five more nature inspired bracelets besides the palm cuff, each a botanical bracelet or a reef one, drawn from cocoa, flowers, coral and stones.
What is the cocoa pod bracelet?
The cocoa pod bracelet links cacao pods along a chain, and it’s the one I wear. It belongs to the cocoa collection, and for the Maya and Aztecs cacao meant value. The whole story is in cocoa pod earrings and the history of cocoa.
What is the flower end cuff?
The flower end cuff finishes each end in a flower, so the two blooms sit either side of the wrist bone.
Are there coral inspired bracelets?
There are two coral inspired bracelets: the lattice disc bracelet, with an open lattice like a sea fan in every disc, and the textured disc bracelet, with pebble textures. Read why they matter in coral inspired jewellery.
What is the twin stone bangle?
The twin stone open bangle is an open bangle finished with a stone at each end, so the pair meet on the top of the wrist.
How do you put on a cuff bracelet without bending it?
You put on a cuff bracelet by sliding the opening over the narrow inside of your wrist, side on, then turning it so the gap sits underneath. Never pull a cuff wider to get it on.
Metal remembers. Every time you prise an open cuff apart, it weakens a little at the curve, and eventually it won’t close back to shape. If it needs adjusting, make small, gentle squeezes, not one big bend.
Where should a cuff sit on the wrist?
A cuff should sit just above the wrist bone, snug enough not to slide over your hand and loose enough to turn.
Is gold plate a good choice for a bracelet?
Gold plate is a good choice for nature inspired bracelets if you treat them kindly, because gold plating is a thin layer of gold over a base metal, and bracelets rub against desks, bags and sleeves all day. Take it off for washing up and the gym, keep it dry, and it will last far longer. Each product page lists the metal under Materials.
How do you stack nature inspired bracelets?
You stack nature inspired bracelets by pairing one chain with one cuff on the same wrist and keeping the other wrist for a watch, so the pieces don’t knock against each other.
The palm cuff alone is enough. If you want two, the cocoa pod bracelet beside the flower end cuff works because the shapes are so different. Matching earrings? See leaf earrings and lily pad studs.
So which piece would I choose first?
The cocoa pod bracelet for every day, the palm cuff for the days you want to be seen.
Thanks for reading! @queenofvitality
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