Silver Chainmail Bracelet

Beauty in War: The Silver Chainmail Bracelet

For starters, let’s talk about materials. If the name hadn’t already given it away, this bracelet is made out of sterling silver. The ‘sterling’ part of the silver means that it’s an alloy, because pure silver is very soft and can sometimes do with being strengthened to prevent deforming.

The bracelet itself is constructed by many fine silver rings which are linked together in rows of five. This means that the links themselves are relatively strong, but the bracelet is lightweight and flexible, making it very comfortable on the wrist. It’s secured by a simple sliding clasp.

The design of the bracelet easily reminds us of chainmail armour worn by knights and soldiers during the medieval period. However, the bracelet itself is delicate and beautiful, ideal for both men and women of good means.

This kind of jewellery is ideal for setting apart any outfit, whether it’s a historical medieval outfit, a fantasy costume, or even something you wear every day. If you are thinking of wearing it to a LARP event or as part of a costume, you’d be pleased to know that this is quite a versatile piece of jewellery and suitable for many kinds of characters.

The Purpose of Chain Links in Armour

It doesn’t take a major leap of our imagination to look at this chainmail bracelet and think of chainmail armour. Let’s consider why this kind of material was so popular.

Chainmail had been used in armour for centuries even before the medieval period. Before the Romans dominated Western Europe, the Celtic tribes reigned supreme. They have often been credited with inventing chain armour as we know it, particularly in Western Europe.

Rather than being constructed of one large plate of metal, like plate armour, chainmail is made with a load of interlinking rings in the shape of whatever you wanted. It was much easier to shape than plate armour, as the rings themselves were all that the blacksmith needed to forge.

As an armour, chainmail was somewhat flexible. Yes, it wasn’t as easy to move in than cloth alone, but you could move about relatively easily. Mail could be heavy on the shoulders, but a soldier could comfortably wear it all day.

As an armour, the chain links were very effective at deflecting slashing sword blows especially. The wearer was still vulnerable to blunt force and piercing attacks, although the chain could mitigate it, especially when paired with thick layers underneath. One great benefit to mail is that even if some of the rings broke, it was a simple affair to replace them.

In fact, the principles of mail still see use in modern times. It is still used for jewellery and even in some armour, namely stab-proof vests and in butcher’s gauntlets.

Looking for an alternative, here’s another lovely Chainmail Bracelet! Looking for something a little more classy? Then check out the Chainmail Bangle!

Tech Specs

The technical specifications for the silver chainmail bracelet are as follows:

•         Material: Sterling silver
•         Width: 19.5 mm
•         Thickness: 2.5 mm
•         Weight: 26 grams or approx. 1 oz