‘Billionaire Bracelets’: What are These Dainty, Beaded Bracelets That Wealthy Men are Obsessed With?
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Readtime: 5 min
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It’s about time we talk about “Billionaire Bracelets.” This is a term that we’ve coined to describe the dainty, beaded bracelets that you’ll find stacked on the wrists of billionaires, millionaires who run billion-dollar companies, and Hollywood actors.
We’ve spotted them on everyone from CEOs of car brands like Lamborghini to celebrities and actors like Brad Pitt and Ryan Reynolds. However, when costume designer Julian Day dressed Tobias Menzies’ cashed-up character Peter Banning with a stack of beaded bracelets in the movie F1, we thought it was about time that we did some digging to get to the bottom of what these bracelets are by speaking to the man himself. If you’ve ever wondered why these otherwise clean-cut, tailored men are so obsessed with stacking bracelets on their wrists next to a Rolex watch, read on.
Sleek cord, gold hardware, sterling silver trinkets, beads, and coloured gemstones are the clear favourites, but the trend started with the rise in popularity of men’s bracelets as a fashion category. Let’s take a closer look!
Popularity of Men’s Braclets Over Time
Global searches for the term “men’s bracelets” have increased over time with key spikes in the gift-giving seasons between December and January, according to Google Trends.
Data shows that while popular today, men’s bracelets peaked between January and December of 2022, when monthly searches for the query “men’s bracelets” reached an all-time high, increasing by more than 40% year-over-year, according to trend tracker Semrush.
The trend has also trickled into high-end retail stores, the type where millionaires shop. The Wall Street Journal reports that U.K. department store Selfridges saw demand for men’s bracelets increase by 124% year-over-year to become the retailer’s second-most-popular category of men’s jewellery after necklaces in the peak of 2022.
When a fashion category explodes, new brands jump on the trend. However, it’s interesting to note that the most popular brands, such as Peyote Bird, have been around for more than 50 years.
The billionaire bracelet could be another one of fashion’s “quiet luxury” moments.
Why Billionaires and Millionaires Wear These Bracelets
So we know they’re popular, but why do wealthy people choose to wear them?
We asked costume designer Julian Day directly, who has designed for blockbuster movies like Rocketman, Bohemian Rhapsody, Control, Berberian Sound Studio, and most recently, the F1 movie starring Brad Pitt, where he specifically chose to add them to the wrist of Tobias Menzies’ APXGP board member character Peter Banning, who portrays a wealthy investor in the team.
He said that people “wear them to signal a commitment to a cause,” and to connect with others.
We asked Day if wearing these bracelets is a fashion faux pas, but he compared it to wearing a pair of sneakers with a suit. “It’s not a faux pas, it’s keeping your feet in two camps. It’s like sneakers and a suit, “I’m business and street, and I appeal to the masses.”
He chose to add these bracelets to the wrist of Tobias Menzies’ character in the F1 movie “for all the above reasons, and Chris Martin from Coldplay does a similar thing, and I liked his style.”
Men’s Bracelets Worth Stacking on Your Wrist
Brands like Luis Morais and Peyote Bird lead the category with a handmade approach that sees sleek cord, 14-karat gold, and the odd pop of colour from a gemstone or two.
They’re ‘quiet luxury’ adjacent in the sense that they appear like a piece of jewellery designed by your daughter in kindergarten, but are indeed the brainchild of a high-end designer who has meticulously hand-crafted these pieces from rare metals and gems.
The overall aesthetic channels one-part antique textile and one-part vintage American Southwest workwear. It seems that the billionaire bracelet is as much a fashion statement as it is a personal charm that gives a glimpse into the personal preferences of otherwise reserved individuals. Often, the chosen bracelet is so apparent that it draws attention away from the $60,000 Rolex watch that adorns the wrist of these millionaires, billionaires, and Hollywood actors.
When it comes time to stack them on your wrist, follow Brad Pitt’s lead. Vintage denim jackets, Western shirts, and don’t be afraid to mix and match sterling silver with 14-karat gold-plated silver, rubies and earthy stones like this piece from Peyote Bird (AUD$3,000).
With the continued rise in bespoke, handmade slow fashion, the popularity of billionaire bracelets won’t slow down anytime soon.
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