Closing the Gap on a Native American Inlay Cuff Bracelet

When this beautiful inlay bracelet by Merle House Jr. came into our store,

Inlay Bracelet by Navajo artist Merle House, Jr.

I just had to have it…………it matched a pendant and ring I have by him which I love to wear.

BUT the bracelet was gallons too big. Made to fit a 7 1/2″ wrist, I didn’t know if it could be closed up enough to fit my 6 3/4″ wrist.

BEFORE – The 1 3/4″ gap was so large that the bracelet would roll and fall off my wrist.

The silver measured 5 3/4″ end to end. It was the gap that was the bad boy – at 1 3/4″ it would allow the bracelet to roll and fall off my wrist. If it could be closed at least 1/2″, down to a 1 1/4″ gap maximum, I think that could work for me – still enough of a gap to get on and off but it would stay on. It would likely be a little lose but for these big heavy ones, I kind of like them moving a bit.

I asked my go-to repair gal Diane Radeke if Henry could possibly do that and she said “NO PROBLEM!”

AFTER – Here it is after resizing – With the gap closed to 1 1/8″, the bracelet now goes on and off very easily and stays put on my wrist !

I asked Diane what is involved in resizing an inlay bracelet and here is what she said:

“It’s a commonly held belief that inlaid bracelets cannot be sized because of the risk of stones popping out or breaking.  It can, however, be done by a skilled silversmith with the right tools, materials and experience.

 

The simplest style to resize have stones inlaid on less than half of the length of the bracelet (like Paula’s). 

The inlay is confined to just the front of the bracelet – that was good news for getting this resized downward.

Special tools and a lot of patience will allow the silversmith to bend only the sections of bracelet that have no stones.  The inlaid portion will not change its shape, and the stones will remain secure.

 

If more than half of the length is covered with stones, the silversmith can lift the stones out of the bracelet, reshape the bracelet, and then carefully set the stones back in place.  There are a few adjustments to be made, however, as the “bed” for the stones will now be a different size.  If the bracelet is being made smaller, the curved bed will become longer – then tiny slivers of stone will be added to fill the gaps.  More difficult is if the bracelet is being made larger – the curved bed becomes shorter so some of the stones will be filed ever so slightly to fit correctly without binding.

 

Resizing a favorite inlaid bracelet can be time consuming, but may be well worth the investment for the enjoyment of wearing it! “

So here it is back to me and WOW, my dream came true.

Many thanks to Diane and Henry for yet another successful jewelry modification/repair !

Paula

If I can’t squeeze an inlay bracelet to put it on, what is the proper way?

Dear Paula,

I am sending you this email because I have been viewing one of your Inlay Bracelets on your website. we recently purchased a beautiful pendant and necklace and once it arrived we were very pleased! This bracelet is one I have loved since finding the pendant! I have read everything you have about sizing and still can’t determine if this one would fit me okay. I have a couple other cuff bracelets but they are not the proper fit and I can open and close them to fit, they also aren’t as expensive as this, so I
could really use your help!!! The bracelet I’m talking about is ITEM# NBN544(Steve Francisco-Navajo Sterling Silver Turquoise and Opal Inlay Bracelet-size 6 1/4″-only one available).

My dilemma is will this bracelet fit my 6″ wrist the proper way? I do want to wear it right at the wrist area. I see that you state Inlay bracelets really aren’t meant to be adjusted so this is why I really would appreciate your honest opinion! Another Question I have is if you can’t open/close it, how do you put it on/off? I don’t want to make a purchase of this price and not be able to fit it properly, or damage it! Its too beautiful not to be
able to wear it!

If you could please respond I would greatly appreciate it!
Sincerely Yours,
Lisa

Hi Lisa,

You should never have to open and close a bracelet to put it on or take it off. Once you find the correct bracelet size and you use the right technique (roll it on), they go on and off without changing shape or size and they won’t be damaged or misshapen and they will last a lifetime !!

Read the last paragraph here to see how to properly put a cuff on and off.
http://www.horsekeeping.com/jewelry/info/cuff-bracelet.htm

and this will provide more info too

https://nativeamericanjewelrytips.wordpress.com/2010/11/06/native-american-jewelry-putting-on-a-cuff-bracelet/

Once you have read those, if you can send me the dimensions of a cuff bracelet that you do have that fits you well – measure inside using a cloth tape measure or a piece of string and then measuring the string on a ruler. Send the inside measurement end to end and then also send the measurement of the gap (the space between the ends).

Then I can tell you if this bracelet might work for you.  It is so beautiful and unique !  But yes, if you open and close this bracelet like you do with your others, it will likely lose stones. That’s because the stones are set into the bracelet end to end conforming perfectly to the shape of the sterling silver. If you change the shape of the sterling silver by squeezing or opening it, the stones will become dislodged.

Paula

What do you mean by bracelet circumference?

Hi Paula,
I’m looking at your Hopi cuff bracelets. What do you mean by circumference?  –measurement of bracelet end-to-end, or –measurement including the gap, as if it was a circle?
I need a cuff bracelet that’s 5″ end-to-end, or just a little bigger.
Thanks,
Carol

Hi Carol,

Circumference is the perimeter of a circle or the outside boundary of a circle.

When fitting a cuff bracelet, you are comparing two circles: your wrist and the bracelet.

The wrist circle is the measurement (in inches) taken with a flexible tape measure around the portion of your wrist where you want to wear the bracelet.

The bracelet circle is the total circumference. Total circumference refers to the total circular measurement: the end to end measurement (taken on the inside of the cuff bracelet) + the gap. That approximates the circumference of the wrist that the bracelet is to fit.

Most gaps are 1 – 1 1/4″ so to find a bracelet to fit you (you said you want one 5″ end to end) you would look at bracelets in the 6 to 6 1/4″ total circumference range as you likely have a 6 to 6 1/4″ wrist.

Paula

Native American Jewelry – Putting on a Cuff Bracelet

Hi Paula,

I’ve been admiring the Native American Jewelry on the Horsekeeping website.

I have a question about the bracelets…

When putting a cuff bracelet on and off it has to be big enough to fit over your hand or the gap wide enough to fit on the narrowest/smallest part of your wrist.   That being said, how could a person wear a cuff bracelet above the wrist bone when it will naturally fall towards the hand when your arm is down and flop around when you move …  unless, you squeeze it tight (bend it) once on, and bend it open again to take it off.. ?  Is a cuff bracelet suppose to fit like a bangle bracelet and be loose (fall to the hand) or is it suppose to stay still (fitted) when you wear it?

I have a couple bracelets (western style) that I received as gifts.  I’ve been bending them to get them on and off so they don’t flop around so much but never bend them to a point where the gap is closed and it is fitted (stays between my hand and wrist bone)….  My wrist is 6 1/4″, bracelets are 6 3/4″ including gap.

Appreciate your reply.

Kindest regards,

Carolyn

Good questions Carolyn,

I’ll answer your queries specifically, but in the meantime, please read these two articles……..

How to Choose and Fit a Cuff Bracelet

Cuff Bracelet Fit – More Tips

After you’ve read them, let me know if some of your questions have been answered and if not, what the new ones are !

Paula

Hi again Carolyn,

First of all, a cuff bracelet is never put over the hand. If it would fit over the hand, it would be too big. Cuff bracelets are put on by utilizing the gap as described in the above referenced article.

How one wears a bracelet is entirely a matter of personal preference and taste. When I wear a group of bangle bracelets, I want them to be very loose and move up and down my wrist and lower arm as I move my arm and hands. Bangles are for days when metal clinking is not only good, but desired !

 

Sterling Silver Navajo Silverdust Bangle Bracelets

I also like to wear my link bracelets and link watches loose, that is so that they slide up and down my wrist.

 

Sterling Silver and 12K Gold Navajo Link Bracelet by Alonzo Mariano

As far as cuff bracelets, if they are narrow bracelets, I prefer to wear them low on my wrist – below the prominent wrist bone. If they are wider, then I like them over the top of the prominent wrist bone.

 

Example of Narrow Cuff - Sterling Silver and 14K Gold Continuous Water Bracelet by Bruce Morgan

Example of a Wide Cuff - Sterling Silver Sandcast and Kingman Turquoise Bracelet by Harrison Bitsui

There is a “sweet spot” in terms of bracelet size, gap and the person’s wrist size as to where a bracelet will “work”. If a bracelet is the right size, you can wear a cuff above your wrist and it will stay there. If it is too big, then, as you say, it will slip down.

From the dimensions you mention in your e-mail, it would seem almost impossible to keep that bracelet up above your wrist UNLESS you open it up to put it on, then squeeze the gap closed (eek!) once you get it on your wrist. Squeezing not only makes the bracelet misshapen but it can pop out inlay stones or loosen other stone settings. The bracelet below is made up of many small pieces of turquoise with sterling silver channel in between. If the bracelet below was spread open, then squeezed shut, the stone at the point of the bend would be lifted right out of their settings and popped out.

Zuni Turquoise Inlay Bracelet by Sheldon Lalio

So 6 3/4″ is too big for a 6 1/4″ wrist. You should be looking for a bracelet that is about 6 1/4″ total inside circumference which would be about 5 1/4″ from end to end inside and with a 1″ gap. That way you can put the bracelet on and off easily without opening and closing the gap.

Let me know if I can help further.