Cuff Love

Discreet yet bold, bracelets can make a powerful statement.

The focus might be on above-the-waist attire in the remote-working age, but an off-screen jewelry icon is currently enjoying a comeback — the power cuff.

Last year, Tiffany & Co. reissued its most iconic of piece of wristwear, the curvaceous Bone Cuff by Elsa Peretti, to celebrate the jewel’s 50th anniversary. The jeweler updated the cuff with splashes of electric-blue, green and red plating, as well as new material pairings such as solid yellow gold and jade. Van Cleef & Arpels also has a ’70s power cuff still in circulation. Its hammered gold Etruscan bracelet was originally made for former US First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Nicknamed the Jackie O cuff, it still sells today.

“I think we are seeing power cuffs on trend because while they are minimal and not too ostentatious, they are bold and convey a sense of self-assured power,” says Valery Demure, founder of online jewelry store Objet d’Emotion, which stocks sculptural gold cuffs by Greek brand Minas. “They can also be worn discreetly, as opposed to rings, necklaces and earrings, and are therefore a comfortable statement to wear.”

For those making a transition from the minimal wrist stacks of seasons past to a bolder look, such cuffs are a clever half-step. Simply slip on, cover with knitwear of your choice, and when the ideal moment presents itself, rip back your sleeves and unleash your inner Wonder Woman.