Modern Handcuff: The Best Alternatives to a Cartier Love Bracelet

There are few pieces of jewellery with the staying power of Cartier’s Love bracelet. Launched in 1969, the same year that Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the Moon, this iconic design remains as ubiquitous as ever. However, if you’ve ever wished for a slightly less obvious alternative to this instantly recognisable bracelet style, this is exactly the article you need. Continue reading to expand your options…

If you don’t own a Cartier Love bracelet, you probably know someone who does. The unisex design – simple and functional – continues to be among the world’s most sought-after luxury items. Referred to as a ‘modern love handcuff’ in early advertising material, the design revolutionised the way in which jewellery was worn. Locked to the wrist and difficult to remove, it became the blueprint for the kind of day-to-night jewellery that you never take off.

Conceived in Cartier’s New York workshop by the Italian designer Aldo Cipullo, the Love bracelet was a trailblazer in more ways than one. A sleekly modern gold band, curved to hug the wrist, rather than hiding the screwheads, they were exposed, giving the design its signature industrial aesthetic. Even more ground-breaking was the way in which the Love bracelet was fastened to the wrist. Sold with an accompanying screwdriver, the two halves of the bracelet were manually screwed together, symbolising unbreakable love.