Cuffs - what is it

Many probably already know what kind of jewelry they are and how they are worn. Cuff - an ear accessory - has been known for millennia, but only in recent decades has it become trendy!

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Translated from English cuff- cuff, or cuff. Indeed, this jewelry usually covers the auricle, like a cuff - a wrist. The cuff is attached to the ear using a bow or light clip. Some types of cuffs require holes in the earlobe (only in the earlobe!), But most are attached without clips.
Cuff is a decoration not only for the ear, this accessory can be located simultaneously on the ear, hair, temple, forehead, nose, etc.

The first mention of cuffs we find in historical sources in 2300 BC: archaeologists found them in excavations of burials in the British Isles. Already in the ancient era, cuffs were widespread in ancient Greece and Rome, and especially in the countries of the East. Why?
The fact is that women in antiquity always sought to decorate themselves with massive jewelry (fashion comes back, cutting rather wide circles, isn't it?).

In addition, earrings were often (especially in India) supplemented by a large number of precious stones, weaving, chains, etc. Heavy gold, silver and copper earrings with stones not only greatly delayed the earlobe, but could also break it.Then cuffs appeared - jewelry for the ears without fasteners and fastenings on the earlobe. In India, cuffs usually additionally decorated hair and attached to the nose. Peacocks, lotus flowers, the famous "paisley" cucumbers - all this you will see now on the cuffs of Indian girls, especially on their wedding day.

In the famous feature film "Alexander" about Alexander the Great (director Oliver Stone), costumes are believed to be closest to historical reality. The Olympics, the mother of Alexander, performed by Angelina Jolie appears in this film in two types of cuffs: with a bow behind the ear and with a ring around the ear.
Interesting fact: in ancient Rome, cuffs were so popular that they even adorned the ears of animals, especially those prepared for performances in arenas and stadiums.
Cuffs are still common in Thailand and other countries of the region - they are worn by almost all locals at carnivals and in theater productions. As a rule, they are very voluminous, heavy, made of gold and represent birds or parts of their bodies.
Cuffs were also worn in our country - women of some indigenous peoples of Siberia decorated their ears, not piercing them, but fixing earrings to the ears.
Cuffs reached Europe in the Middle Ages. Of course, aristocrats and people of great prosperity wore them, because usually these jewelry were made of precious metals. True, outwardly they were not particularly large and practically did not differ from ordinary earrings.
Russian aristocrats began to wear cuffs only in the 18th century, but here they quickly gained popularity and became an integral part of the contents of the jewelry box. Usually these were cuffs with precious stones - diamonds, sapphires, rubies. Precious metals often served to represent flowers, leaves, and stylized plant patterns.

The first to introduce cuffs (in the form of stars and wings) into modern fashion were brands Hubert harmon and Margot DeTaxco. This happened in the distant 40s of the last century. But already in the 50s, cuffs appeared in the collections of other famous Fashion houses and firms - again from precious metals and stones. As a rule, they were offered complete with a bracelet, necklace, brooch and rings. Cuffs were used to decorate the ear and hair in the temple area. In the 50s, cuffs were worn by both Marilyn Monroe, and Lita Baron, and other stars.
In the 70−80s. almost all over the world, a passion for punk has spread among young people, which involves many punctures on the body and face. Not everyone wanted to follow this fashion in the literal sense of the word, so clips and cuffs gained superpopularity. Now, cuffs were also made from simple metals, and not only for women, but also for men. In addition, images of hearts, logos, etc. appeared on "inexpensive" cuffs. Cuffs imitating an ear puncture were also invented (see photo).

Finally, the cuffs introduced the famous jewelry brand in their collection. Tiffany Following the cuffs appeared in the collections of numerous other world-famous jewelry brands.The most common form at that time was a ring fixed in the middle of the auricle.
Representatives of pop music and movie stars did not lag behind fashion, naturally. In the famous TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the ears of the Bajorans, representatives of an alien civilization, were decorated with cuffs with chains.
What's next? Of course, avant-garde design - new materials and decor. In 2003, feather cuffs first appeared. Skulls, bats, numerous chains flowing to the middle of the back, writing pen, ethnic, two clips with a chain - for men (Lanvin in the photo in a slide show), etc., etc.
Cuffs fell in love with celebrities, they often appear PEris Hilton, Jessica Alba, Rihanna, Miranda Kerr, Madonna, Cate Blanchett, Cate Bosworth, Diana Krueger, Dita Von Teese and many others.
Currently, cuffs have become a mass decoration, which, moreover, is quite possible to make yourself.
Photo: PR.
Material prepared by Elena Karpova