An armlet is a piece of jewelry worn around the upper arm much as a
bracelet is worn around the wrist. Archeological discoveries and artwork
have shown armlets have been worn for
thousands of years and were parts of many ancient cultures. some countries like Australia use leader armlets from animals they hunt. in Egypt, thousands of years ago armlets where a typical ornament on both men and woman, having gold or glass armlets on both of their arms. Sometimes
also referred to as an arm ring or armband, they are typically made from
fine metals such as silver or gold and can be either wider with
elaborate designs or narrower bands of delicate shapes or features.
While worn most commonly in more recent times by women, historical works have often depicted both men and women wearing armlets.
In some cultures, such as Sri Lanka, some men still wear a traditional
armlet on the day of their wedding. Many Eastern and Middle Eastern
cultures also have a great deal of art showing heroes and deities
wearing armlets. Kandyan drummers can be seen wearing armlets while performing, even in the 21st century.
Typically,
however, an armlet is worn as a piece of jewelry by a woman. Usually
this will be worn with a sleeveless garment to show off how the metal
contrasts with her skin, and because the binding nature of the jewelry
typically accentuates a woman’s features with a slimming effect. This is
similar to how a bracelet can draw someone’s eye to the narrowest part
of a woman’s wrist or ankle and have an overall slimming effect. An
armlet can draw a viewer’s eye toward an attractive arm and give a woman
a more striking appearance.
