The ancient Sumerians of the Mesopotamian region, circa 2500 BC, are noted for being one of the first to wear ankle bracelets. Ever since then, later civilizations followed suit.
The ancient Egyptians, rich and poor alike, adorned themselves with all types of jewelry, including ankle bracelets, which sometimes included a hanging amulet or lucky talisman (sometimes the anklets were referred to as charm bracelets).
The Silk Road, a trade route that runs through Asia, also brought the anklet to the Ancient Persians, who used precious gems in the anklets that they wore.
The Indians, however, could quite possibly be the most prominent wearers of the anklet to date. Indian women wear ankle bracelets rigorously as part of their culture. It is an Indian custom for a bride to wear an ankle bracelet on her wedding day.
There is even a piece of Indian literature that tells a story of an unfaithful husband that falls in love with a woman who wears a magical anklet. Indian anklets often include tiny chains, bells, and charms.
In the United States, the anklet did not emerge until the 1950s. Young women in the fifties who wore bobby socks (trendy socks that were rolled down at the top), also known as “bobby sockers”, oftentimes wore ankle bracelets over their socks.
In the seventies, the trend was to wear anklets that featured the name or initials of the wearer. In this day and age, the varieties of ankle bracelets are absolutely endless.
Metals such as gold, silver, platinum, brass, and sterling silver can be used; but materials like plastic and hemp are equally common.
An ankle bracelet is an extremely unique piece of jewelry that is not seen on a daily basis, and could be just the thing to make a person stand out in a crowd.
