What is a Cape Cod Bracelet (Bonus: 10 Cape Cod Bracelet to Add to Your Cart)
Anna
A Cape Cod bracelet is about as simple as they come.
Functionally they are nothing more than a simple, silver band and an equally simple gold ball pinned between each end.
To wear the bracelet, the wearer unscrews the ball, slides the bracelet on the wrist, and then screws it back together to keep it in place.
That’s it. Nothing terribly complicated, and yet it is an iconic piece that everyone wants to add to their jewelry boxes!
10 Cape Cod Bracelets We love!
1. The Classic Cape Cod Bracelet
A smooth band of 925 sterling silver joins the classic screwball in 14k yellow gold.
Read moreIt may not be the authentic bracelet from Dennis, but it is just as good as one.
Plus, the price point is very, very reasonable. It is an instant classic that will make your outfit complete!
Of course, there are more variations on the original nowadays, and we will get to those in just a moment, but no list of Cape Cod bracelets would be complete without a nod to the original.
We love this option if you just can’t get your hands on the original one sold in Cape Cod.
2. Double Ball Bracelet
Up next, we double our love for the iconic bracelet. And the bracelet doubles the orbs.
Read moreThis pick is the classic Cape Cod but available with two balls as part of the screwball mechanism.
Sold by Unique Royal Jewelry, it is 925 sterling silver with 14k yellow gold.
The look is just as refined, although the closure is a little bulkier. We think it adds a little texture to the overall feel without adding a significant amount of weight.
Since everyone wants to have a one of a kind item while still paying homage to the classic design, this double ball version is the way to go.
3. Beachball Bracelet
This one tome creation comes straight out of the Cape Cod area. Available from Michael’s Jewelers in Provincetown, this is a stunning monotone version of the classic Cape Cod bracelet.
Read moreBoth the ball and the cuff are created using highly polished 925 sterling silver.
Various sizes are available, from six inches suitable for a child’s wrist all the way up to eight inches. This size will fit most wrists.
The single silvery color is a departure from the original creation, but it is a great option for those who don’t like the classic dual-tone.
Some folks are not partial to the yellow gold-tone. So, this is a great way to have a Cape Cod bracelet without its most classic design.
4. Twisted Rope Bracelet
Once again, we reach into the jewelry cases of Massachusetts’s own Michael’s Jewelers to find this treasure.
Read moreIt is everything that the classic Cape Cod bracelet design has to offer but with a twist, literally!
Instead of having a smooth, polished band, this version adds a rope-inspired twist to the cuff.
It is still closed by a 14k yellow gold screwball. The cuff is made using 025 sterling silver.
We love the texture and the visual detail that something as subtle as a twist adds to the piece. It gives it a slightly more rustic appearance that we dig.
5. Rose Gold Cape Cod Bracelet
Our next pick takes the lovely design of the Cape Cod but with one tiny difference. The yellow gold screwball has gone a little rosy!
Read moreThe 14k rose gold screwball closure adds a touch of modern and a touch of vintage in one single swoop.
Offered by Lighthouse Creations, it still features 925 sterling silver along with the 14k rose gold metal.
The bracelet measures 7.5 inches and fits most wrists.
6. Twisted Ball Bangle
If we thought the twisted rope cuff pick was fantastic, we were delighted to find we loved the twisted ball version just as much.
Read moreThe cuff is a smooth and shining 925 sterling silver, and the screwball is still a wonderful 14k yellow gold metal just like the classic version features.
Lighthouse Creations mixes it up a little by adding hammered lines to the screwball closure.
Available in 6-inch to 8-inch circumferences, you can get it for any wrist size.
7. Cape Cod Inspired Wrap
This one is a little less Cape Cod, and more Cape Cod inspired, but we really love this whole look and could not help but include it.
Read moreThis one features a wrap of 925 sterling silver that wraps around your wrist coil style.
One end is capped by a Cape Cod-esque Gold ball. You get the feel of the piece without fully committing to the icon. And we are all about inspired pieces here at Jewelry Jealousy.
This one is lightly sizeable by simply applying a small amount of pressure to the bracelet as you slide it on to your wrist.
8. Double Ball & Classic Set
Can’t decide if you like the double ball or the classic version? Neither can we!
Read moreSo, we had to include something that combines the two styles. Just buy both in a set, and you are all set!
Both the double ball and the classic one are constructed with 925 sterling silver and 14k yellow gold.
Available from Unique Royal, you can select your size. However, both bracelets will come in a single size you select.
Keep one and gift the other or keep both and layer. The choice is yours!
9. Triple Ball Bracelet
Unique Royal has us smitten with their Cape Cod options. This triple ball version adds just the right amount of gold to the bracelet.
Read moreDue to the weight of the triple ball detail, the closure is shifted to the bottom side of the bracelet. It may not be true to the original but we think it's gorgeous anyway!
Just like all the other picks, it features 925 sterling silver and 14k yellow gold making this bracelet a wonderful homage to the classic. We love it three times as much!
10. Cape Cod Fish Bracelet
Finally, we include another iconic Cape Cod bracelet style, the cod. The fish-themed little cuff wraps around your wrist.
Read moreDetailed 925 sterling silver forms the body while the cute little eye is made of a dainty little 14k yellow gold bead.
This is a great piece for wearing layered with any of the above bracelets!
The bracelet will fit wrists 7.5 - 8.5 inches large and is a lightly adjustable cuff style bracelet.
Where the Cape Cod bracelet really gets a reputation is the unique shape and gravity-defying fit. Ideally, the bracelet fits comfortably on the wrist, sliding up and down easily.
The marriage of the silver and the gold is highlighted, looking mismatched because of the design of the bracelet itself. Again, the concept is wildly simple and yet achieving a stunning effect.
While it was created in Dennis, Massachusetts, there is nothing particularly nautical about the Cape Cod bracelet.
A few more modern interpretations of the classic design may include a charm, but that charm can feature anything. It does not necessarily have to be nautical or ocean-life themed.
Additionally, while Cape Cod certainly has some quintessential style elements, none of them are readily apparent in the design or application of the bracelet itself.
Alternative names for the Cape Cod piece is the Beach Ball Bracelet, the Screwball Bracelet, the Ball Cuff, and the Dennis Bracelet.
The dual-tone bracelets were originally designed by John Carey almost 50 years ago at his shop, Eden Hand Arts.
John and his wife began marketing the simple balled cuff as a Dennis Bracelet, in homage to the town they lived in. They also tried calling them Dennis Screwball Bracelets at some point!
They sold quite well to locals and tourists very early on. However, and luckily for the rest of us, the Cape Cod bracelet became super popular in the early 1990s.
So, when Amy Jo Johnson wore one on the TV show “Felicity,” it was a complete game-changer for the minimalist bracelet.
Not too long after its national debut, it gained an even stage on the hit shows The Bachelor.
While taking his potential love interest on a tour of The Cape, Bachelor Chris Lambton gifted it to one of his potential girlfriends, Ali Fedotowsky.
Lambton was born and raised in Dennis, so he brought with his insider knowledge of the now-iconic bracelet.
He wanted to give Ali a little piece of his history and selected the Dennis Screwball Bracelet. The popularity of the simple band and ball combo came off the charts.
Eden Hand Arts is still open to this day and sells the original Cape Cod bracelet.
However, many other jewelry creators have adopted this unique design making their version of the classic bracelet.
If you want a true original for the sake of provenance, you’ll have to head to Massachusetts.
Now the simple ball and band have opened the door to a whole Cape Cod style of jewelry. Earrings, necklaces, and rings now exist and feature the dual-tone finish of the gold ball and silver band.
The simplicity of the design of the Cape Cod bracelets also began to expand as demand increased.
Versions featuring two and three balls arrived as well as available alternatives to be chosen by those who wanted a unique version of the classic.
Five decades after their original conception and creation of a now-iconic bracelet, Eden Hand Arts is the place to visit to get authentic Cape Cod jewelry.
The designer of the bracelet kept making these by hand until a few years ago. He passed away, but his family continues the legacy. The Cape Cod bracelet, in its original form, is now created and sold by Carey’s daughter.
The tiny store in Dennis is so charming. Unfortunately for the casual visitor in the area, you cannot just walk in.
You must make an appointment, but this ensures a one to one, very personal experience.
When purchasing an authentic Cape Cod bracelet, the staff members patiently wait on you, custom fitting your bracelet!
As a matter of definition, the Cape Cod bracelet rather defies categorization. It is not truly a cuff, nor it’s a bangle. However, to create the layered look, treat it like a bangle.
Try pairing a small collection of other metal and wire Cape Cod bracelets. Your Cape Cod will be the anchor point and the weight behind the look.
We also think the classic Alex and Ani bracelet would pair well with a Cape Cod-style bracelet.
One layering idea that works for us is pairing the Cape Cod bracelet with your watch or smartwatch.
We love the look of adding just that bit of metal below your watch. Since the bracelet is fitted, it is rather easy to stack it below a watch band.
To celebrate the Cape Cod bracelet, we also love wearing it on its own. This is a wonderful bracelet to add to any outfit, whether it’s a tee and jeans or a little black dress.
Finally...
If you're looking to get a Cape Cod bracelet but can't make a trip to Massachusetts to visit the Eden Hand Arts shop where you can buy the original bracelet, then our list is your second best thing!
We made sure to include gorgeous Cape Cod bracelets that you can easily add to your cart and have delivered at your door.
Each option is made of quality metals, looks beautiful and will be a pleasure to wear!
