21K Gold Bangles

Measuring: 21K gold bangle size and how to measure your hand

Measure around your hand, not your wrist, because a bangle without an opening has to clear the knuckles. Bring your thumb in toward your little finger, the way you would to slip one on. Wrap a soft tape around the broadest point and divide that number by 3.14 for the opening you need. A 2.5-inch opening runs about 7.85 inches around, and a hand under that should pass with a gentle push. The wrist only sets how freely the bangle swings. If your hand lands right at the line, ask us for the inside measure before you order.

Grams: slim vs wide 21K bangles and the gold in each

Read the grams, because the width only shows the face of the band. Here the two heaviest bangles are slim bands. Three of the wide ones weigh 6 grams or less. A slim band can be thick and round through its section, while a broad one may be thin sheet. Seven eighths of the weight is pure gold.

21K gold: how pure a 21 karat bangle is and how it wears

21K means 21 parts gold out of 24, or 87.5 percent. A stamp of 21K or 875 depends on the piece. The listings name every bangle here 21K gold, and none mentions plating. More gold gives a deeper, warmer yellow than 14K or 18K, and a softer metal. A bangle takes more knocks than a ring or a chain, against desks and car doors, so expect small dents and scratches over the years. Slip it off for the gym and for anything you grip hard. It will not tarnish in ordinary wear.

Surface: twisted, matte, textured and wave 21K bangles

Choose the surface by how often you will wear it, since soft gold shows marks on a plain finish first. The textured, engraved and wave bands here hide fine scratches in their pattern, which suits a bangle worn every day. The mirror-polished Legacy and the satin Matte show each mark, and a jeweler can bring either finish back. The Twisted catches light along its turns. The Royal Slim is a slender band to wear alone or between wider ones.

Stacking: wearing 21K bangles together, for her and for him

Bangles worn together rub, and 21K marks sooner than lower karats. Pair a textured band with a polished one so the wear blends in, or set a slim band between two wide ones. Beside 14K, 21K reads a deeper yellow, so keep a stack to one karat when the colors should match. These bangles are listed for women. For a larger hand, a man's bangle or a heavier band, ask in the live chat or call or text 212-872-9692 from 10 AM ET. A piece sized or made for one person is final sale.