Mysterious Bracelet Lengths

Fona · ‎11-16-2011

I like a bit of movement in my bracelets and I always buy an 8" length. Lately I am noticing that in some cases the description says something like 8" measures 7-1/2". This is not on only one bracelet, it is on a lot of them.

This is very strange to me. Surely if a customer wants a 7-1/2" length, then that is what they will order. I just cannot understand how 7-1/2" became the new 8". This has stopped me ordering at least twice in the last couple of months. QVC definitely works in a mysterious way.

Does anyone know the reasoning behind this?

CalminHeart · ‎03-09-2010

@Fonawrote:

I agree. I noticed that on the January gold day. Not sure who they think they're fooling with the "new" sizing.

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

I didn’t notice, but I haven’t looked at bracelets for a while. Are the bracelets actually 7.5 in length or are they 8 inches and fit like an 7.5 inch bracelet?

i know that chunky big bracelets need more room on the wrist and fit much tighter on. It is recommended that you go up in size on them, so an 8 inch bracket would be too small for an 8 inch wrist, but would fit a 7.25-7.5 wrist well.

If the bracelets are actually smaller than the advertised length, I think that would not be allowed and is false representation of the product.

+++++

okay, my curiosity got to me, so I went out and did a search of 8 inch bracelets on QVC. I looked at the descriptions of about 15 of them chosen randomly. What I noticed was that most of the 8 inch bracelets in actual length were bigger than 8 inches and not smaller. The size descriptions said 8.25 or 8.5 inches even though they were being sold as 8 inch bracelets. This is so they fit an 8 inch wrist.

Fressa · ‎03-20-2012

It sounds like QVC is sizing the way most jewelry stores always did. I remember from the prior Italian gold programs they added the extra links so a 8" fit an 8" wrist regardless of the size of the link. I have the opposite problem because I have small wrists. I don't mind a little room/movement but I don't want it falling off my wrist. What really bugs me is the thought of having to have it adjusted by a local jeweler. Ignoring the additional expense not all jewelers have the talent to make these adjustments. I've had mixed luck with some of jewelers in my area. I think they should be more forthcoming in the descriptions of these pieces.

Lavenderjunkie · ‎03-10-2010

What frustrates me is the lack of consistency.... on QVC and of course in the industry. At least QVC usually gives enough details so you can hopefully figure out if that 8" bracelet is actually longer than 8" so it will fit an 8" wrist, or it measures 8" and will only fit a 7.5" wrist.

On other channels you often don't get enough information to make a good decision.

In the 'old' days, you couldn't even find an 8" bracelet. Sometimes they could be special ordered by a jeweler.

And for other, inbetween wrist sizes, the length issue is even more difficult. If your wrist measures 7 1/4", then a 7" bracelet won't fit and a 7 1/4" bracelet won't fit and an 8" bracelet is probably too long. A true 7 1/2" bracelet might work or one designed to fit a 7 1/2" wrist, but these are few and far between.

But I guess if these are the worst problems we have to deal with, we are lucky indeed.

Shelbelle · ‎03-09-2010

Hosts should be required to measure bracelets vertically on the air, Charla on Evine always did this. I usually found if I would order a 7 inch it was often more like 7 and eighth or quarter. Also remember if a bracelet has a flat back, it will fit larger, if it has a chunky back of some kind it will fit smaller.

Shanus · ‎05-17-2010

As a jewelry designer myself, bracelets are tough. Rings can only fit on the finger in one place...Bracelets, on the other hand...some women prefer a looser fit, tighter fit, wear several at a time , so that requires several different sizes or they’d pile on top of each other.

The other issue is where the bracelet is made...measurements are different in Italy, China, Bali, etc. & when sold in USA, translated as close as possible to what we’re used to in inches.

Bangles fit differently than link bracelets and wide ones still measure not the same.

It’s actually impossible to purchase a bracelet, get a good fit, without trying it on. If ordering, when in doubt, go larger and have it sized (if it can be).