The viking bracelet was more than just an pretty piece of jewelry. It symbolized status, loyalty, and spirituality in Norse society. Archaeological finds reveal that viking arm rings, beaded bracelets, and hacksilver bands played crucial roles in trade, oath-taking, and warrior culture. From gold and silver arm rings found in the Cuerdale Hoard to amber bead bracelets unearthed in Kaupangr, these ancient artifacts showcase the craftsmanship and cultural significance of viking jewelry. This article explores the history, archaeology, and legacy of viking bracelets types. 

When you are done with the read, check out out viking bracelet collection [for sale here] displaying archeological replicas made in Scandinavia

Viking Bracelet Artifacts

Bracelets were among the most common viking-age jewelry uncovered in archaeological excavations across Scandinavia and beyond. While many are familiar with the iconic metal Viking arm rings, archaeological evidence confirms that vikings also wore bracelets made from glass, stone, bone, and even fabric.

Bracelets: The Most Common Viking Jewelry Find

Archaeological evidence confirms that viking bracelets were one of the most widely worn jewelry items among Norse men and women. A study conducted by Daniel Gunnarsson in The Distribution of Bronze Artefacts of Viking Age Eastern Baltic Types Discovered on Gotland revealed that Viking arm rings and bracelets were among the most frequently found artifacts in Norse burials and treasure hoards. The majority of these finds were crafted from bronze, highlighting both the availability of the material and its importance in Viking society.

This distribution pattern is consistent not only in Scandinavia but also in Britain and Northern Europe, particularly in regions where Viking settlements and trade networks flourished. The abundance of Norse bracelet artifacts across these territories reinforces their significance in Viking culture, serving as both personal adornments and valuable commodities.

Viking Bracelet Types

1. Metal Armrings: Most Recognized Viking Bracelet

Among the most famous viking bracelet artifacts, traditional Viking arm rings stand out as symbols of status, wealth, and loyalty. These metal bracelets, crafted from silver, bronze, gold, and iron, played a crucial role in Viking society and were used for multiple purposes:

Viking kings and chieftains gifted arm rings to their warriors as a sign of trust, allegiance, and reward for bravery. Silver arm rings were highly valuable and could be used for trade or even melted down as currency in viking commerce. Many Norse sagas describe Vikings swearing sacred oaths while gripping oath rings, reinforcing their legal and spiritual significance.

To read about all the historical sources mentioning these arm rings [see our article here]

The Cuerdale Hoard: A Viking Bracelet Treasure

One of the richest discoveries of Viking metal bracelets comes from The Cuerdale Hoard, an enormous Viking silver hoard found in England. This collection contains a significant number of Viking arm rings, demonstrating their importance as wealth storage and trade assets. In our shop, we offer a bracelet replica based on an arm ring discovered in this legendary hoard.

Another major collection of Norse bracelets is housed in the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm, particularly the Spillings Hoard

the largest Viking silver hoard ever found. This collection includes an abundance of bronze and silver viking arm rings, showcasing intricate craftsmanship and elite Viking artistry.

Famous Viking Arm Rings from Gotland

Perhaps the most famous arm ring discovered from the Viking Age was found in Gotland, Sweden. This exquisite bracelet, depicting two dragon heads on either side, is considered one of the most iconic Viking arm rings ever unearthed. In our collection, we carry a replica of this legendary arm ring, allowing modern enthusiasts to own a piece of Viking heritage.

Another remarkable Viking arm ring comes from Undrom, Ångermanland, Sweden. This intricately designed artifact, dated to the Viking Age, is shaped like a serpent, reflecting the Vikings’ deep-rooted symbolism in Norse mythology. This exceptionally detailed bracelet was centuries ahead of its time, and we also offer a replica of this artifact in our store.

Nordic Bronze Age Bracelet Artifacts

Beyond the Viking Age, hoards of metal arm rings have been discovered throughout Northern Europe, dating back to the Nordic Bronze Age (more than 3,000 years ago). One of the most impressive collections of these early Norse bracelet artifacts can be found at the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen.

This collection features hundreds of bracelets, including both Viking arm rings and earlier Bronze Age designs, showcasing the longstanding tradition of wrist adornments in Scandinavian history. These artifacts highlight the craftsmanship, cultural evolution, and trade connections that shaped Viking jewelry traditions over the centuries.

It is by far our favorite collection and time period and we have replicas of these 3000 year old bracelets [for sale here.]

 

2. Hacksilver: Dual Use of Viking Bracelets

Among the most intriguing Viking bracelet artifacts are hacksilver arm rings, a unique blend of jewelry and currency. These broken-up silver bracelets served a dual purpose, functioning as both personal adornments and a form of trade currency. Hacksilver was particularly common in England, where Viking warriors and traders often relied on silver as a portable, divisible asset when conducting transactions far from home.

If a Viking needed to purchase an item on the go, he could simply break off a piece of his silver arm ring and use it as payment. This practical approach to wealth management was crucial in an era where standardized coinage was not always available in Viking territories.

They were typically made of silver, sometimes decorated, but designed for practical use. They could be easily cut into smaller pieces, making them ideal for trade and barter. They are found in treasure hoards across Viking settlements usually in the UK, reinforcing their importance as portable wealth storage.

The largest and most well-documented collection of Viking hacksilver arm rings is housed at the British Museum. Here, various hoards from England and Scandinavia highlight how the Vikings integrated their jewelry into everyday transactions.

For those interested in seeing these remarkable Viking bracelet artifacts, visit the British Museum’s Viking Hacksilver Collection, where history and craftsmanship intertwine to tell the story of Norse wealth and trade practices.

3. Leather Viking Bracelet: A Myth or Reality?

Many modern retailers advertise “Viking leather bracelets”, but is there any actual historical evidence for their existence? The short answer is no. There are no surviving viking-age leather bracelets in the archaeological record.

No intact Viking leather bracelets have been discovered in excavations and no Viking-era written sources confirm their existence. While leather was widely used in Viking-age crafts, including shoes, belts, and pouches, there is no clear indication that Vikings wore leather wristbands as jewelry. Leather is an organic material that decomposes over time, making it unlikely for any to have survived. However, given the prevalence of leatherworking in Viking culture, it is possible that some form of leather wrist adornment existed, even though no physical evidence has been found.

A Historically Accurate Alternative

Rather than leather, a more authentic Viking wrist accessory would be linen sash wristbands featuring Norse knotwork designs. These were likely inspired by armstulpen, a type of Germanic wristband that has been found in Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon sites. These historical fabric wristbands were used for both practical and decorative purposes, offering a more historically accurate alternative to modern "Viking leather bracelets."

4. Bead Viking Bracelet: A Woman’s Ornament

Archaeological excavations have uncovered beaded viking bracelets and necklaces, particularly in women’s burials, highlighting their role as ornamental, spiritual, and status-defining accessories. These bracelets were crafted from a variety of materials, reflecting both local craftsmanship and extensive viking trade networks.

These are a few of the popular materials they were made from:

• Amber – The most highly prized Baltic material, often associated with protection and status.
  
• Glass – A luxury item, traded across Viking markets and frequently used in bracelets and necklaces.
  
• Ceramic and Rock Crystal – Valued for their aesthetic appeal and possible spiritual significance.

One of the most remarkable discoveries of Viking-era beaded jewelry comes from Kaupang, Norway, an early Viking trading center. Excavations here revealed a beautiful fragment of a jet bracelet, alongside other beaded ornaments, confirming the importance of beadwork in Viking jewelry traditions.

The National Museum of Denmark holds one of the largest collections of Viking beads, primarily made from amber. Many of these beads date back to the Bronze Age, showcasing the long-standing significance of amber jewelry in Scandinavian culture. While these artifacts were mainly used in necklaces, they could also have been worn as bracelets.

Additionally, the Arab traveler and historian Ibn Fadlan, in his 10th-century accounts, describes how Viking women in Eastern Europe placed a high value on beaded jewelry, often paying exorbitant prices for rare glass beads. His writings provide first-hand confirmation that beads were highly desirable and culturally significant among Viking-age women, reinforcing their role in Viking fashion and personal adornment.

"The most desirable ornaments they [the Rus] have are green ceramic beads they keep in their boats. They will pay dearly for them, one dirham for a single bead. They thread them into necklaces for their wives."
— Ibn Fadlan, 10th Century

5. Viking Bracelet of Bone and Antler

While metal, glass, and stone were commonly used in Viking-age jewelry, bone and antler were also integral to Norse craftsmanship. However, no direct archaeological evidence of Viking bone bracelets has been found. Instead, excavations have uncovered necklaces, medallions, and amulets made from these materials, indicating their spiritual and decorative importance in Viking culture.

The Ribe Runic inscription made from skull to be worn as a pendant is the most known example of this.

Vikings carved bone and antler into pendants, combs, and various practical objects, demonstrating their skill in working with these materials. Amulets made from bone and antler were widely believed to possess magical properties, reinforcing the idea that Vikings valued these materials beyond practicality. Given their expertise in bone craftsmanship, it is highly plausible that bone or antler bracelets once existed but have not yet been discovered.

While no confirmed Viking bone bracelets have surfaced, the extensive use of bone and antler in Norse jewelry and ritual objects makes it reasonable to assume that these materials may have once adorned viking wrists, leaving behind only indirect evidence of their existence.

Conclusion of Viking Bracelets

From gold arm rings to rock crystal beads, Viking bracelets are more than just decorative jewelry. They tell a rich story of status, trade, and craftsmanship. These old Norse bracelet artifacts confirm that jewelry in Viking society served multiple functions, from symbols of loyalty and currency to spiritual and ritualistic objects.

The wide variety of Viking bracelets—whether crafted from silver, amber, bone, or glass—demonstrates the Vikings' extensive trade networks and cultural influence across Scandinavia and beyond. These artifacts bridge the past and present, providing a glimpse into the wealth, artistry, and beliefs of the Norse people.

Where to See Authentic Viking Bracelets
For those interested in viewing authentic Viking bracelet artifacts, these renowned museums house some of the most important collections:

🔗 British Museum (UK) – Home to the Cuerdale Hoard and Viking hacksilver arm rings.
🔗 National Museum of Denmark – Showcasing Viking silver arm rings and jewelry artifacts.
🔗 Swedish History Museum – Featuring the treasures of Birka and rare Viking bracelet discoveries.
🔗 Hedeby Viking Museum (Germany) – Offering artifacts from one of the largest Viking trading hubs.
🔗 Gotlands Museum (Sweden) – Displaying an extensive collection of Viking jewelry and bracelets.

Don’t forget to explore our own collection of Viking bracelets, where we offer historically inspired arm rings and Norse jewelry, crafted with authentic designs based on archaeological finds. Check out our Viking bracelet collection [for sale here!]