Twenty-nine years ago today my husband and I got together. If you want to read about it, you can here and here in previous posts. I was only sixteen at the time and he was almost eighteen. Even though many people in our church heard the story about how we got together, my husband thought it would be a cool idea for us to tell it together before his sermon. It was fun and I love making people laugh.Growing up in Brooklyn there was a traditional gift that was given to show you were going steady – the ankle bracelet. It usually had two hearts and two leaves with your name and your boyfriend’s name on it. If you had a good boyfriend the double heart had a little diamond chip in it. As you can see in the picture above mine had five diamond chips. He saved a long time to pay for it. One more piece of trivia about the ankle bracelet - you didn’t wear this around your ankle. You added another chain to it and wore it around your neck so that everyone could see it. I found that outside of Brooklyn no one did this. If you ever did, let me know but I’m thinking it’s a Brooklyn thing.
Thank you, honey, for loving me for the past twenty-nine years and always remember I’ll remain forever yours, Nadine.
© Nadine Z. 2007
UPDATE: For those of you who have found this post and are interested in getting an ankle bracelet like the one pictured above, I've not found any links that sell them. What I suggest is you can give the picture to a local jeweler and see if they can come up with something for you.
141 comments:
Nadine, I can promise you that the ankle bracelet thing was never done in my town. It must be a Brooklyn thing, cuz who else wears ankle stuff around their necks?
By the way...5 chips...our boy did good. Tom, you're a great role model...but I wonder how many chips it'll take to make you play nice with the boy/man who catches your daughter's eye! :)
I can say, I have never heard of that tradition, but I love it. And I love that you still have the bracelet or necklace. Amazing how one piece of jewlry can represent so much to us women. Keep it coming guys!
That is such a neat tradition! I love it!! Thank you for sharing the history and tradition, along with that picture. That must be a Brooklyn tradition for sure.
I can't think of anything more sentimental and special. Happy 29 years, that is AWESOME!
Wow..congratulations on such a wonderful marriage. I love the little piece of history and tradition that comes with that sweet anklet...Sounds like you had a wonderful weekend with many sweet memories made and remembered. Way to kick start a new week!!
WOW. I have never heard of the ankle bracelet meaning going steady. That is so interesting and so special. It is beautiful. Sounds like you have a keeper!
we used to give id bracelets! but I love anklets and would have liked that more! congrats on so many years together! it is a great example for others!
Happy 29th Anniversary!!! And that is so neat, that is to have a *special* necklace created together. I actually never heard of that happening before, so it was especially neat to hear.
I am from the south and I've never heard of that. But what a sweet memory!
Nadine, you & Tom are certainly my role model and as I browse through your previous post, I could feel the love exuding within.....
Good! This is a 'contagious' site and I love every bit of it and through it all, I've learned to love my hubby more too.
Thank you for sharing this ankle bracelet with me :D
Never heard the steady ankle bracelet worn around the neck tradition here in southern Louisiana. It's a beauty. Do you still wear it (around the ankle now?)?
Promise rings w/ a single diamond chip were big when I was growing up.
29 years! Happy Anniversary!
The ankle bracelet is just lovely. You should wear it more often. Tell me more about The Keg. We will be in Seattle this weekend, and Danny has bought tickets to the Pacific Northwest Garden Show. Now I will be doing the Nadine twenty yard dash too! Probably not in high heels though, maybe my Crocks.
wow! congrats!
you are a lovely couple! lovely anklet!
That is a fantastic thing to do. I love the photo. Thank you for coming to my Blog. You are welcome any time.
Happy (belated) anniversary! I love the anklet/necklace! It must be a Brooklyn thing, we wore our anklets around our ankles in Kentucky...call us crazy! I love stories like that. May God give you many more happy years!
Awww... That is so sweet! And we didn't do the ankle bracelet in Illinois, but we did wear his class ring on a chain around our necks or with a LOT of angora yarn wrapped around it on our finger. Not too comfortable.
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
I love you both dearly, and no matter how many times I have heard the story of your meeting I still always HOWL with laughter...
Congrats and keep up the good work!
What a lovely story! In Italy (at leat in Piedmont, where my (late) husband's family lives in ) when you give birth to your first child, your husband gives you a pearl necklace.
Hello, I found the photo of your ankle bracelet while searching for this long-lost custom. I grew up in Queens in the 60s and 70s, and it was not only in Brooklyn. Maybe it's a NYC thing. Anyway, blessings on your long-lasting love. I always wanted one...I wonder if there are any jewelry stores that make or carry these anymore. Treasure it!
Funny, but today my friend at work is wearing one of those anklets around her neck. They were popular when I was in high school (I grew up on Long Island, NY), although I didnt have a boyfriend then so i never had one. Now, finding myself single after being unhappily married for 18 years, and dating a wonderful man that I met at church, I see my friend Lois' anklet and decided I'd like one now. Of course she thinks I'm acting like a kid, because it is an old fashioned thing to do, but i guess that's what my new love makes me do - feel like a kid again! I love anklets and would wear it around my ankle, not as a necklace. We were combing the internet trying to find someplace that sold them and came across a website "www.jewelelegance.com" and they have them! I'm going to have to tell Bob all about it. Thanks for sharing your great story!
I was just telling my 20 year old daughter the story of the ankle bracelet an thought I would go on line to see if I could find what it looked like to show her and her boyfriend. I couldn't believe when I found this picture with your story. It was such a wonderful time, wasen't it. Thanks for sharing your story we loved it.
OH MY!!! I am so excited to find this story! I grew up in Brooklyn and there was nothing more coveted than an ankle bracelet. I got my first for my 18th birthday from my boyfriend of only a month and a half then. Eventually I got one from my husband before we were marrried. Unfortunately, hard financial times befell us and I sold both of them. One of my biggest regrets. I so wish I could show them to my daughters. I am going to check out the site someone listed to see if I can find one again.
I wish this tradition would kick back up, and elsewhere, because they were beautiful and meaningful.
Congrats on your long-term marriage! And thanks for posting about ankle bracelets.
Pass the Kleenex, please!
Ankle Bracelets maybe a New York, east coast thing. I grew up in Queens and went to High School in The Bronx and ankle bracelets were the thing to have. You describe it perfectly.
I'm an old gray granny of 65 years and just bought myself an ankle bracelet from QVC. At my age getting an ankle bracelet from a beau -- well as they say in Brooklyn: "Fugetaboudit!" Not at all put off by tradition, I bought one for myself because I have always loved me truly.
I have a question though... On which ankle is a single woman supposed to wear her ankle bracelet. I'm guessing if the ankle bracelet was a gift from a boyfriend, it would be worn on the left ankle much as a wedding ring is worn on the left hand. By process of elimination -- easy enough with only one ankle left to question -- I'm guessing wearing the bracelet on the right ankle means you are ''available.''
Well, I'm old and gray and overweight, but I'm available and not quite dead yet.
I hope someone will let me know which is the appropriate and traditional ankle upon which to wear an ankle bracelet for a woman of my availability.
Thanks a bunch!
Oma Nan
Oma Nan:
Thank you for your lovely comment. In answer to your question, I'm not quite sure. In Brooklyn, we wore our ankle bracelets around our necks connected to another chain. It symbolized that we were going steady.
Your reasoning is logical and I guess the right ankle would be a good choice.
Nadine, terrific story! I'm about your age & grew up in Queens. I was telling my 12-year old daughter about them & wondered how far back they go. My Aunt had one
in the late 60's, but does anyone
remember them in the 50's?
Nadine, this is so incredible. I had not read this post of yours before. It is so wonderful that you still have yours from the love of your life! What a treasure.
I also enjoyed reading all of the comments. I have never heard of this tradition.
Here girls always wore their boyfriends class rings and letter jackets/FFA jackets, etc., but I think that is a very common thing, isn't it?
I like this because it is so original. Do they still do this?
Back in the 70's, on Long Island, we wore our ankle braclets around our necks too.
Hi, I couldn't believe it when I saw the picture of the infamous ankle bracelet. I have an ankle bracelet just like yours with the diamonds and names on it. (I had forgotten about it, but I still have it, too.) I also wore it around my neck. It was also a Staten Island thing. When I came upon your story, it brought me back to 1978--my first boyfriend. Thanks for taking me back to such a great memory.
Dear Nadine,
Thank you so much for bringing back such a wonderful memory,it was a brooklyn thing ,flatbush for us, i could not wait to give this bracelet with rubys and diamonds to my girlfriend,it meant she was mine and only mine as long as she wore it around her neck. This special girl was not the prettiest girl in the neighborhood, and she did'nt have many boyfriends, but i liked her, we started dating in 76 and dated for 9 years and she became the most beautiful girl in the world and she still is. And she still is mine.Many, many thanks to you and Congrats
Wow! You've brought back so many memories! I grew up in Queens, NY and started dating my (now ex husband) in 1981. The one and only thing I ever wanted was one of those ankle bracelets and when I finally got it, I wore it around my neck every single day while we were dating. I even wore it the day I married him and for the 13 years we were married. Even though we are now divorced and I re-married a WONDERFUL loving, perfect man.... the only piece of jewelry I kept that my ex bought me was that ankle bracelet. I take it out every once in a while and think about my life with him. Sometimes I cry, but mostly, I remember how special those days were. My current husband doesn't understand why I keep it, but I need to hold onto it just because of how special it was all those years ago.
Thank you for bringing back those memories for me and my bracelet was IDENTICAL to yours! I guess now I'll grab it and hold onto it and remember all the good that happened while that bracelet was around my neck.
Much love to you and your beloved husband! I envy your happiness and love and hope you ALWAYS have that with eachother!
Thank you again!
Nadine...I grew up on Long Island & in high school in the 70's , it was the most coveted gift to get from your boyfriend, and yes we wore them around our necks !! My long term boyfriend gave me one and I always regret getting rid of it when we broke up.I would wear it today...when I saw that picture,it brought me back to 1977 and some of the most romantic times of my life!!
Would buy one if I could find one too !!!.....
Hi Nadine, Congrats to your beautiful love story. I grew up in queens and the ankle bracelet thing was extremely popular. In fact, the reason I stumbled on your page is because my son was asking what he should get his g/f for Christmas and I suggested the ankle chain. Of course he had no clue what I was talking about, so I was searching the web trying to find a picture of it to show him and there was your story and the ankle chain pic. Who knows, maybe he will start a trend again...by the way, we now live on Long Island, NY..... Thanks again for the picture and your romantic story......
Not even sure how I stumbled upon here (great site, BTW) but I was looking up info about the ankle bracelet trend from the 70s, which you described so perfectly. I grew up in Yonkers, NY and this was THE thing when a guy and girl were a serious item. And yes, it was customary to wear your ankle bracelet around your neck (with an attaching chain). No two bracelets were alike, although the standard two hearts and 'side wings' seemed to be the typical style.
Interestingly, my first serious BF did start saving for one for me (we went to the jeweler's together so I could pick out the one I wanted), but we had broken up before it was mine. (Luckily, the jeweler didn't engrave it or anything.) And I never got one from subsequent BFs (I did get lots of other nice jewelry, however!), but thought it'd be nice for DH to get me one...we've been married 16 years, but come October it'll be 20 years since we've met.
I also found this while searching for an "old fashioned ankle bracelet". I did grow up in Brooklyn and my sister (9 years older) had one from her boyfriend and I also had one from my first boyfriend around 1985. I thought it would be cute to get one now and have mine and my Husbands names on it, but this time I would wear it around my ankle. Maybe we can start the tradition again with our children!
Hi Nadine, I too up in Ridgewood, Queens and received an ankle bracelet from my boyfriend. We were married but unfortunately going through a divorce, but that's beside the point. I was at Tri-County Flea market today and found one!, can't remember the booth for those of you who know Tri-County Flea market in in Levittown, NY, I reunited with my first boyfriend and I was just browsing and asked if they still existed. I was talking to a girl who must have been no more than 20 years old so I was not sure if she would know what I was talking about. It was plain and no diamonds and it was $100. The one I received when I was 20 was adorned with black pearls as opposed to the traditional white and white gold hearts around the diamonds and the two hearts in the middle were open hearts with mine and his birthstones on one, the other was diamond since we were in the same month. I'm just adding that back in the late '80's there was so much variety in the ankle bracelets, wish they would bring them back. They still have double heart rings which were nice to see as well.
You posted a beautiful story and treasure yours and treasure your husband God Bless.
Hi Nadine, I too up in Ridgewood, Queens and received an ankle bracelet from my boyfriend. We were married but unfortunately going through a divorce, but that's beside the point. I was at Tri-County Flea market today and found one!, can't remember the booth for those of you who know Tri-County Flea market in in Levittown, NY, I reunited with my first boyfriend and I was just browsing and asked if they still existed. I was talking to a girl who must have been no more than 20 years old so I was not sure if she would know what I was talking about. It was plain and no diamonds and it was $100. The one I received when I was 20 was adorned with black pearls as opposed to the traditional white and white gold hearts around the diamonds and the two hearts in the middle were open hearts with mine and his birthstones on one, the other was diamond since we were in the same month. I'm just adding that back in the late '80's there was so much variety in the ankle bracelets, wish they would bring them back. They still have double heart rings which were nice to see as well.
You posted a beautiful story and treasure yours and treasure your husband God Bless.
Can you please tell me the "nickname" we used for the "double Heart necklaces". I sware they were called "double heart anklets" but my husband says there was another name for them..
Can you help?
Thanks!
DC: I'm not aware of a nickname for it. I'm sorry I'm not much help in this area.
Yes! Fellow Brooklynite checking in. First came the double heart ring, then the ankle bracelet. I remember one girl had ruby chips on hers. Very pretty.
i lived on long island and it was very popular there, also...the date you started going steady was engraved on the back on the double hearts. i sure wish i still had mine, do you have any idea where i can purchase one??
I graduated high school in 1983 from Yonkers, New York (I'm guessing it was a New York thing)and everybody in school who was going "steady" had one of these ankle bracelets attached to another chain and worn around their neck. Unfortunately, I never received one, but when I met my husband in 1985 (he comes from New Jersey and asked for an ankle bracelet for my birthday he said and I quote,"I can buy you something better than that". (Which he did.) We are married 22 years but every once and a while I look on the internet to see if someone is still selling ankle bracelets like the one I never got and one day I will treat myself to one.
I grew up in Bay Ridge and had my white gold ankle bracelet with the "chip" and black and white pearls (we thought that represented "pre-engagement"
He and the anklet are long gone! But a happy 25 years with someone I dated before him.
I have been looking for the name of this is necklace. I grew up in flushing. Went to Ryan jhs 216. when you were going steady that was the traditional gift your boyfriend would give you,An ankle braclet attached to a gold chain. never got one but boy did I want one. I was looking for this because i am thinking of asking my husband for one.
Grew up in Queens and was always jealous of the girls who got these from their boyfriends. I still want one! Hopefully maybe I'll get one from my hubby for Christmas. Congrats to you and your hubby and Happy Anniversary! Thank you for bringing back memories. :)
I grew up in Brooklyn & I too had a ankle bracelet mine was white gold with black & white pearls & a diamond chip in the hearts given to me by my high school boyfriend how cool is your story!!!!
I lived on the Island (Suffolk County), but ALL my friends wore them around their necks too. I had a very good boyfriend back then. Even though my hubby never got me one, we're celebrating our 25th this month.
I grew up in Yonkers, NY and this was "THE" thing any serious couple did back in the late 70s. Same design (two hearts, wings, and bracelet was attached to another chain to wear around one's neck.) The next best thing was wearing one's boyfriend's high school ring on a chain, but it didn't have the same cachet as an ankle bracelet.
My first boyfriend and I were in the process of getting one (I picked it out, and
he was paying for it on layaway) but our relationship ended (that's another story) and while he got a refund, I never got an ankle bracelet, either from him or any other beau.
Now that I'm an "old married lady" ;) I would love to get one of these from my husband if I can track one down. Any ideas?
Dear Anonymous who grew up in Yonkers-
There is a link at the end of the post that you can click onto and get one of your own.
Hope you enjoy it.
Nadine
My boyfriend, Gene gave me one 16 years ago and I still have it. The outline of the double hearts is are made of diamonds.
This was the big symbol of "steady" couples where I grew up too, Merrick, LI circa 1980. Such memories. I was given a couple of class rings and regular bracelets, but never the coveted anklet to be worn on a chain around one's neck.
I also wanted one. I finally got if after I got married! It had no chip. I finally scrapped it because it broke every time I wore it (either on a chain or around my ankle) and the pearls got all gray. The jeweler who repaired it told me to stop coming in because it couldn't be fixed anymore:( I'm amazed at how good yours still looks.
Hi
I also grew up in Brooklyn and I had my ankle bracelet around my neck as well. I also had a double heart ring. I married that man and then divorced. I also hocked both of them. LOL
Nancy
On line and found your blog regrading "The Ankle Bracelet." Last week I was doing some cleaning and found mine...I've been waring it since and yes this is a Brooklyn thing. I have mine for over 36 years. It was given to me by my husband when we were in our teens. I have five diamond chips; each chip in it's own heart. Thanks you for your post and God bless you.
I have been wanting one so bad. I actually went back to my home town (Brooklyn) I went to every jewelry store I could fine and never found one.
I attended high school on Long Island in the late 80's, and believe me, ankle bracelets were still as popular then! But the girls in my school had even more ornate ones,with both names spelled out in script, and a banner hanging below with their anniversary date. Every girl was dying to get one from their boyfriend. :)
Bless you for sharing this image--you've made a 1970s Queens born-and-bred girl very happy. Enjoyed your blog story, too. I always wanted an ankle bracelet (in Astoria, pronounced very specifically "annnnnnklebracelit" :) ) but I never dated a boy who was savvy enough to know about this neighborhood tradition. Congratulations on your happiness and thank you for sharing this warm memory.
I too grew up in Brooklyn, in Canarsie, and yes the ankle bracelet was synonymous with going steady...and the more chips you had, the better the guy, so to speak...wish I could find a jeweler that still made these; would love to have one with me and my husband's initials...
I had one when I was 15. I grew up in bellerose queens...we all wore them in a chain n we also had the double heart ring to match..our preengagement ring with our first loves.., im 42 now n happily married, just celebrated our first year..I want an ankle bracelet sooo bad. How can I find one?
There is an update listed at the end of the post that includes a link where you can purchase one. Thank you for sharing in the memories.
I am from Long Island, and an 80's girl. An ankle bracelet was definitely the gift to get !! I wish I still had it. It off course had the leaves, engraved with our names and my double heart in the middle was rubies with a diamond outline, with our "date" engraved on the back. I Came across your site because I suggested my son get this for his girlfriend for Christmas. I didn't realize it was exclusive to our area and the "80's. I am going this week to see if I can have one made and is the cost is reasonable, order it !!
Yes, this post brought back wonderful memories. I grew up on Long Island and was in high school in the late 70's. My boyfriend and I started dating when we were 16 and the ankle bracelet was the #1 special gift a girl could get from her boyfriend. I was given the most beautiful ankle bracelet that had tiger's eye beads in place of the traditional pearls. That was 36 years ago and we just celebrated out 30 year anniversary. My son asked for ideas on what to get his girlfriend for Christmas and an ankle bracelet was the first thing I thought of. It was so incredible reading these stories and taking a lovely walk down memory lane. I still have my special gift and smile each time I slip it over my head. Great post.
I read the posts and went to the Tri-County Flea Market. They still have ankle bracelets and I bought one to replace one that I lost. I brought a picture of yours to show them what I wanted. Several booths did not have it, but the one man who did have it laughed and said he hadn't sold one in years. He had bought out someone else's inventory years ago. He said that gold is too expensive now and that is why the tradition ended. He gave me a good deal, and I am very happy. Thanks to the previous poster who gave the information.
Hi I was looking for a pic online of the ankle bracelets we got from a boyfriend in high school and found this blog. I was trying to describe to my southern children what Brooklyn girls wore "back then" in the 60s. The reason we wore it as a necklace was our Catholic school uniform required bobby socks. You couldn't wear it over the socks and under it would be pointless. We Brooklyn girls are smart! Thanks for this site - it's a walk down memory lane.
Was in high school on Long Island in the mid 80's. (Suffolk County) They were popular there too!
wow...does this take me back! I grew up and live in Brooklyn. I remember being so excited to get my ankle bracelet (with a diamond). I also remember getting my double heart ring. All the girls with sensible boyfriends received these items.
Hi Nadine, I am also from Brooklyn and I remember these. Sadly, I did not get one of the coveted bracelets. I was a late bloomer...lol
I am currently writing my third novel, and the hero gives one of these to the heroine. I would like to include a picture in the back of the book, but can't find them on the web, except for yours. Would you mind if I copy and pasted it?
Thank you,
Mae
Thank you Mae for asking permission. I would be honored if this photo helps a fellow author. I would love to see it when it's published. Good luck.
Thank you very much. I will keep you posted. Fingers crossed it loads up.
Thank you, again,
Mae
I grew up on LI in Suffolk County and wearing an ankle bracelet(around your neck) was a HUGE deal!! Of course the more diamond chips you had... the better!! Mine only has one diamond in the center, but I was so happy senior year to be "going out" and able to wear one I didn't care!! I received mine in 1983 and yes I still have it! Of course today... I wear it around my ankle!
Hi my name is Annette Argondizzo , I grew up in Throgs Neck, in the Bronx had a ankle bracelet just like yours and I also wore it around my neck ,it was a every borough style I loved mine !!! Until someone stole it before moving to Florida !!! I was very upset it was my first love gift , given to me by Richard Beatty my first puppy love...
I am from Long Island and have lived in queens and I found your blog looking for this ankle bracelet because yes, outside of brooklyn we did this too! I think its just a NYC/Long Island thing!
Congrats to you! I grew up in Long Island and my boyfriend gave me a gorgeous ankle bracelet that I wore around my neck I believe in 1984-5. My one regret: That I gave it back when we eventually broke up. The gift meant a lot to me as do the memories I had with the only boy I ever truly loved before my husband :)
I lived in Cambria Heights Queens (NY), YESSSSS this was a very big thing between you and your guy. If you weren't wearing a skirt so all could see your ankle bracelet, then you wore it on a chain around your neck, it made a great accent piece. Love to all of you Yankees! From NY to Va. Thersa L
Just ran across this lovely post. The other day my new man and I were talking about these. I'm from Brooklyn and he Queens. I was surprised he remembered them. Back then I never had a BF and was so jealous of my friends who did and got those anklets/necklaces. Being the sweet guy that he is, he wanted to get me one now, but couldn't find them online. I started looking today and found your blog. Unfortunately the link no longer works. Do you know anywhere we could buy one now? I'd love to restart this tradition. Clearly others have sweet (or sad) memories of them. Thanks!
Hi Faith:
Thanks for letting me know the link doesn't work any longer. I did however find a new link even though they are a bit pricey. If you click on the link again it will take you there. What a sweet man you have.
Thanks, Nadine- I did find that site and yes, they are a bit more pricey than I had in mind. If you hear of anywhere else please let me know. Otherwise, I read about a store in Astoria that would make them. Yes, he is a sweet man and finding love again at 55... priceless. LOL
I know it is late but I lived on Long Island in the 70's and we did it there also!
I lived in Staten Island growing up and it was a huge thing on Staten Island too. I had gotten one, it also had 5 diamond chips and also on the back of the double heart, they engraved the date of when you first started dating
Nadine: I've been looking for your exact anklet except without the inner diamonds on the "wings". My dad gave my mom one (Brooklyn, 1973) before they were married. It means the world to me to be able to buy one for her as it was her most cherished possession. The link you posed doesn't have it either. Do you have any ideas where I could possibly find one on this planet?!? Thanks,
Michelle
I'm sorry. I wish I knew. That link was one I found online. I hope you can find what you are looking for.
Cont.:
My mom had to sell it to buy my oldest sister a crib in 1975 :( that's why she no longer has one. They sold their wedding bands at the same time and never bought replacements all this time.
Michelle
Ok, thanks so much, Nadine!
Hi I lived in Queens N.Y. And my boyfriend Tom bought me an ankle braclet that was gold with 5 diamonds and black & white pearls, I loved it from day one and 35 years later I still have the original one but had it dipped in platinum. My daughter Kayla always admired it and I'm ordering one for her for her 24 the birthday from her guy Kendell
I loved reading your post, i was actually searching for one to buy and I came across your blog.
I'm from Brooklyn, Canarsie. I can tell you Yes we did wear them around our neck, And Yes I lost mine, guess where in the Gym while I was changing. Never did find it. Hey do you think someone would actually turn it in to the office. Yeah right. They just don't make them like that anymore.
You guys that still have your ankle bracelets. Cherish them.
Not only are they worth so much more today, but they just don't make them like that anymore.
Hey guys, I found the ankle bracelets on line. I just ordered one for myself. After hours and hours of searching, I found this link from ebay and the seller has a whole line of them in white gold and yellow gold, etc. Enjoy! I paid $239 for mine. When I went to a jewelry store they said to have it made up would cost about $350 so this was a bargain.
http://www.mystorecatalog.com/starfinding#mybook/i-ANKLETS
I had the exact same ankle bracelet given to me by my (then) boyfriend. This was back when I lived on Long Island (Dix Hills) so it must be a New York thing...who knows LOL
I lived on Long Island and had a beautiful one. NOT a Brooklyn thing at all! Mine had black and white pearls, diamond chips and had our names on it, again, worn as a necklace.
This brought back such fond memories. I grew up in Brooklyn and went to hs in the 70s. Everyone with a boyfriend had an ankle bracelet at my all girls Catholic hs! I now live in SoCal and no one here has ever heard of these or the tradition. I hope it someday makes a comeback and becomes trendy all over the country 😊
OMG, brought back many memories of growing up in The Bronx!!! We, also, wore the anklet around our necks! I always thought it was a trend that was evident in all 5 boroughs.
I was given one by my then boyfriend (now my husband of 35 years). He had the black pearls replaced by jade stones. It is pretty and I still have it but it doesn't have wings! My 17 year old self was so disappointed by that lack of wings! What a shallow little jerk I was!
I was given one for Christmas by my then boyfriend (now my husband of 35 years). He had the black pearls replaced by jade stones. It is pretty and I still have it but it doesn't have wings. My 17 year old self was so disappointed by that lack of wings! I didn't even know you could still buy an ankle chain without wings because every girl wore it around her neck; they couldn't be seen on your ankle underneath your bell bottom dungarees! What a shallow little jerk I was!
The ankle bracelet, when I was a teenager in the Bronx in the 1970's was a special piece of jewelry and if you had a steady boyfriend, he would get you one. I loved these and they are not easy to find anymore. You can find new ones on Ebay under "anklet" but the original ones were far nicer. Mine was yellow gold with raised hearts with diamond chips and in between the hearts and wings were white and green (jade) pearls. I had two ankle bracelets but they are gone now. Wish I still had them.
I had 2 of them and yes what memories.im now looking for the double heart ring I wore back then too.they were just as popular back then
This post along with everyone's comments have made this very special for me. I have recently made contact with my first love in High School. I come from Gravesend Brooklyn. I graduated in 1977. I never had the opportunity to give an ankle bracket to anyone from my past but if I could it would certainly be my soulmate.. Christmas is just around the corner and her birthday as well. I so desperately want to surprise her with an ankle Bracelet. Can anyone please send me a website that can help me find the perfect one for her. Thank everyone for sharing and taking the time.. Happy Holidays to all..
Thank you Joeotb 1234 for your comment. I have tried to keep an update of where to find this type of bracelet. It works for a limited time and then it's no longer available. So, I suggest to take a picture of what it is you want and see if a local jeweler in your area can make it for you. I'm so sorry. I tried to find it online but could not find one.
Ebay has them
Oh YES. EVERY SINGLE boyfriend " going steady " on Long Island in the late 70s- early 80s gave one of these to his gf. It was proudly worn around our necks . We used to buy them in the jewelry district in NYC
You can still buy these in the jewelry district in NYC. They range from $200-$300 A few of these jewelers also deal new ones thru eBay. I still have mine from my HS bf. The story of how we wore these around our necks, made my 20 yo daughter crack up!
Wow I am glad I found this site. I grew up on long island new york and these were big in the late 70's. I still have mine. Its one of my treasured pieces of Jewelry. I want a new one and have been searching to see if they were still around. Must have been a New York thing
These are old school I had one from my teen years from my first husband in white gold and I was from Ozone Park Queens and we did wear them on our ankle unfortunately he passed away very young. I got my second one from the husband I am now married to both were taken from me when our house was robbed I just pursued one on e bay just to bring back some wonderful memories.
Nadine I spent my early childhood in Canarsie and you are 100% on the money! I have been searching for one like the one pictured above for it seems like an eternity. But my memories from childhood mirror yours. And smarter girls got jade pearls to make cleaning it easier. Thanx for sharing this. Be well and congrats on a happy marriage.
Hi Nadine, like one of our previous users I was born in Yonkers and the ankle bracelet was a big deal! It was what every girl wanted from her boyfriend and yes they were worn on our necks I still have mine It is not engraved and the chain is broke so I think I will have it fixed and wear mine again! I did see these online you need to search, "ankle bracelet, 2 heart, gold, pearls, and wings" and it will bring you to an ebay site where you can probably get the exact same one. It had the one I had from he 70's. I think it's a place down in the jewelry district. I think it would be cut for them to come back again.
Toni
I just adored my going steady anklet.it was so beautiful! 5 years later our hoyse was robbed and they took all our jewlery
Mine had rubies and diamonds.. Just beautiful.. Wish i still had it.. I grew up in Wantagh
hi! if anyone knows where I can please buy online or when I go back to visit my hometown long beach LI NY :} ankle bracelet necklace jeweler name etc I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you so much for bringing up happy memories! I am with my adorable soul mate, who grew up out west, he never heard of it, and I'd like to get one for he and I ( with our names etc, I had the very same one! from tri county flea market Levittown long island 1986 thanks and God bless~
Hi, I was going thru my jewelry box this morning and came across my 1980 ankle bracelet that looks just like yours! I began telling my daughter the ankle bracelet tale and we decided to do an online search and came upon your blog! I grew up in West Babylon LI and have been living in northern NY for 30 years and I have never heard anyone talk abt this. I was going to trade it in for cash but now, I think I will hang on to the sentimental value. Although my boyfriend and I at the time only made thru a year, the bracelet is still going strong! I remember feeling so loved and proud walking around with my bracelet around my neck.
Loved mine as a teen, my husband bought me one yesterday at Tri-county jewelry exchange in Levittown. So sentimental, I am in love with it
I'm a Throggs Neck, Bronx girl. Grew up in late 60's/early 70's. I too wore my ankle bracelet around my neck. I loved ankle bracelets then and still do today. My first ankle bracelet is long gone. Over the years, I purchased them on ebay. Some have names and dates engraved, but I don't care. I think they're absolutely beautiful. I have amassed a collection of them and wear several of them at once. I'm obsessed with them. I thought it was just me; glad to know it's not.
I too am a NY girl and when i was younger i had gotten the ankle braclet from my boyfriends but it was 21 yrs ago that my husband bought one for me and i still have it. It needs some repair because its fragle but i love it and want another. Looks like im gonna have to try to get in touch with tri county flea market somehow cause i have moved since then and am in Florida now.
I also had a few of these ankle bracelets I remember one that I wish I still had instead of pearls or had little heart shaped diamonds with wings which I also wore around my neck and yes I was brought up in Brooklyn still here thanks for sharing your story
OMG! This brings back so many fond memories. I grew up in Brooklyn worked in Queens (Astoria) and back in the day that was the thing to do. Every girl hoped for an ankle bracelet to wear as a necklace. Mind you I am 60 and girls were getting them around 16 then. The good old days!
I started dating my husband in 1983. I was a senior in high school and lived and grew up in Queens. Everyone who was dating at the time had one of these. There were several variations but this was a must have if you were dating at the time. Mine was similar to yours. I had the double open hearts with a small diamond between them and diamonds on the wings. The chain between the wings and at the ends of the anklet had little pearls. His initial was engraved in the left heart and his full name engraved on that 'wing' between the diamonds while my first initial was engraved in the right heart and my full name in the right 'wing'. Back then the guys initial was ALWAYS on the left. On the back of 'his wing' engraved was the date we started dating. The attachment chains were a big deal also. Mine had little pearls spaced out which matched the little pearls on my anklet and get this... on my birthday, I received our initials which dangled respectfully on our designated sides where the the anklet and necklace attached. Boy was it a trend. I remember feeling like a princess once I got that thing and then to get the dangle initials months later.... All us girls noticed them on the other girls and if you were a guy dating at the time... this was a no brainer. I am now married almost 30 years. I no longer wear it but it holds a special place in my jewelry box and on our 10th anniversary I had to go to the jeweler to have my ring sized up and brought this with me and had our wedding date engraved on the other wing behind my name. Great memories.
Hello,
I had one in the early 1980s and I am from Yonkers, NY. I wore it around my neck and remember taking senior high school pictures with it. I have since traded it in at a jeweler but wish I had never done that. I would love to have another one like it. Mine had lab created rubies around the outline of the double heart in the middle, diamond chips, the pearls, and the wings.
Hello,
I am from Queens, NY and I had one in the late 70's from my boyfriend at that time. It was the thing to get as a present from your boyfriend as it meant you were going steady. We all wore them around our necks. A few years later, I met my husband and he gave me one as well. I wore that one around my neck, too. It was the way to wear them back then.
Hi,
3 different boyfriends and 3 different ankle bracelets but we called them ankle chains..around the neck, as you said. I had one with garnets around the hearts because we met in January and that was the birthstone. A name on each wing and the date you started"going out" engraved on the back of the hearts. Would't part with them for the world. Etsy has it for sale for a couple of hundred dollars.
As previously said - Bronx girl had one and loved it - mine had sapphires and diamonds. Hidden away now - it was not from my husband! LOL I came across this with my 15 YO old son talking about what to get his girlfriend for Christmas. I saw something on ETSY - not like this but two hearts and you can put initials. Not the original but cute enough.
Oh the memories!
Aww congrats . Yes iam very familiar with this type of ankle bracelet. Long Island NY. Lots of people had these ankle bracelets . My sister has this with double heart diamonds and Ruby’s .
Congrats
Hi!! Tonight i just recieved one of these as a birthday gift from my wife!! She drew a picture from her memory and went in and designed it with our local jeweler!!! She is from LI and said she wanted to give me something very special and this is what she came up with�� me being from the south and 10 years younger I had no clue of these nor the special meaning behind them ....so me being me i immediately went to google and came across this blog.....i have been in tears for the last 30 minutes reading ya'lls comments.... I am feeling super special and blessed right now!!! BEST PRESENT EVER��
I think it was a New York thing.. we had the same tradition in Staten Island, New York
It wad a tradition in Queens too. I grew up in Woodhaven and always wanted one. Alas no boyfriend.
I grew up in Whitestone Queens , and when I was in JHS and HS everyone who had a boyfriend had one of those ankle bracelets ( That you did not wear on your ankle but around your neck like you said ) I think you story is so beautiful, and it's so special that you still have yours. Funny story I am looking to buy one now they are so hard to find !!!
I think bracelets are actually the most beautiful and lovely looking accessory that definitely were 29 years ago and also now.
Women Ankle Bracelets
Nadine, great post I had the same anklet and honestly it was not a Brooklyn thing, I grew up in Queens NY, and all the girls with steady boyfriends wore them as a "chain" I still have mine, tucked away where memories stay at,unfortunately my steady from back then we couldn't survive his departure to the Marines. Life was never the same, but him and I have tons of love and respect for each other.
It was a Staten Island thing too! All those lucky girls got them. I wanted one so badly..oh and a boyfriend too!! Lol
Thats awesome. I'm a long Island NY girl. We all had them in 1985. My friend has 4 of the necklaces I had 1. She still has all 4
LoL I'm looking to buy one but can't seem to find them under 300 bucks. I'd buy on off someone and have the names taken off but can't get anyone to sell me one.
I just came across this. I'm from Long Island and everyone back in the 70's wore these around their necks. I had one also. But, on May 29th 2016 my daughter wore it around her ankle on the day of her wedding as something OLD. That was the last time that I have seen it. Still kind of heart broken about it but, my daughter got to wear us on that day. Hoping that one day I will find it.
Thank you for sharing your information. Here is the latest collection of ankle bracelet with name.
I grew up on long island and the ankle bracelet with two hearts like yours in picture above was a huge thing. If you were going out with someone and it was special, you surely got an ankle bracelet and wore around your neck too. Just as you described so it was definitely not just a brooklyn thing. I wish they still had them now. I can't find them anywhere. They were so cool.
I still have mine from the 1980s. It was a Long Island tradition as well. Every girl with a boyfriend in Suffolk County wore one.
I’m from Queens. I had one and the wings were engraved with our names as well and had the date on back of heart. We wore them on a Chain around our necks, so that everyone could see them.
I Wore one in Jr High and I am 🆓 m Long Island... It must have been 1978 or so?
It was very popular here on Long Island. I bought a few in the eighties I wasn't making much money and they were expensive. Maybe it's a New York thing
Oh it's definitely not a bklyn thing. I live in Queens and had one when I was 15 and yes, I did not wear around my ankle other. I wore it around my neck as well and we had our named engraved on it. At that time I believed it was back in 1977. I had abtv4 diamonds on mines. It is had to find . I really would love to get another one.
It was a tradition in Queens as well. I still have both of mine.
I had one too. When I was 17 my boyfriend gave me one. It was definitely a queens thing too.
Totally a thing in Queens too!! Astoria, Bayside, Flushing.
I lived on Long Island and we did the same thing on the island.
It was the biggest thing to ever happen! I had 4 in my youth,I must say. But the last one was it! Diamonds around the center heart, 3 chips in each wing and 4 extension chip! Oddly enough, it feel off my ankle on my WEDDING DAY!!! And it never got replaced!
Brought up in the Bronx I bought many in my day just great
My wife and I are married 40 years and we dated for 10 so together for 50 years I lived in Brooklyn and she lived in Rosedale queens and I was just talking about it last week when I bought her an ankle bracelet I pick the one with five diamonds wow lol. I brought it from the jewelry store on fifth Avenue in Brooklyn. Even went with my mom and dad to buy it lol. Her birthday is coming up this February and I wanted to buy her another one but couldn’t seem to find one. So I just looked in her jewelry box and found the original one I gave her 45 years ago. I happen to come across this page looking for an ankle bracelet and read all the posts and figured I jump in with my story. Ronnie & Laurie ❤️
Hi Nadine what part of Brooklyn did you grow up in. I lived on east 3rd and Ditmas Avenue and then move to east 4th and Ave U. Now live in Oceanside.
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