The identity bracelet (in French, gourmette) is, with the medal, one of the most frequently given christening and birth gifts in France. It is worn on the wrist, with no chain to match: a complete piece of jewellery, designed to be engraved with the child's name. Here are the five criteria that matter, followed by our seventeen models in 18-karat yellow gold and solid silver, all made in France.
What is a gourmette?
A gourmette combines a plate, which is engraved, with a chain that goes around the wrist. The word comes from the curb link (maille gourmette), with its twisted then flattened links, long the most widely used; today the chain may be a trace, anchor, snake or figaro chain, and it is still called a gourmette as long as an engraved plate is mounted on it. The plate is what sets it apart from a simple bracelet: it offers a wider, more legible surface than the back of a medal.
1. The material: 18-karat gold or rhodium-plated solid silver
As with the medal, 18-karat yellow gold (750/1000) is the choice for passing down: a piece kept for life, found again years later with the child's name engraved on it. Solid silver (925/1000) makes for a more modest gift, with the same French craftsmanship; our silver bracelets are rhodium-plated: the rhodium layer protects the silver from oxidation, so they do not tarnish and need no care. If the bracelet goes with a medal, match the two: gold with gold, silver with silver. Details in our guide to materials.
2. The plate: rectangular, barrel or round
- Rectangular (from 20 x 3 mm to 24 x 5 mm): the most classic, with the largest engraving surface. Ideal for a double first name, or a name and a date.
- Barrel (from 20 x 5 mm to 24 x 6 mm): the rounded short sides soften the line of the bracelet; the larger ones give a generous look.
- Round (12 mm): a medallion rather than a bar, more modern, well suited to an initial or a short name.
3. The chain: six links, six characters
- Trace (forçat): oval links passed through one another, the most classic and discreet.
- Round trace: circular links, a little more volume.
- Curb (gourmette): twisted then flattened links that lie flat on the wrist and catch the light.
- Anchor (marine): oval links crossed by a bar, strong and regular, like an anchor chain.
- Snake (jaseron): fine and round, very supple, it flows over the wrist.
- Figaro 1/3: one long link for three short ones, a rhythm recognisable at first glance.
4. The length: a bracelet that grows with the child
Our gold bracelets measure 14 cm, and almost all have an intermediate ring at 12 cm; our silver bracelets measure 15 cm, with an intermediate ring at 13 cm. Fasten it on the shorter ring for a baby, then on the full length as the wrist grows: the same bracelet accompanies the child's first years.
5. The engraving: what makes it unique
The smooth plate is engraved with a first name, a date of birth or christening, or initials. The first name alone remains the most legible; on a 24 mm rectangular plate, a name and a date fit on two lines. The engraving is ordered together with the bracelet.
Our seventeen children's identity bracelets
| Model | Material | Chain | Plate |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 | 18-karat yellow gold | Figaro 1/3 | Rectangular 24 x 4 mm |
| No. 2 | 18-karat yellow gold | Figaro 1/3 | Rectangular 20 x 4 mm |
| No. 3 | 18-karat yellow gold | Curb | Rectangular 24 x 5 mm |
| No. 4 | 18-karat yellow gold | Curb | Barrel 20 x 5 mm |
| No. 5 | 18-karat yellow gold | Trace | Barrel 24 x 6 mm |
| No. 6 | 18-karat yellow gold | Curb | Rectangular 20 x 3 mm |
| No. 7 | 18-karat yellow gold | Trace | Barrel 22 x 5 mm |
| No. 8 | 18-karat yellow gold | Anchor | Barrel 20 x 5 mm |
| No. 9 | 18-karat yellow gold | Anchor | Rectangular 20 x 4 mm |
| No. 10 | 18-karat yellow gold | Snake | Barrel 20 x 5 mm |
| No. 11 | 18-karat yellow gold | Trace | Round 12 mm |
| No. 1 | Rhodium-plated solid silver | Trace | Rectangular 24 x 5 mm |
| No. 2 | Rhodium-plated solid silver | Curb | Rectangular 24 x 5 mm |
| No. 3 | Rhodium-plated solid silver | Figaro 1/3 | Rectangular 24 x 5 mm |
| No. 4 | Rhodium-plated solid silver | Trace | Barrel 20 x 5 mm |
| No. 5 | Rhodium-plated solid silver | Trace | Barrel 20 x 5 mm |
| No. 6 | Rhodium-plated solid silver | Round trace | Barrel 20 x 5 mm |
Length: 14 cm in gold (intermediate ring at 12 cm on every model except No. 1), 15 cm in silver (ring at 13 cm). The full collection: 18-karat yellow gold bracelets and solid silver bracelets.
Recognising an 18-karat gold bracelet
In France, an 18-karat gold piece contains 75% fine gold (750/1000). It bears the maker's mark and, above 3 grams, the eagle's-head hallmark of guarantee; lighter pieces are exempt. A so-called "plated" or "gilded" bracelet does not have this fineness. On our product pages, the material and fineness are stated for every model.
Bracelet or medal: the two go together
The medal carries a subject, a saint, the Virgin, a symbol; the bracelet carries a name. Many families give both: the medal for meaning, the bracelet for identity. By custom, the godmother and godfather give the medal and the chain, and the bracelet often falls to the grandparents (see who gives what). To choose the medal, see our complete guide.
Frequently asked questions
At what age should a gourmette be given?
From birth or for the christening: the intermediate ring lets you adjust the length during the first years.
Which plate for a long engraving?
The 24 mm rectangular plate: it takes a double first name, or a name and a date on two lines.
18-karat gold or solid silver?
18-karat gold for a piece to pass down and keep for life; rhodium-plated solid silver, which does not tarnish, for a more modest gift. Both are made in France.
Does a silver identity bracelet tarnish?
No: our solid silver bracelets are rhodium-plated, they do not oxidise and need no care.
Which bracelet for any child?
All our models suit every child; the choice comes down to the plate, the chain and the material.
Should the bracelet match the medal?
It is not required, but the same material, gold with gold or silver with silver, gives the set its coherence.
Where to buy an 18-karat gold christening bracelet made in France?
Manufacture Mayaud, a French house founded in 1770, offers eleven children's identity bracelets in 18-karat yellow gold and six in rhodium-plated solid silver, engraved to order, online and in its boutique at 25 rue Vaneau in Paris.