History of Poker Jewelry
- World Series of Poker Bracelet
A brief history of modern Poker Jewelry starts with the prestigous World Series of Poker bracelet. Even if you’ll never have your own bracelet you can still show your love of poker with many different types of poker jewelry.
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Lucky Las Vegas 18KTGP Poker Spinner Ring - Size 12 US $14.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 11:11:55 PST | Watch this Item |
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LAST Yellow & White Poker Dot CZ Silver Ring US $49.99 Auction Ends: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 12:07:02 PST | Watch this Item |
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3500 SOLID STERLING SILVER TEXAS HOLD 'EM POKER RING US $54.99 Auction Ends: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 12:53:35 PST | Watch this Item |
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LADIES WEDDING BAND POKER SPIN 18K gold overlay ring 5 US $29.72 Auction Ends: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 17:07:44 PST | Watch this Item |
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet is considered the most coveted non-monetary prize a poker player can win. Since 1976, a bracelet has been awarded to the winner of every event at the annual WSOP. Even if the victory occurred before 1976, WSOP championships are now counted as “bracelets”.
Just as the prestige of the event has grown, so too has the quality of the bracelet. The earliest bracelets were valued at a few hundred dollars, while today’s bracelet is designed by premier jeweler Corum.
At first, the bracelets did not have much prestige. Ten-time bracelet winner Doyle Brunson said that his first bracelet “didn’t mean anything to” him and that he did not even pick up two of them.
Some professional poker players believe that there are two types of poker players; those who have won a bracelet and those who have not. Those who have belong to an exclusive club. “It’s impossible to overstate the value of a World Series of Poker gold bracelet to anyone who takes the game seriously,” stated World Series of Poker Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack during the 2006 bracelet unveiling. “It is the equivalent of winning the Stanley Cup in hockey or the Lombardi Trophy in football.”
Many professional poker players desire the recognition that is associated with the bracelet. Former Celebrity Poker Showdown host and poker star Phil Gordon said, “I want that bracelet more than anything.” Freddy Deeb said that he did not appreciate his first bracelet because he did not recognize what it meant. He said his 2007 bracelet, however, “means everything to me”. Jennifer Tilly says that winning her 2005 Women’s Championship bracelet was “better than an Oscar”.