Name: Hardware, jewelry, the most coveted prize in poker, a wearable World Series of Poker winner’s trophy
Age: 49
Appearance: A heavy golden bracelet, traditionally lifted between two hands and shown off to the cameras upon winning a WSOP event, then locked away somewhere very safe. Rarely worn on the wrist — at least, in public.
So it’s an actual bracelet? I thought it just meant 'a win' at the WSOP. Yep, it’s a real, honest-to-goodness piece of jewelry. They were first awarded at the 1976 WSOP, but victories before then are still considered ‘bracelet wins’, so you’re kinda right.
That might be a first. Are they valuable? Of course! They’re the most prized trophy in the game. For most poker players, winning a WSOP bracelet is the dream.
But, like… are they valuable? Well, sure, they’re literally made of gold, with the most prestigious ones also studded with thousands of gemstones.
The ‘most prestigious’? They’re not all the same? Oh, no; some WSOP bracelets, most notably those awarded for winning the Main Event, are a little more special than others. A low buy-in event bracelet, or one won online, might be worth around $1,500. The Main Event bracelet, on the other hand, is usually worth hundreds of thousands of dollars and often incorporates diamonds, rubies and sapphires. The exact designs are different every year.
Where do they come from? Various jewelers have provided the bracelets since they became a staple of the WSOP. Las Vegas local Mordechai Yerushalmi made them from the 1980s up to 2004. Since then they’ve been made by Gold and Diamond International, Frederick Goldman, Corum, OnTilt Designs, Jason of Beverly Hills and Jostens, the current WSOP jeweler of choice.
And they are only owned by WSOP winners? Yes… well, sort of. Some players such as Peter Eastgate and Barny Boatman have auctioned theirs off for charity, some have been sold to pay the bills, and some given away; Phil Hellmuth is believed to have 're-gifted' up to 10 of his 17 WSOP bracelets. Doyle Brunson apparently forgot to even collect several of his in the early days of the World Series. At least one — belonging to 2010 Main Event Champion Jonathan Duhamel — was stolen.
Did he ever get it back? Partially. A chunk of it was found down a drain by a streetsweeper and returned.
But at least they were all won at the WSOP, fair and square. Again, sort of. In 1980 and 1981 bracelets were awarded to ‘Oklahoma Johnny’ Hale and Chip Reese, for being the ‘best all round players’ of the year. Then there’s celebrated soccer star Neymar, who loved the iconic bracelet so much the WSOP presented him with one he could keep alongside his many soccer medals.
What did players win before bracelets? The WSOP started in 1970, but the first bracelets weren’t awarded until 1976. During those six years there were a number of different trophies awarded, including a silver cup and decorative plate. In 1982 the WSOP decided to award watches instead, but it didn’t catch on — by 1983, bracelets were back.
I haven’t seen many out in the wild. They’re not something you tend to see hanging from a player’s wrist. Perhaps because they’re too valuable to wear out in public?
Have you seen Hustler Casino Live lately? Those guys wear million-dollar watches on a night out in LA. Good point. Perhaps showing off a WSOP bracelet at the poker table is too tacky or, worse, alerts any potential fish that you might be someone to be extra careful around. Then again, maybe it’s just a practical thing: the 2024 Main Event bracelet contained 445 grams of 10-karat gold. That’s almost 1lb hanging at the end of your arm.
So those that don’t get sold, given away or stolen just get locked up in a safe forever? It seems that way.
I still want one. Me too.
Do say: “Wow, nice bracelet, you must be good, huh? I raise.”
Don’t say: “Sure, but does it track your steps?”
