Bangles are an ancient variety of arm adornment which originated in India. They are distinguishable from bracelets because they are rigid and inflexible (the shape of a bracelet can be more easily manipulated). In Hindu tradition, bangles functions much like wedding rings in Western cultures, in that they are worn by married women to signify their commitment. Although the word "bangle" takes its name from "bungri" (which is Hindi for "glass"), contemporary bangles are fashioned from every material imaginable, including plastic, non-precious metals, and (most popularly) gold.

The bangle is one of the world's oldest variety of jewelry. Bangles excavated from various sites in India date from as early as 300 B.C.E., and other artifacts - including art depicting women in bangles - from thousands of years earlier. The popularity of the adornment has increased with time, and bangles are now very fashionable in Europe and the Americas. While glass bangles are still the most prevalent in India, gold bangles have become the norm in the United States and elsewhere.

Gold bangles are available in a variety of different styles and sizes. It has become popular, particularly in the West, for the pieces to be adorned with designs of diamonds or sapphires. In the East, fashion still favors intricate handmade designs.