Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About WSOP Bracelets
If you’ve ever wondered why the World Series of Poker (WSOP) gives bracelets to the winners, who creates them, or how much money they’re worth, then you’ve found the ideal site to find out the answers to those questions.
We will cover all you need to know, including the question of whether or not it is possible to obtain one without actually winning an event at the World Series of Poker.
Where the Concept of the WSOP Bracelets First Originated?
When the inaugural World Series of Poker was held in 1970, the winners did not get bracelets for their achievements. Instead, they were presented with a cup and a plaque that had a quite unremarkable appearance.
Even though it was a nice trophy to have, there was nothing special about it at all.
Then, in the year 1976, Benny Binion, the person who was responsible for the conception of the World Series of Poker, had the notion to begin awarding bracelets instead.
Benny reasoned that awarding bracelets to the winners of tournaments would help differentiate the game from others of its kind and make it more interesting.
In addition, players were given bracelets that they could actually wear during the tournament, playing their opponents know that they were going up against a World Series of Poker winner.
Although it was a novel idea at the time, it was warmly welcomed by the competitors, and as a result, the World Series of Poker bracelet was established as a permanent prize.
In the beginning, a relatively low number of bracelets were given out each year. Those were the beginning years.
On the other hand, as time went on and poker became a more popular game, the number of tournaments that awarded bracelets expanded as well.
What Is the Average Price of a WSOP Bracelet?
It is difficult to assign a specific monetary worth to the bracelets won at the World Series of Poker because they are among the most sought-after prizes in the poker community.
In addition to this, the design of bracelets has evolved quite a deal throughout the course of time, and as a result, the monetary worth of bracelets has also shifted significantly.
In 1976, Benny Binion introduced his first bracelet, which had a value of around $500 at the time.
It is important to note, for the sake of this conversation, that five hundred dollars back then was worth quite a deal more than it is now.
The bracelets that are awarded at today’s World Series of Poker look very different from the ones that were given out in the past, and their average value is probably somewhere around $1,500.
This is not taking into account the sentimental worth or prestige of the bracelet; rather, it is looking solely at the value of the materials that were used to produce them.
Nevertheless, not all World Series of Poker bracelets are made equal.
The bracelets that are given out to the winners of the Main Event are significantly more costly and eye-catching.
They’ve really separated themselves apart from all other bracelets by getting prettier and more expensive as the years go on, which is how they’ve done it.
On the basis of the value of the materials used and the design, it has been estimated that certain current Main Event bracelets are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars each.
The World Series of Poker bracelets are pretty pricey items of jewelry since they are made of gold and feature valuable stones. On the other hand, we will return to it in a moment.
Is It Possible To Purchase A WSOP Bracelet, And If So, How Much Does It Cost?
When it comes to sports memorabilia, the worth of an item does not always have much of a correlation with its actual value. This is especially true of autographed items.
In most cases, the price is determined by how much someone is willing to pay for it, and throughout the course of the years, there have been many instances of WSOP bracelets being purchased and sold over the internet.
In 2019, a World Series of Poker bracelet that was won in a $2,500 Limit Omaha tournament was listed for sale on eBay as part of an auction. It was eventually sold for a total of $50,000, which was an extremely high price for what might be considered a “average” bracelet.
In 2013, what is arguably the most well-known instance of a World Series of Poker bracelet being offered for sale took place.
During that year, the bracelet from the 2006 Main Event appeared on an online auction website. Jamie Gold was victorious in the most lucrative Main Event in the history of the tournament and walked away with $12 million as a reward for his efforts.
However, after some time had passed, Gold said publicly that he had nothing to do with the auction and that the outcome was beyond his control, despite the fact that the bracelet was subsequently sold for more than $65,000. He stated that if it were up to him, he would never give up on it even if it was a hopeless cause.
Peter Eastgate, who had also won the Main Event, auctioned off his bracelet at the World Series of Poker in 2010, becoming the subject of yet another well-known story from the bracelet.
Eastgate, in contrast to Gold, was content to part up his bracelet, with the understanding that the money would be donated to charity. It was sold for 147,500 dollars, and the proceeds were donated to UNICEF.
However, the prices of all bracelets sold on eBay do not approach the five-figure mark. As an illustration, TJ Cloutier received just $2,500 for the sale of his 2005 Hold’em bracelet.
In general, World Series of Poker bracelets can be found on eBay and other online sales sites from time to time.
The amount of interest that is currently being accrued will determine how much of a premium you will have to pay for one. You could definitely get a “normal” bracelet for a few thousand dollars. This is the price at which they are typically sold.
It is also important to point out that the number of events that award bracelets has been expanding year after year, which means that there are an increasing number of bracelets in circulation.
In the year 2020, the World Series of Poker was played entirely online, which increased the number of players who might win a bracelet.
This suggests that in the years to come, there may be a rise in the quantity of WSOP bracelets that are sold through the internet.
If there are more of them available, the average price may go down as well; thus, you shouldn’t be astonished if you see one of them starting at a price that’s just a few hundred dollars lower than usual.
If you check at the threads on Reddit, you’ll notice that people have a lot of different opinions on how much they’re worth. This demonstrates how difficult it is to establish an accurate price for a bracelet.
Who is the Manufacturer of WSOP Bracelets?
If you take a closer look at a World Series of Poker bracelet, particularly the ones that are given out for winning the Main Event or one of the other important tournaments like as the Players Championship or the Big One for One Drop, you’ll find that they are exquisitely carved pieces of jewelry.
Making one of these requires a significant amount of effort on the part of the maker.
Who exactly is responsible for the creation of these WSOP bracelets?
In order to entice poker players from all over the world, the World Series of Poker has collaborated with a number of different companies over the course of its history. These companies have each contributed their own unique flair to the production of the highest-quality and most-sought-after poker jewelry.
In recent years, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) has collaborated with a business called Jostens on the design and production of bracelets to be used in the tournaments they host.
They were the ones responsible for the Main Event bracelet for 2019, which was a really remarkable piece of jewelry due to the fact that 2019 was the year that the Series celebrated its 50th anniversary.
This specific bracelet was crafted out of gold with a karat rating of 10K and had 2,252 stones, including 77 rubies and 2,175 diamonds.
Because of this, it now weighs a total of 40 carats and is considered to be one of the most valuable prizes that can be acquired.
Hossein Ensan is the lucky recipient of both this exquisite piece of jewelry and the first prize of ten million dollars.
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets are often manufactured by firms like Jostens that have extensive experience in the production of high-value jewelry and sports awards.
The worth of the materials utilized is not the only consideration here; equally important is giving these bracelets a one-of-a-kind and elegant appearance as well.
Future Of WSOP Bracelets
Bracelets have been given out to the winners of individual tournaments at the World Series of Poker for more than 45 years. At this moment, bracelets are practically associated with the World Series of Poker (WSOP).
It would be rather odd if the organizers suddenly chose to modify this tradition and begin giving away cups or other types of awards instead of medals.
Therefore, there is no reason to believe that WSOP bracelets will be phased out anytime soon, at least not in the foreseeable future.
In spite of this fact, there has been significant discussion over the total worth as well as the prestige that are associated with these trinkets.
Taking home a World Series of Poker bracelet isn’t nearly as difficult as it used to be because to the expansion of the series to include internet tournaments. The number of WSOP events also continues to rise.
Some of the world’s best professional poker players are beginning to have doubts about the World Series of Poker (WSOP) as a result of the increasing number of bracelets that are being given out each year.
The primary concern is that the value of a bracelet will decrease as a result of the increased number of activities that would earn bracelets.
If they are so simple to obtain, and if you can win one by playing in a tournament from the comfort of your own home for a buy-in of only a few of hundred dollars, then their allure and prestige will begin to dwindle.
There is no denying that this line of reasoning has some water, but there is also another side to consider.
It is possible that the fact that WSOP bracelets are not as “exclusive” as they once were would encourage more players to participate in tournaments and dive headfirst into the action.
What Do WSOP Rings Consist Of?
Almost everyone who has followed poker for any length of time is familiar with the WSOP bracelets. Each and every bracelet winner receives at least one piece published on them after they have been the subject of extensive coverage in the poker media during the year.
However, you may also be familiar with WSOP rings, which can make things a little more complicated for you.
What purpose do rings serve if there are also bracelets available? Do those who won bracelets also receive rings, or how does this whole thing work?
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) rings are given out to the winners of a completely distinct tournament, which is known as the WSOP Circuit, or WSOPC.
These are tournaments with entry fees that are on the lower end that take place all around the world, including in the United States, Europe, and other regions.
Rings from the World Series of Poker and bracelets from the same tournament share very little in common, despite the fact that both are awarded by the same corporation.
These are trophies won in a variety of various tournaments all across the world.
Even though the World Series of Poker is often considered to be the most renowned poker tournament in the world, winning a ring or two at the WSOP Circuit is still a significant accomplishment.
In point of fact, the competition in WSOPC tournaments is frequently considerably more difficult than what you’ll find at the official World Series. This is due to the fact that these events draw a large number of genuine players who play poker for a job.
There is not a Real Price Tag
This page will provide you with nearly all of the information you want concerning WSOP bracelets.
Many poker players and fans have an interest in anything that has quite a bit of history behind it, and these treasured pieces of poker jewelry surely have quite a bit of history behind them.
Because of the many factors that come into play, it is difficult to determine how much a WSOP bracelet is truly worth.
Beyond its worth on the market, a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet will, at the end of the day, always have a particular significance for each individual owner.
Some people view it as an important aspect of their poker history and evidence of their skills as a player.
For some people, it is nothing more than a piece of metal; it holds no emotional significance for them, and that is simply the way things are.
