Alex and Ani Official Olympic Bracelet

The US Olympic officials faced a lot of scrutiny 2 weeks ago as the American Olympic Athletes were dressed in uniforms made in China. The small reform to the matter was that Olympic officials contracted a Rhode Island based jewelry company to design and manufacture Olympic Bracelets for the team.

Every Olympics, the US Olympics committee calls for bracelet charms to be made commemorating the US team’s dedication to the Olympic games in said area. This year, Cranston, Rhode Island based jewelry makers Alex and Ani, won the bid.

The company was recently just a one store outlet in Newport, Rhode Island with 15 employees, and now they have 16 stores across the country (including one in our own back yard on Worth Avenue) and huge contracts with the Olympics.

“Alex and Ani makes colorful charms, beaded bangles, and other jewelry, mostly priced at less than $50. Many feature symbols from the zodiac, gods from Greek mythology, or the logos from Major League Baseball teams. The products are manufactured in Rhode Island using recycled materials.”

Silver Metal Olympic Swimmer, Elizabeth Beisel tweeted earlier in the week that she was ‘more than excited for the Alex and Ani charm’ that she found in her uniform bag.

The official Olympic Charm Bracelet is available to the public, and the company described it as following:

“Symbolizing loyalty, dedication, and the freedom to pursue greatness, the Official USA Olympic Charm recognizes America’s extraordinary patriotism. The stars and stripes mixed with the unifying rings encourage us to reach higher, live stronger, and love greater. Wear the Official USA Olympic Charm to inspire achievement, accept leadership, and embrace possibilities. Designed to wear alone or to layer for a customized look, Alex and Ani’s patented Expandable Wire Bangle is the most innovative concept in jewelry, allowing the wearer, with the slide of a hand, to adjust the bangle for a perfect fit. The Official USA Olympic Charm Bangle is available in Russian Gold and Russian Silver finishes. Alex and Ani is an Official Licensee of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team.”