The World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet is the ultimate prize in the poker world, a shiny symbol of success. Since its creation it has become a dream for every poker player. Let’s have a look at the history, design, and value of this iconic award.
Birth of the bracelet
The WSOP bracelet was introduced in 1976 by Benny Binion, the man who started the WSOP back in 1970. Before that, winners got trophies like silver cups or plaques, but Binion wanted something special—something players could wear to show off their victory.
The first bracelet was simple, made of 10-karat yellow gold, and looked a bit like flattened gold nuggets. It cost about $500 to make. Over the years, the design got fancier. By 2007, the Main Event bracelet had 120 diamonds and 136 grams of 18-karat white gold. In 2023, bracelets were decked out with 1,985 diamonds, 671 black diamonds, and even a solid gold poker chip inside, totaling 55.48 carats. These upgrades made the bracelets not just awards but true pieces of art.
So, who makes these stunning bracelets? The jeweler has changed over time. From the 1980s to 2004, a Las Vegas jeweler named Mordechai Yerushalmi crafted them. In 2007, a company called Corum took over, adding fancy watches to the prize. By 2012, Jason Arasheben of Jason of Beverly Hills designed a Main Event bracelet with over 35 carats of diamonds. Since at least 2019, Jostens, a company from Minneapolis, has been making them, and they’re likely still the ones behind the 2025 bracelets. Jostens is known for creating detailed, high-quality pieces, which fits the WSOP’s growing prestige.
100 bracelets in 2025?
How many bracelets are handed out? In the early days, there weren’t many events, so only a few bracelets were given each year—around 10 in 1976. But as the WSOP grew, so did the number of events. By 1990, 14 bracelets were awarded, and in 2000, it was 24. In 2011, the WSOP gave out 58 bracelets, plus 7 more at the World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE). In 2025, experts predict about 100 bracelets will be handed out, including extras for online events and WSOPE. That’s a lot of winners walking away with poker’s top prize!
How much for that bracelet?
What’s a WSOP bracelet worth? For regular events, the material value is around $1,500, but Main Event bracelets can be worth hundreds of thousands because of their diamonds and gold. Some have sold for big money—like Peter Eastgate’s 2010 Main Event bracelet, which went for $147,500 on eBay, with the money donated to UNICEF. But for many players, the real value isn’t in dollars. Poker legend Johnny Chan keeps his 10 bracelets in a safe, saying they’re worth “millions” to him emotionally. Phil Hellmuth, who holds the record with 17 bracelets, says they “represent history.”
17-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth (Picture: WSOP)
The WSOP bracelet isn’t just jewelry—it’s a badge of honor. Winning one is like winning the Super Bowl or an Olympic gold medal.
