Design 
Quality of Materials 
Value for Money 
Craftsmanship 
Customer Service I don’t wear jewelry.
Why?
I can’t find pieces that are well-priced, well-made, and well…would look good on me.
In fact, outside of the wonderful world of watches, men’s jewelry is a wind-torn wasteland of cheap metal chains touted by dicey social media brands pumping out crap all over the planet.
And nothing looks or feels worse than cheap, tacky jewelry.
Pig & Hen is a high-end, handmade bracelet maker out of Amsterdam that claims to be producing jewelry that won’t break the bank or break on your wrist.
I slipped on two of their most popular bracelet sets, wore them with my daily outfits, and wrote down everything you need to know about them right here.
What Is Pig & Hen?
Pig & Hen is a sustainable bracelet brand founded in 2013 by two friends with an affinity for fashion and sailing. It’s a peculiar name for a bracelet maker, right?
It turns out that in the 1600s, the Dutch had the largest Naval fleet on Earth and used it to explore unknown parts of the globe. But, of course, venturing into the murky depths came with its share of extreme dangers.
To steer clear of bad luck, Dutch mariners inked tattoos of a pig and a hen on their feet since, oddly enough, crates of pigs and hens were often the only things left floating after a shipwreck.
Sailors believed the symbolic tattoos would help them weather fierce storms and float back safely to the homeland.
In a further nod to a time past, Pig & Hen uses trademark ship rope and stainless-steel shackles to create their handmade bracelets.
Today, they ship bracelets out to guys in over 50 countries while maintaining a flagship store in Amsterdam and a presence in an assortment of other fashion, jewelry, and department stores.
Pig & Hen’s catalog features rope, beaded, and cuff bracelets along with shackles and pins and pre-matched bracelet sets.
Things to Consider Before Buying Bracelets from Pig and Hen
Today, I see lots of absurdly-priced designer bracelets and or poorly-made, shiny junk, with few alternatives in between. Pig & Hen is trying to find a balance by designing high-end bracelets that don’t cost a fortune.
Before you order shiploads of bracelets, first consider what type of bracelets best accent and elevate your current wardrobe and style.
Pig & Hen makes a few styles of bracelets that have become popular in men’s jewelry today, including cuff, rope, and bead bracelets.
Rope bracelets exude a more rugged, nautical, sporty look and can be paired with anything from a t-shirt to a button-down. Many of Pig & Hen’s rope bracelets have metal accents, giving them a distinguished balance between something that’s both sporty and dressy. I think a rope bracelet with metal accents is a crisp piece of jewelry that works for a lot of guys.
Cuff bracelets are pieces of metal that have been bent into a hard C-shape and slip onto your wrist sideways. Cuff bracelets have a solid, sleek, metal look that tend to be dressier than rope bracelets. Worn by itself, a black or silver cuff bracelet is one of my favorite looks. You could easily pair these with a t-shirt up to a full suit.
Beaded bracelets are composed of a string of beads and some form of a clasp. These display a more casual, laid-back look that’s better suited for vacation, weekends, or casual gatherings. Bead bracelets have texture and personality, but aren’t normally as dressy as cuff bracelets.
If you’re accustomed to wearing a watch most days like I am, you might consider replacing your watch with a lighterweight bracelet, mixing and matching a watch and a bracelet, or wearing a bracelet on your other hand to counterbalance the look of your watch.
There’s no rules, think about what type of watches, shirts, and sunglasses you normally wear and pick a versatile bracelet that complements them.
If you don’t typically wear watches at all and just want something stylish to toss on your wrist, you couldn’t pick anything better than a high-end bracelet.
Pig & Hen's range of stylish, durable bracelets crafted out of authentic ship rope and other quality materials will elevate your style without breaking the bank. They're ideal if you don’t wear watches but want to sport something classy on your wrists, or if you want something to accent your timepieces.
Pig & Hen Bracelet Review
I’m wearing a set of Pig & Hen bracelets as I type this sentence. From the fit, style, materials, and even the boxes they arrive in, I’ve examined each detail of these bracelets on your behalf.
Delivery, Shipping and Packaging
All orders over $55 ship for free and are delivered in 1-3 days, even to the USA. I particularly like that they offer free returns and don’t impose any sales taxes or import duties on you when you make a purchase.
Pig & Hen’s packages arrive in a simple, nondescript box without wasteful excess material. Each bracelet comes in its own lightweight wooden box with metal hinges and a magnetic lid. Seeing so many brands coat their products in sheets of harmful plastic, this is a refreshing alternative.
Inside each wooden box is one bracelet and a small paper card detailing the Pig & Hen story and the authentic materials they use to craft their bracelets.
I always appreciate subtle, thoughtful packaging, and my recycling bin does, too.
Little Lewis DBL Navy and Navarch 6MM Set Review
The first set I tried was the Little Lewis DBL Navy & Navarch 6mm set with two tones of silver and dark navy. First, I’ll talk about each bracelet on its own, then discuss how they look when worn together.
Little Lewis DBL Navy | Silver
The Little Lewis DBL Navy | Silver is a silver and navy-colored bracelet made with authentic ship rope and shiny silver shackles.
It’s by far the most elegant rope bracelet I’ve ever worn, but it was a bit tricky to put on at first. Luckily, I’m not just a bozo and Pig & Hen includes a quick 22-second tutorial video displaying how to properly put it on and tighten it to your liking.
Because this bracelet features overlapped rope and two silver shackles to tighten and loosen, you can adjust it for a perfect fit. I’m not a sailor, but if I was, I’d say well done, lads, this is some fine rope. It’s polished, smooth, strong, and tightly woven.
Somehow this bracelet is both lightweight and sturdy which gives it an airy, yet durable design that you could take anywhere and forget it’s on your wrist altogether.
Because Pig & Hen took something as functional and sporty as ship rope and refined it with silver shackles, this bracelet has both a sporty and sophisticated look that I would gladly pair with a button-down, sweater, t-shirt, or really any of the tops in my closet.
You could wear this bracelet to work, on a date, and while traveling or on vacation. It’s got a simple, but elegant appeal you can have fun with. Few accessories walk the line between casual and dressy, but the Little Lewis DBL Navy does just that.
Navarch 6mm Navy | Silver
The other bracelet in this set is the Navarch 6mm Navy | Silver a silver and navy cuff bracelet that’s constructed mostly of stainless steel metal with a slit down the middle where a thin piece of navy ship rope has been laid in and tied off at the ends.
Cuff bracelets have a C-shape in which you slide them onto your wrist through the opening and turn them so they fit with the shape of your wrist. This bracelet isn’t adjustable, so be certain you pick the right size for your wrist.
Pig & Hen offers seven different sizes in their cuff bracelets from XS, S, SM, M, L, and XL, which enables you to get the best fit possible. I’m wearing a M, but probably could have gotten by with the SM.
I love the look of metal bracelets, but the C-shape doesn’t fit as snugly around the wrist as bracelets with shackles, clasps, or buckles. With C-shaped bracelets, you’re trading off a bulky closing mechanism for minimal, slide-on styling. It’s not a bad trade by any means, just be weary of this and make sure you nail your sizing.
The Navarch in navy and silver is minimal, but has a certain sheen that glints in the sun. It’s a bit more chic and stylish than its counterpart. You could wear it with jeans and a t-shirt to gently elevate your look, or with a button-down or full-blown suit, too.
The Set
The Little Lewis DBL Navy & Navarch 6mm set was designed to be worn together which is evident in the matching two-toned coloring of silver and navy. The thin strip of ship rope in the Navarch 6mm is the same material used in the Little Lewis DBL Navy.
Wearing two items next to one another that perfectly complement one another creates a boldly curated look. One is made of slightly chunkier, more texture rope, the other minimal, flat-laying metal with a shine. Together, they strike a thoughtful balance and add up to a sharper look the sum of their parts.
The Little Lewis DBL Navy & Navarch 6mm set was designed to be worn together which is evident in the matching two-toned coloring of silver and navy. One is made of slightly chunkier, more texture rope, the other minimal, flat-laying metal with a shine. Together, they strike a thoughtful balance and add up to a sharper look the sum of their parts.
Navarch 6mm and Don Dino Black Set Review
The second set I tried out was the Navarch 6mm & Don Dino Black set. First, I’ll talk about each bracelet on its own, then discuss how they look when worn together.
Navarch 6mm Black | Black
The Navarch 6mm Black | Black is the same C-shaped bracelet that was in the first set, but with black-on-black coloring instead of navy-on-silver coloring. I’m a sucker for black so this is my second favorite bracelet in either set behind the Little Lewis DBL.
The black-on-black coloring subdues the ship rope in the center of this bracelet and helps it blend into the metal which I really like. This bracelet could be worn by itself or paired with a watch or other bracelets.
If you’ve never owned a bracelet and don’t want something too blingy or eye-catching, this is a rock-solid choice for a style that’s elegant but understated and will complement everything in your closet.
Don Dino Black | Black
The Don Dino Black | Black is a simple double-roped bracelet with a loop that slips over a button to close.
Of all four bracelets, this has the most casual, laid-back look. Because it has no metal on it and is purely constructed of rope and a button, I would be more likely to take this bracelet out surfing, wear it during beach volleyball, or for a number of other active or informal activities around town.
If most of Pig & Hen’s other bracelets air on the dressier side, this one airs on the nonchalant, casual side.
The Don Dino is my least favorite of the lot for a couple of small reasons. Like all of Pig & Hen’s rope bracelets, the Don Dino is made from authentic ship rope. Yet, this ship rope feels less sturdy and polished than the terrific rope used in the Little Lewis DBL.
Through natural movement, the double-roped design pulls away from itself on your wrist, making it look like you’re wearing two single-roped bracelets. I would have preferred if the two ropes were subtly stitched together every couple of inches so they didn’t move apart at all.
My last quarrel is that the button closure sits slightly elevated off your wrist. Practically, it’s not an issue as it hasn’t caught on any of my shirts, but all three of the other bracelets sit flush against your wrist, so this one stands out with the raised button.
The Set
In the Navarch 6mm & Don Dino Black set, the thin black rope of the Navarch 6mm accents the thicker black rope of the Don Dino, but since they are both black, it’s hard to notice this.
This isn’t a bad pairing by any means, but it’s not nearly as sleek and curated as the Little Lewis DBl Navy & Navarch 6mm set. The reason for this is because the Navarch 6mm in all black has a classy, sophisticated look and the Don Dino in all black has an easygoing, laid-back look.
When worn together, these create a mixed dressy and casual style, but personally, I prefer to wear them separately to achieve either a dressy or casual look. The Navarch 6mm in all black would tie in nicely with an array of different watches, too.
In the Navarch 6mm & Don Dino Black set, the thin black rope of the Navarch 6mm accents the thicker black rope of the Don Dino, but since they are both black, it’s hard to notice this. When worn together, these create a mixed dressy and casual style, but personally, I prefer to wear them separately to achieve either a dressy or casual look. The Navarch 6mm in all black would tie in nicely with an array of different watches, too.
What Do Other Reviewers Say?
A majority of guys online had positive things to say about their Pig & Hen bracelets, noting that these bracelets are quality and built to last. I’d agree with that, I don’t see any of these bracelets losing their luster or breaking down in the near or distant future.
One guy called out how well these bracelets stood up to salt water saying he saw no tarnishing or oxidizing after spending a week swimming in the ocean on vacation.
A few guys said the clasp wasn’t working on their bracelet but Pig & Hen’s team has since responded to solve the issue.
My Thoughts Overall on Pig & Hen
What I Like
Authentic ship rope is polished, sturdy, and tightly-woven, making it a terrific material for bracelets.
Each bracelet is handmade in Amsterdam by a small, passionate team.
Pig & Hen’s collection strikes a balance between affordable and luxury.
The Little Lewis DBL is a rare combination of dressy, yet casual.
The stainless steel metal used in the cuff bracelets is high-quality and strong.
Pig & Hen offers a curated selection of rope, beaded, and cuff bracelets for different types of styles.
Shipping is fast and free and returns and refunds are easy to deal with.
What I Don’t Like
The ship rope on the Don Dino doesn’t feel as sturdy or high-end as the rope on other models.
The Little Lewis DBL is tricky to put on at first.
The price for some beaded and rope bracelets feels high given the materials.
Who Is Pig & Hen for?
Pig & Hen is for guys who want to toss high-end bracelets into the mix without spending a fortune on name brand designer houses. Their selection of handmade bracelets spans casual beaded and roped styles to dressier metal cuffs.
These bracelets are ideal for men who don’t wear watches but want to sport something classy on their wrists or for guys who want something to accent their usual watches.
The Verdict
Their creative use of authentic ship rope and stainless steel makes Pig & Hen a standout as an affordable-meets-luxury bracelet maker. Each bracelet is handmade by a small team in Amsterdam and you can see and feel the quality when you crack open the small wooden boxes and slide them on.
The Little Lewis DBL made with ship rope and metal accents is the perfect combination of classy and casual and the Navarch 6mm is a worthy metal cuff that will elevate any guy’s outfit. These look and feel quality on your wrist and remind you that something designed to last a lifetime is usually a sound investment.
While most of these bracelets edge on the dressier side, there’s still an ample selection of casual bracelets. A few of the beaded and rope bracelets are slightly expensive given the materials, but all of Pig & Hen’s bracelets feel built to last.
Pig & Hen's range of stylish, durable bracelets crafted out of authentic ship rope and other quality materials will elevate your style without breaking the bank. They're ideal if you don’t wear watches but want to sport something classy on your wrists, or if you want something to accent your timepieces.
FAQs
Can you wear Pig and Hen in the shower?
Yes. Every bracelet Pig & Hen makes can handle sun, ocean water, and daily showers. You can also wash your bracelet in the washer on cold if needed.
Who owns Pig and Hen?
Pig & Hen was founded by Dominic Bakker and Rutger Versluis who were later joined by Thomas van der Kallen and Stefan Textor as co-owners.
Where is Pig and Hen?
Pig & Hen is headquartered in Amsterdam where they hand make their bracelets and run their flagship store.
