How to Read a Morse Code Bracelet
People ask us this at markets, in messages and in reviews: "It looks lovely, but how do I actually read it?" Here is the full answer, with the same alphabet we use at the bench.
What the beads mean
Morse code writes every letter as a short pattern of dots and dashes. On a bracelet, a dot is a small round bead and a dash is a longer tube bead. Between letters we put one or two glass seed beads in the thread colour, so you can see where one letter ends and the next begins.
That is all there is to it. Read from the clasp end, left to right, one letter at a time.
A worked example
Take the name Anna.
- A is dot dash (.-)
- N is dash dot (-.)
- N is dash dot (-.)
- A is dot dash (.-)
On the wrist that reads: round, tube, gap, tube, round, gap, tube, round, gap, round, tube. Eight metal beads for a four letter name. Once you have found the first letter the rest falls into place quickly.
Dates work too
Numbers are five signals each, so a date takes more beads than a word. 14.02 would be:
- 1 is .----
- 4 is ....-
- 0 is -----
- 2 is ..---
That is twenty beads, which still fits comfortably. We usually leave the full stop out and separate the day and month with a slightly wider gap.
The alphabet
A .- B -... C -.-. D -.. E . F ..-. G --. H .... I .. J .--- K -.- L .-.. M --
N -. O --- P .--. Q --.- R .-. S ... T - U ..- V ...- W .-- X -..- Y -.-- Z --..
If you would rather not count by hand, our Morse code translator turns any word or date into the pattern and shows you how many beads it needs.
Why a card comes with every bracelet
Every order ships with a small card showing the alphabet and the message written out. Most people keep it in a drawer. It means that in ten years, when the bracelet has been worn thin and the story has been told a hundred times, someone can still check what it says.
How long can the message be?
Up to ten or twelve characters keeps the pattern readable and the bracelet light. Names, a single word, a short date. Longer messages are possible but the beads get closer together and the pattern gets harder to read. If you are unsure, send us the message before ordering and we will tell you honestly how it will look.
Ready to choose yours? Start with the personalized Morse code bracelet. You pick the message, the thread colour and the bead finish, and we string it by hand.