Some brands you buy, and some you belong to. 4Karas is the second kind. Wear one of its anchor bracelets for a while and you start spotting other people wearing one too. That is less a piece of jewellery than a community.
Behind it is Carlos Gómez, who is an absolute sweetheart. This year the brand turns 10, and Carlos invited us to celebrate on the Costa Brava, on a special day full of surprises. Here is who they are, what they make and what the party was like.
4Karas at a glance
Founded in 2016 in Barcelona by Carlos Gómez · What handmade unisex bracelets and pendants
Price from around 15 € · Where online shop and multi-brand stockists
From a Costa Brava market stall to a community
4Karas started in 2016 as a project between friends. Their first market was on the Costa Brava, and according to the brand, within just three days people were already noticing the bracelets. So it made perfect sense to return to the same sea for the tenth anniversary.
The idea comes from a childhood memory: grandma’s bracelet, a rope bracelet Carlos used to play with as a boy. He reinvented it as jewellery, with nautical cord, summer colours and an anchor.
The name has a story too. 4 karas means four phases, like the four seasons, and refers to the four steps every piece goes through: design, create, assemble and enamel.
Bracelets made by hand in Barcelona
Every piece is handmade in Barcelona, and the brand is proud that no two are the same. They are unisex: at the party men and women alike were wearing them, often several stacked on one wrist.
The Velero Poseidón and MiniAncla Hera models, in every colour.
The Hera anchor is a good example: a brass anchor plated with 3 microns of 18-carat gold on a 100% linen cord, the same kind used on boats. It measures 18 cm and adjusts with the clasp. In multi-brand shops it costs around 25 euros, while the simpler braided Mini Calabrotes is around 15.
Good to know
- Handmade in Barcelona
- Unisex and adjustable
- Gold-plated anchors on linen cord
- From around 15 €
Keep in mind
- Take it off for the beach or the shower
- Gold plating lasts longer kept dry
- Check stockists online before going
A 4Karas anchor bracelet in blue.
4Karas has a charitable side as well. In 2021 it designed an exclusive bracelet, the Hestia, for the Starlite gala, auctioned in aid of the Starlite Foundation.
How we celebrated 4Karas turning 10 on the Costa Brava
The dress code was simple: all in white. Add the brand’s blue anchor pendant around everyone’s neck and the group looked like a ship’s crew.
The family photo in front of the 4KARAS banner.
The highlight was sailing on a wooden boat. Open sea, sunshine and a huge platter of prawns that vanished in minutes.
Prawns on board, with the Mediterranean behind.
The blue anchor pendant, right where it belongs.
And of course there was a party. It felt less like a brand event and more like a gathering of friends, which is exactly what makes 4Karas different.
Rope bracelets on every wrist.
Thank you, Carlos, for the invitation and for ten years of bracelets that end up becoming memories.
Do you own a 4Karas? Show me on Instagram at @barcelonainspira. And for more jewellery made here, see where to get permanent jewellery in Barcelona.
Keep discovering Barcelona with me
More local brands and shops: Simorra, the Barcelona fashion label and permanent jewellery in Barcelona. And if the Costa Brava is calling, here are the most beautiful villages in Girona.
What is 4Karas
A handmade jewellery brand from Barcelona, founded in 2016 by designer Carlos Gómez. It is best known for its unisex nautical rope bracelets with an anchor, all made by hand. The brand says no two pieces are the same.
Where to buy 4Karas bracelets
From its online shop, 4karas.com, and from multi-brand accessory shops. Before heading to a physical shop, check the website or Instagram for its current stockists.
How much does a 4Karas bracelet cost
Rope bracelets start at around 15 euros, like the Mini Calabrotes, and the gold-plated Hera anchor costs around 25 euros in multi-brand shops. The silver and gold pieces from its premium line cost considerably more.
What are 4Karas bracelets made of
The Hera anchor bracelet has a brass anchor plated with 3 microns of 18-carat gold and a 100% linen cord, the kind used on boats. It adjusts with its clasp and is handmade in Barcelona.
Can you get 4Karas bracelets wet
Best not to. Shops that sell them advise keeping the gold-plated pieces dry so the plating lasts longer, so take yours off for the beach, the pool or the shower.
