Charles Ellicott Commentary Genesis 24:22

"And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold," — Genesis 24:22 (ASV)

Earring. —Really nose-ring; for in Genesis 24:47, the man places it on her nose, wrongly translated face in our version.

The word occurs again in Ezekiel 16:12, where it is rendered jewel, and is again placed on the nose; it is also similarly translated jewel in Proverbs 11:22, where it is placed in a swine’s snout.

It was hung not from the central cartilage of the nose, but from the left nostril, the flesh of which was pierced for this purpose. Such rings are still the usual betrothal gift in Arabia and are commonly worn both there and in Persia. They are made not only of gold and silver but also of coral, mother-of-pearl, and even less expensive materials. (See Quotation in Note on Genesis 24:16.)

Its weight, about a quarter of an ounce, would make it no more disfiguring than many personal ornaments worn today.

Bracelets are profusely worn today by Eastern women, their entire arm to the elbow usually being covered by them.