The cowboy belt buckle did not originate until the turn of the 20th Century. Though the thought of collecting antique belt buckles such as flag belt buckle and the famous cowboys who rode the ranges of the Wild West is nice, the reality of it was the cowboys usually wore suspenders or buckles that were derived from military friction buckles. It was Hollywood and the Western Movies that gave rise to what is known today as the Western Belt Buckle. Some of the most popular belt buckle styles include the patriotic flag belt buckle; the American eagle is another common symbol on belt buckles and a very good seller for manufactures. The eagle design varies greatly, sometimes depicting the eagle in flight, or just the eagle’s head. Another popular design is the cowboy riding the bronco, and the Confederate Flag. Smaller flag belt buckles are popular with women where men usually prefer belt buckles that are larger. These are typically what people think of when they hear "Cowboy Buckles". Many of these are rodeo or stock show trophy buckles. Smaller buckles often have more elaborate pictures to compliment their size. Horse cameos are predominantly popular, as are illustrations of the western lifestyle, such as a miniature cowboy on a bucking bronco. The western belt buckle is both rustic and stylish and a good bet for any collector.