PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Now that the Phillies are in the playoffs, many more people may be noticing the necklaces many of the players are wearing.

Ryan Howard, Cliff Lee, Placido Polanco, Jimmy Rollins and Vance Worley are a few of the Phils who have been sporting these necklaces.

They come from a company called, ironically enough, Phiten.  They originate in Japan and the company's Lisa Oka says the titanium bangles came to the United States around the turn of the century when some Americans played exhibition games in Japan.

"They kind of had a custom of exchanging gifts at the end of the game and at the end of the series. So, the Japanese players gave the Americans these Phiten necklaces," according to Oka.  "I think there are a lot of players that say that they really do feel a benefit from them," she added. "It really depends on the person."

The neckwear got a big boost in 2004 when many of the Boston Red Sox wore them and finally broke the curse of the Bambino.

Reported by Kim Glovas, KYW Newsradio 1060