Dog Tags

We have recently added some new, men’s jewelry for Father's Day ~ among them are several dog tag necklaces (with more coming soon).  After doing a little research on dog tags, I learned that the first military ID tags were issued during the beginning of WWI by the British Army and their imperial forces.  Two round tags, one of red and one of green fiber, were hung around the neck by butcher's twine. 

On December 10, 1906, the Army tags were authorized in the US.  These were aluminum discs that were stamped with the name, rank, company, regiment or corps of the wearer.  In July, 1916, Army regulations decreed that all soldiers be issued two tags ~ one to remain with the body and one to be collected.  Two years later, the serial number system was adopted.*

One common tale regarding notched dog tags that were issued between 1941 and 1970 was that the notched end was placed between the front teeth of casualties to hold the jaws in place.  But the notch was actually to hold the blank tag in place on the embossing machine.*  

During the Vietnam war, US soldiers were allowed to place rubber silencers on their dog tags to prevent the enemy from hearing metallic clinking.  Some taped their tags together with black tape, while others wore one tag around their necks and the second on the lace of one boot.*

Non-military dog tags have become popular over the years.  Some are worn with personal or medic alert information; others reflect religious affiliations or favorite quotes.  At Viridian Gold, we offer a selection of engravable styles in sterling silver, such as our #5098, pictured above, as well as in stainless steel.  You may choose from a simple, unadorned tag or one that is fashioned with a religious motif, such as this Double Dog Tag with Cross #9048, or a patriotic one like our Dog Tag with Eagle Design #9059.  All include a 24 or 30" bead chain.

*Historical information condensed from Wikipedia.org

Silver Wedding Bands are replacing Gold

With the price of gold at all-time highs, couples looking for traditional, white gold wedding bands are finding that sterling silver wedding rings are an economical, yet high-quality alternative.  Our silver bands are made in the same USA factory as our gold and platinum bands, using the same molds.  This means that the quality is unsurpassed--these are not cheap, flea-market rings that are imported from India or China, but are fully .925 silver, highly polished and free of pits and voids.  To be termed "sterling silver", the silver content must be at least 92.5%, so these rings are marked "STER" on the inside surface to so indicate their fineness.  Over the years, these sterling silver rings will acquire a unique and pleasing patina which is the classic hallmark of quality silver jewelry.

Our domed, "Comfort-Fit" sterling silver bands are available in widths from 2mm up to 6mm.  We also offer the more traditional, domed half-round style in sterling silver.  Stock sizes are available from 4 up to 15, in 1/2-size increments, as well as custom 1/4-sizes if required. Be alert to unscrupulous sellers of rings who will sell you a 4mm-wide ring, when you actually ordered a 5mm width!  When you purchase a ring from Viridian Gold, you can rest assured that it conforms to the weight and width specifications provided on our website
.

If you wish to have some gold in your silver wedding rings, consider either our gold & silver milgrain style wedding bands, or our gold & silver brushed style rings.  Both are 6mm wide, and are available in stock half-sizes from 4 up to 15.

Of course, our silver rings can also be engraved on the inside surface, just like a solid gold ring.  Each is individually inspected, and packaged in our Viridian Gold velvet ring box.

Rosary Beads, Rosary Rings and Bracelets

The Rosary, "rosarium" in Latin, means "garland of roses", and is prayed in honor of the Virgin Mary, since the rose is one of the flowers that symbolizes her.  A set of specific prayers, the rosary begins with introductory prayers.  Between those prayers and the closing prayer of the rosary are what is known as the decades.  Each decade consists of the Lord's Prayer, 10 prayers of "Hail Mary...", and a single "Glory be to the Father".  A meditation of one of the "Mysteries of the Rosary" (there are fifteen Mysteries, each of which recalls an aspect of the life of Christ) accompanies each decade.  For most people, "praying the rosary", consists of praying five decades.

To help those who pray the rosary keep count of their prayers, rosary beads ~ in necklace, bracelet or ring form, are used.  At Viridian Gold, we have a sampling of all these.  Each of our Rosary Rings is available in 14K yellow or white gold, 10K yellow, and sterling silver.  Some of our customer favorites are our Rosary Ring #1010, which is available in two different millimeter widths, 2.5mm and 4mm, and our 5mm Rosary Ring #1059.  Or you can view all of our Rosary Rings in Gold and Sterling Silver.  Each ring is designed with braille-like prayer beads and a single, small cross on the band, representing one decade of the rosary.  All rings can be custom sized.

Our rosary beads are for five-decade rosaries, and are available in sterling silver and 14K gold in a variety of styles, lengths and gemstones.  Take, for instance, our 22" Hematite Rosary #2077, or a beautiful, 43" Pink Freshwater Pearl Rosary #2023.  Both are fashioned with polished sterling silver and genuine gemstones, and most styles are suitable for both men and women.

We also offer a sampling of bracelets, such as the one pictured at the beginning of this blog, Pearl Rosary Bracelet #3093.  This is for a single decade rosary, and is designed with 14K gold and pearl prayer beads; it comes with a crucifix and either a miraculous or a communion medal.  If you are looking for one in sterling silver, we carry rosary wraps, such as our Gemstone Rosary Wrap Bracelet #3090.  This is a five-decade bracelet that includes a sterling silver crucifix and a miraculous medal.  It is available with black onyx, rose quartz, or mother of pearl prayer beads.  For further browsing, see our Religious Bracelets.

Jewelry for Lent?

For Western Christianity, the first day of Lent, a movable fast that begins forty-six days before Easter, is Ash Wednesday.  For many denominations, this day is commemorated by the wearing of ashes on the forehead in a cross shape ~ a reminder of our human frailty, and of mourning and repentance before God.  The ashes are usually gathered from the burning of palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday, the day that announces Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, also the day that marks the beginning of His Passion.

Lent is a time of preparation for the celebration of Christ's glorious Resurrection, and is marked by prayer, penance, repentance, fasting/self-denial and almsgiving.  You may be thinking, if Lent is such a serious, contemplative time, a time when believers "give up" or "offer up" something for these forty days, why is this post about jewelry?

The answer is that, for many of us, our religious jewelry ~ our crosses, crucifixes, rosary beads and the like, are a personal call to prayer, a call to behave as a Christian, a reminder and a statement of who we are and Who we belong to.  So for the next few paragraphs, we'll highlight some of the Christian jewelry our customers have purchased over the years.

Cross pendants: St. Xenia Cross #5525 is rich with Christian symbolism, from the St. Andrews cross adorning the center to the vine design at the base that represents the Cross as the Tree of Life.  A customer favorite, Alpha/Omega Chi Rho Cross #5267 makes a statement that the wearer recognizes Jesus Christ as the Alpha and the Omega, "the first and the last, and there is no God besides me..." (Isaiah 44:6).  To view our wide selection, see Cross Pendants in Gold, Silver, Platinum and Stainless Steel.

Crucifix pendants: One of our most beautiful crucifix pendants is Shroud Crucifix in Tri-Color Gold #5438.  A rose gold shroud drapes the arms, signifying that while Christ died on the Cross, He rose from the dead, leaving His burial wrappings in the tomb.  The Sterling Silver Passion Crucifix #5597 is designed with pointed tips that symbolize Christ's Passion.  See Crucifix Pendants in Gold and Silver to view our entire selection.

Rosaries: We offer a selection of 5-decade rosary beads for men and women, and rosary bracelets in both sterling silver and 14K gold.  Rose Quartz Rosary #2189, crafted in sterling silver with genuine rose quartz beads, is but one example.  Customer favorites include Wrap Gemstone Rosary Bracelets #3090 and Rosary Rings in Gold and Silver.

We have not forgotten to include cross and crucifix pendants for children, such as our beautiful, Child's Petite Floral Cross Necklace #2222 and Child's Fleur-de-Lis Crucifix Necklace #2208.  We also offer a selection of medals and pendants for First Communion, Confirmation and Baptism.

Whatever your jewelry preferences for Lent and for Easter, we wish all of our customers and readers a holy and fruitful Lent.

Jewelry Size and Weight Visualization

We often have visitors to our website call us with questions about size or weight descriptions of our jewelry, especially earrings.  For instance, if you see a hoop earring specified as 18mm in length, what does that really look like?  Pictures of jewelry on our website, and other websites, are never "actual size".  This is because the image will be seen on many different types of displays--tablets, laptops, cell phones, and desktop computers.  Each of these devices will render the image at a different size.  In addition, if the item was displayed as actual size, the viewer would not be able to see important details in it's construction.  Even if a measuring rule is superimposed over the image, the rule will not be actual size, and visualization is still difficult.

Item weight is also important for all jewelry items, because the cost and value is proportional to the weight of precious metal.  But, on some items, such as earrings, weight is also critical because a heavy item could be uncomfortable.  In the past, we have dropped some hoop earrings from our website for this reason, because customers would return them, saying they were uncomfortably heavy for their pierced ears.

To assist our customers visualizing jewelry sizes, we have recently added a helper page with a size and weight comparison between seven different U.S. coins, ranging in diameter from 17.9mm to 38.1mm, and in weight from 2.67 grams to 22.68 grams. So, using this information, you would determine that a 3mm-wide wedding band is approximately the width of a stack of two pennies.  Or, as illustrated above, an 18mm hoop earring is about the same diameter as a dime.  If the earring is specified as 2.5mm wide, then you know it is slightly less than the thickness of two dimes.

Regardless of how much information we give our customers on our website, we realize that there is no substitute for actually holding the jewelry item in your hand!  That is why we allow a 30-day return for most items (see our Customer Service Page for details).  Remember, after looking at websites and zooming in on jewelry pictures, your brain could be programmed to expect a larger size piece than it actually is, so use our information to help you accurately gauge jewelry size and weight prior to ordering.

Crown of Thorns Rings

Also a popular style for a wedding ring, the Thorns design can either be viewed as simply a beautiful design, or it can carry a deeper significance of the Crown worn by Christ at His crucifixion, symbolizing His suffering.  Sometimes this design is found as a "Wreath of Thorns" ring, so-called because the design only wraps around the top portion of the ring, allowing for custom ring sizing (where the "sizing bar" at the lower portion of the ring is made larger or smaller to change the ring size).

In some countries of the world, wearing any outward symbol of Christianity is forbidden.   So, for instance, if you are a visitor in one of those places, you may not wear a ring which carries a cross.

For this reason, many Christians will wear a ring with some other kind of symbol, such as the Thorns design.  Not long ago, we sold a matching pair of rings to a woman whose husband travels in Communist China (as a salesman) for that very reason!  He was not allowed to enter company buildings with his former wedding ring, which had a prominent cross in it's design.

At ViridianGold.com, we carry two styles of Thorn rings.  The Wreath style features two intertwined stems of thorns which wrap around the upper 3/4 of the band.  It is available as the economical Sterling Silver Wreath of Thorns Ring , as well as the 14K Gold Wreath version in yellow and white, and in a 10K yellow gold version.

The "Crown of Thorns™" style, designed by Brad Ferguson in the early 1980's, is available in both flush and recessed designs, in 14K yellow or white gold.  We also carry matching Crown of Thorns™ pendants for this style.

Gold Color, Karat Weight and the Klondike Gold Rush

Yesterday morning, on a whim, I checked to see what interesting historical events had taken place on that particular date.  After reading the names of those noteworthy enough to have their births and deaths recorded, I learned that July 17, 1897 was the beginning of the Klondike Gold Rush.  Also known as the Yukon, or Alaska Gold Rush, this event happened  less than a year after a massive quantity of gold was discovered in the Klondike region of the Yukon in August of 1896.  When the news eventually reached Seattle and San Francisco, it triggered a stampede of would-be prospectors to the area, all eager to find their fortunes.

In keeping with history, today's blog is about gold, a dense, shiny metal (that most women love!) ~ a chemical element with the symbol Au and the atomic number 79.  Gold karat, known as K or kt (represented by ct, or carat, in some other countries) is the gold content of the metal.  Pure gold, or 24K, is a deep yellow color, but it is too soft to be used for most types of jewelry.  It is therefore alloyed with other metals, which changes the hardness, color and other properties, as well as the affordability.  When pure gold is non-alloyed, it is 100% gold and is called 24K.  When mixed with other metals, pure gold becomes 18K (75% pure gold), 14K (58.5% ) or 10K (41.7%).  Most jewelry is stamped with a marking to show the type of gold: 10K or 417, 14K or 585, 18K or 750.

Alloy metals used to make 18, 14 and 10K yellow gold are usually copper and silver.  Rose, or pink gold, contains more copper.  Other relatively new colors are green gold, which is created by adjusting the amount of copper and silver, and blue, which is alloyed with iron.  White gold contains white metals, such as silver and palladium, as well as aluminum, zinc and copper.  See our Rose of Sharon Wedding Bands #1518, pictured on the right, for examples of multiple gold colors.

When two gold colors are used in a single piece of jewelry, it is called "Two-Tone" gold, usually yellow and white, such as the Two-Tone Gold Huggie Earrings #4235 pictured on the left.  As a side note, some jewelers and websites carry items that are labeled "two-tone" that are actually yellow gold with rhodium plating.  Rhodium is a member of the platinum family and is actually whiter and harder than platinum.  It is occasionally used to plate, or coat, yellow gold, giving the item a two-tone appearance.  (It is also used to plate white gold to give a more durable finish; and is sometimes used to plate sterling silver to prevent tarnishing.)  Be sure to look for the word "gold" after a two-tone description if you are looking for a piece of jewelry that is composed of both yellow and white gold.  "Tri-Color" gold simply means that there are three colors of gold in the same jewelry item (usually yellow, white and rose), as in our "Tender Touch" Diamond Heart Pendant #5005.  Again, look for the word "gold" rather than "plated", as yellow gold can be plated to give a tri-color effect.

Whichever ever color you like, be assured that the gold jewelry you purchase from Viridian Gold is solid gold.  Any items that have plating as accents are clearly labeled as such.  In addition, all of our jewelry is marked with its fineness (10, 14 or 18K), which is your assurance of quality.

Lapel Pins and Brooches

If you're reading this post on our Viridian Gold Nuggets blog, you might notice that we haven't written anything in awhile.  We missed Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day - not a very good record!  Since July 4th is just a day away, we're taking this opportunity to write about  Independence Day lapel pins, and the difference between pins and brooches.

We are pleased to offer a collection of patriotic pins (along with a variety of other styles): flag, Shield of Honor, America, "One Nation Under God", just to name a few, and one of our favorites, the USA Pin #6072 shown on the right, available with enamel, or in 14K white or yellow gold without the color accents.  You might also take a look at our "St Micheal Defend us in Battle" Pin  #6032, a customer favorite, available in 14K or sterling silver.   To view our entire selection, see Religious and Patriotic Lapel Pins and Tie Tacks.

A frequently-asked question is what exactly is the difference between a lapel pin and a brooch?  Lapel pins are small pins that are designed to be worn the on the lapel of a dress jacket; some people wear them on their shirt collars.  They are generally worn to show support and/or membership of organizations, one's country, religious affiliation, and as symbols of achievement.  The back of the pin has a small prong attached (similar to a post earring) and is secured with a clutch or tie tack back.  

All of our lapel pins are either 14K gold or (.925) sterling silver, and are secured with yellow-plated or nickel-plated tie tack clutches.  In addition, customers are given the option of selecting the standard back or a back with chain (both pictured on the right) so that the pin can be as a tie tack.  To wear with a tie, select a shirt button at the desired level for the tie tack, and insert the "T" shaped end into the button hole.  Next, slip the button through the hole so the button shows; the tie tack chain should be sticking out of the hole.  Then push the tie tack pin through the tie.  Once the pin is through the entire tie, insert the tie tack into the clutch.  Use caution when wearing with expensive or silk ties.

A brooch (also called a pin or clasp) was known as a "fibula" in ancient Greek and Roman times.  Shaped somewhat like large safety pins,  fibulae were used to secure articles of clothing.  Today brooches are decorative items fashioned from metal, usually gold or sterling silver, and are frequently designed with enamel accents or precious gemstones.  They can be strictly ornamental (and are sometimes even worn as hair ornaments!), or can also have the practical function of fastening clothing.  At Viridian Gold, we offer a variety of styles in both 14K gold and sterling.  A customer favorite is our Fleur-de-Lis Brooch #6012, shown at the left.  To view our entire selection of brooches, visit our Pins and Brooches page.

New Earrings

We are constantly updating our inventory at Viridian Gold, and we have recently added some new huggies, hoops, dangles, studs and earring jackets to our extensive earring selection.  You may be thinking, "that's a lot of terminology for a simple pair of earrings."  Add the type of closure, and the terminology becomes even more confusing!  In this blog, we'll attempt to clarify information about hoop and huggie earrings.

Hoop earrings can be round, square, oval, big or small, heavy or lightweight.  Whatever style you like, comfort will depend on the weight and type of closure.  Some customers like hinged earrings, such as our #4089 pictured on the left.  This particular pair measures 2.5mm in width and weighs only 2.25 grams/pair.  Easy to open and close, a small latch inside the earring top catches the post, securing it in place.

Huggie earrings, like the one above, do just what their name suggests ~ they hug the ear lobe, and because they are shorter, their weight is less noticeable.  What's the difference between a small hoop earring and a huggie?  Sometimes, nothing, although some of our smaller hoops are slightly longer than most of our huggies.  Take, for example, Hinged Hoop Earrings #4136.  Measuring 16.5mm in length (an approximate 5/8") by 4.3mm width, they weigh 4.51grams/pair (weight determined by the length, width, and thickness).

Continuous hoop earrings, such as #4133, don't have a noticeable closure - the post slides into the hoop end, which is hollow, giving a seamless appearance.  Hollow earrings weigh less than solid ones, and are thus comfortable to wear in larger sizes.  Our #4127 are created with small, 14K round hollow tubes, and are available in white or yellow gold, as well as in seven sizes ~ from 15mm (9/16") to 47.5mm (1-7/8").  These are secured with snap post closures, V-shaped latches that the posts snap into.  The weight ranges from 1.00 gram/pair for (15mm) to 2.90 grams/pair (47.5mm) ~ comfort in whatever size you choose.

For more information, see Earring Closures, and be sure to check our extensive Earring Selection for that perfect pair.

February is Chocolate Lovers' Month!

February is not only popular for Valentine's Day, but it is also recognized as Chocolate Lovers' Month.  While we don't offer any edible goodies at Viridian Gold, we do have a selection of beautiful, chocolate pearl jewelry!  Quality cultured pearls show their rich lustre in deep brown hues in our 72" Pearl Strand #2040.  This gorgeous strand features a mixture of dark, chocolate-colored pearls with others in subtle hues of milky brown, bronze, tan and beige.  This 6 foot long strand can be worn full length, knotted, or wrapped several times for a dramatic look.  For coordinating earrings, see our Lever Back Earrings #4360, which also look fabulous with Pearl Necklace #2105. 

For different styles of chocolate pearls, see Station Necklace and Bracelet #2106, available in 7" and 18" lengths.  Measuring about 1-11/16" in length, coordinating Dangle Earrings #4356 are available in chocolate, black, pink and white.  Check our Pearl Necklaces for strands and station necklaces in these these colors, and Pearl Bracelets in a wide variety of colors.  Pearls are a wonderful addition to any woman's wardrobe ~ they're great for casual occasions, as well as casual-dressy ones, and equally elegant for any glamorous occasion!

Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

Today is February 1st and there are just two more weeks until Valentine's Day!  We at Viridian Gold are pleased to offer a wide selection of jewelry for your Valentine's Day gift for that special someone.  We have also provided a 10% off coupon (expires Feb. 6) to help you with your shopping ~ the coupon code is VALDAY-10. 

If you are searching for heart jewelry, we offer a variety of lockets, necklaces and pendants, such as Offset Heart Locket #5058 or Amethyst Fleur-de-Lis Pendant #5022.  For further browsing, take a look at our 14K Gold Pendants or Heart Lockets, where you will discover large selection from which to choose.  For a comprehensive view of sterling silver Valentine's Day gifts, see Sterling Silver jewelry.

Looking for an inspirational Valentine's Day gift?  Our Marriage, Family and Friends offers a collection of beautiful, meaningful jewelry in both 14K gold and affordable sterling silver, such as "Grow Old With Me" Necklace #2129, by designer Deborah Birdoes, or Mother/Child Cameo Heart Locket #5100.  If an inspirational ring would be better, we offer a wide variety of cross and purity rings in both 14K gold and sterling silver, for example "Unblossomed Rose" Purity Ring #1319 ~ a customer favorite.

If earrings are on your shopping list, choose from our selection of Hoop Earrings.  Heart earrings?  Check out our Petite Dangles  #4168 in 14K gold and Victorian Style Diamond Heart Earrings #4343 in sterling silver. 

For beautiful jewelry to adorn you beloved's finger, see our Promise Rings, where you will find a selection of gemstone and diamond rings, such as this Garnet and Diamond Heart Ring #1079, pictured on the left.  For further browsing, check out Gold Rings to discover a variety of styles, perfect for that special gift.

February is not only known for Valentine's Day, it is also Chocolate Lover's Month, so before you wrap up your shopping, don't forget to browse through our chocolate pearl jewelry.  Two lovely examples are Pearl Lever Back Earrings #4360 and 72" Pearl Strand #2040.  Whatever the gift selection, we wish you success in your shopping.  For assistance, please give us a call ~ we are always happy to help.

National Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15 - October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month.  During this period, people recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the US, and celebrate their heritage and culture.  September 15 is important as the beginning of this observation, as it marks the anniversary of independence of 5 Latin American Countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.  Mexico celebrates its independence days on September 16, Chilie on September 18.

The Hispanic/Latino contributions to American society can be found in all aspects of life: literature and journalism, music, theater and film, sports, business, technology, and government, to name a few.  And Hispanics and Latinos have served in the US military in every major military conflict from the American Revolution on up to this day.

For these reasons, we at Viridian Gold are proud to carry Hispanic style jewelry.  See, for example, Our Lady of Guadalupe jewelry.  Our Lady of Guadalupe, known as Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, is the Patroness of Mexico and the Continental Americas, and is an important part of the faith of Hispanics and Latinos.  We are please to offer medals, pendants, earrings and rings of the Virgin Mary, such as Our Lady of Guadalupe Marquise Pendant #5038, a customer favorite, and Our Lady of Guadalupe Tri-Color Oval Ring #1407.  See also our Primera Comunion Pendiente #5512 (Our Lady of Guadalupe First Holy Communion Pendant) for Hispanic and Latino young ladies. 

We also carry a selection of Religious Lockets, as well as Quinceanera Jewelry ~ rings, pendants, lockets and more, for La Fiesta Quinceanera, such as our Sterling Silver "Mis Quince" Locket #5719.

Crucifix and coss pendants for both men and women are popular items, for example, our Hispanic-style Floral Cross Pendant #5522, available in 14K yellow, white or rose gold, and our Large Sterling Silver Cross Pendant #5266.  Our Gold Crucifix with Shroud #5438, a customer favorite, is designed from 14K tri-color gold with a yellow gold cross, a white gold corpus and a rose gold shroud.  For further browsing, see our Crucifix Pendants and our Cross Pendants.

If you still have not found that special jewelry item you are searching for, check back with us, as we are constantly adding new items to our website. Or better yet, give us a call and we will do our best to help you with your search.   And to all our customers of Hispanic descent, we thank you for shopping with us!

Gifts for Bridesmaids and Groomsmen

Looking for that perfect gift for those special members of your wedding party? We at Viridian Gold are pleased to offer a selection of gifts to honor your bridesmaids, maid of honor, best man and groomsmen. Make your selection from affordable items of pearl jewelry, sterling silver jewelry, and non-jewelry gifts, such as small jewelry cases.  For pearl gifts, we suggest our Freshwater Pearl Station Necklace and Earring Set #2092, pictured on the left, or our Pearl Bracelet #3036, which is available in six, pearl color combinations.  For sterling silver bridesmaids' gifts, two of our most popular items are the Bridesmaid's Pendant #5520, specifically created for wedding attendants, and our Friendship Heart Necklace #2064 (shown below), a designer original by Deborah Birdoes, which comes with a poem about friendship. 

You may also choose from a selection of sterling silver lockets and necklaces, bracelets and earrings.  Charm bracelets with an engraved heart make wonderful bridesmaids' gifts, or view our CZ Drop Earring and Necklace Set #2179.  For a comprehensive view of our sterling silver collection, see our Sterling Silver section page, and don't forget to check out our Bridesmaids' Gifts page for even more suggestions, including small jewelry boxes and jewelry travel bags.

Cross Pendants also make memorable, wedding party gifts for both bridesmaids and groomsmen ~ choose from a selection of both men's and women's crosses in sterling silver and stainless steel.  For men, may we suggest an engravable money clip, such as our Sterling Silver Money Clip #9055, or a pair of men's cuff links, such as our Ion Plated Stainless Steel Cuff Links #9091.  As always, if you need assistance with your selection, please give us a call ~ we're always happy to help!

Purity Rings and Chastity Rings

Purity rings, chastity rings, abstinence rings and promise rings ~ all names that symbolize a young woman or young man's vow to remain chaste until marriage.  This vow is made by the wearer to him/herself, to the presenter of the ring, and for Christians, to God.  This type of ring can also be worn by anyone who wants to change their way of life.  Two of our most popular purity rings are the "Unblossomed Rose" Purity Ring #1318 and Diamond Link Purity Ring #1073.  In this pretty ring, the two links represent the wearer and the one she will eventually marry.  The diamond symbolizes Christ, the foundation of her commitment to purity, and the foundation of her marriage to her future husband. 

We also offer chastity and purity rings in sterling silver, such as our "Love Waits" Daisy Purity Ring #1086 and the Covenant Hearts Chastity Ring #1039, a designer original by Evan Trinkle.  This ring is fashioned with three hearts that symbolize the presenter's commitment to the wearer, the wearer's devotion to God, and the wearer's devotion to life vocation or the one she will eventually marry ~ all three interwoven to represent purity before God.  The cross that sits atop the hearts is a visual reminder of Christ's victory over sin through His death and Resurrection.

For young men, there are numerous cross and crucifix rings in both sterling silver and 10-14K gold that can be worn as either as purity ring or proclamations of faith, such as our Young Man's Cross Chastity Ring #1329 and "Rugged Cross" Ring #1310 (both rings available in sterling silver, 10K or 14K gold).  Chastity ring gift sets that include a navy blue ring box and pouch, as well as a gift card with a poem about virtue, can be purchased for only $2.  Visit our Gold Cross and Crucifix Rings to view all our cross rings, and Sterling Silver Religious Rings to view all our religious rings in .925 sterling silver.

Abstinence jewelry does not have to be a ring ~ it can also be a necklace or pendant, a cross pendant, or even a bracelet.  See our Abstinence Pendants for a selection of purity and chastity pendants for both young ladies and young men.  And check out our selection of religious bracelets, and our many Cross Pendants.  If you need assistance in making a selection, please give us a call ~ we are always happy to help!



 

Blessed Affirmations

Blessed Affirmations pendants and necklaces, all originals by designer Deborah Birdoes, are beautiful ways to express your sentiments toward those you love.  For example, our Blessed Affirmations "Friends" Necklace #2147 is fashioned with an angel on the front; the message on the pendant back reads, "Friends are angels in disguise."  One of our most popular Blessed Affirmations necklace is the Blessed Affirmations "I Love You" Necklace #2138.  Designed with a moon and a small star on the front, it reads, "I love You to the moon and back" on the back of the pendant.

See our Blessed Affirmations "All Things Possible" #2141, a reminder of hope for a loved one or friend who is struggling, or a celebration of answered prayer; or check out our Blessed Affirmations Necklaces for our complete selection.  If you still haven't found that special item you are searching for, take a look at our Symbols of Faith and our Marriage, Family and Friends Pendants. 

All Blessed Affirmations necklaces are .925 sterling silver and are rhodium plated to help prevent tarnishing.  Each pendant is adorned with a small diamond and comes with an 18" sterling silver chain.  Packaging includes an Inspirational Blessings gift box with a message and two verses of scripture: "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:25), and "Kind words are like honey - sweet for the soul and healthy for the body" (Proverbs 16:24).