The holidays are a time of twinkling lights and glowing homes. If you’re somebody who is looking to add to the festivities, putting on Christmas-themed jewelry may become your next beloved tradition. Whether it’s a delicate diamond snowflake pendant, an enamel brooch with bright red and green dots spelling out “Merry Christmas,” or Bethlehem star-shaped earrings, such pieces perfectly capture the joy of this season.
Interestingly, holiday-themed jewelry didn’t really catch on until the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Queen Victoria was, in a way, a pioneer of holiday-themed pieces and she was a fan of Christmas decorations. Already in the 1920s, American supermarkets were selling brooches shaped like wreaths, red-and-white candy canes, and little bells. Coro, Eisenberg, and some other jewelry makers produced Christmas-themed pins of rhinestones that looked like holly berries, mistletoe branches, Christmas trees, and snowflakes. Nowadays these pieces can only be seen in private vintage collections.
Apart from the traditional holiday motifs like decorated trees, snowflakes, candy canes, holly leaves, and others, today’s custom holiday pieces have become even more diverse. We can arbitrarily divide them into secular and religious symbols. Playful jewelry with reindeer, Santa hats, snowmen, and practically everything that somehow features green and red is, of course, part of “secular” Christmas jewelry. Star-shaped earrings or pendants honoring the Star of Bethlehem naturally have more religious undertones. Anything that features Jesus, Virgin Mary, angels, and the three Magi may be classified as religious jewelry. Custom pieces allow you to choose just how serious or frivolous you want your holiday-themed jewelry to be, so that’s the best way to encapsulate the way you feel about this season.
It’s no secret that despite all its deeper meaningfulness, Christmas has somehow become a commercialized holiday. And unfortunately, the jewelry industry has played a big role in that. At some point, we may all become victims of frantic gift shopping when surrounded by such a consumer culture. However, custom jewelry provides a fresh alternative to that: instead of rushing to buy some random last-minute gift at the local jewelry store, you may thoroughly think about what kind of piece your loved one will actually enjoy. So at Olertis, we believe that the key to mindful Christmas shopping is intentionality. What Christmas symbol will they appreciate and would such a piece continue to be meaningful once the festive season is over? These and many other meaningful questions are something our clients ask themselves every time they make a custom order.
And of course, remember that keeping up the spirit of Christmas has never been about decorations, ornaments, gifts, or any other material possessions for that matter. It’s a state of mind that can only come from within. So whether you choose to use some holiday-themed pieces or not, it’s the feeling of family connection and gratitude that makes Christmas special. And no jewelry in the world can ever substitute that.
So, keep up the good spirit and if you feel like it, express it in a whimsical Rudolph’s nose brooch or a delicate diamond angel pendant to make your jewelry match your mood! Never hesitate to be unique at the family festive dinner gathering or show others how much you care! Either way, don’t forget to wear your peace with a holiday spirit in your heart!
