Cross Necklace: Sixth-Century Gold, Still Worn

Cross Necklace: Sixth-Century Gold, Still Worn

A cross necklace is among the oldest pieces of jewelry people still wear. The Cleveland Museum of Art holds a sixth-century Byzantine gold and garnet pendant necklace with a cross, made for faith and for protection. This is how to choose a cross necklace that feels personal and not ornamental.

Faith, status and protection

The Cleveland Museum of Art dates a gold and garnet pendant necklace to the sixth century in Byzantium, possibly Constantinople. The museum says richly decorated gold necklaces were common among the upper classes there, worn as adornment and as symbols of status. The cross marked the wearer as Christian, and necklaces with cross pendants and small reliquary capsules were also believed to protect. A cross necklace has always been two things at once: a belief and a piece of jewelry.

Cross Necklace styled editorial photo 1

Choosing the size

A small cross on a fine chain sits quietly at the collarbone. A larger cross makes a graphic statement over a knit or a shirt. Choose by how you will wear it. Layer a short cross necklace with a longer chain for texture, or wear it alone with a V neck. The weight of the chain matters as much as the pendant, since a thin chain with a heavy cross tends to flip.

Cross Necklace styled editorial photo 2

Metal, stones and style

Gold and gold vermeil look warm against most skin tones. Silver looks crisp with white shirts and denim. A cross with small stones feels dressy, while a plain polished one feels everyday. Picture her in a white tee, a cross at her neck, no other jewelry, on a Sunday walk. Vintage-inspired shapes with a slightly longer arm look romantic.

Cross Necklace styled editorial photo 3

Care and wear

Clasp quality is the quiet detail. A spring-ring or lobster clasp keeps it on. Remove the necklace for the pool and the shower, and store it flat so chains do not tangle. If you wear it daily, a quick wipe with a soft cloth keeps it bright.

What I would skip

I would skip a chain so short that it chokes, a cross that is very heavy for a thin chain and plating that looks sticky and dull. A cross necklace works best when it is something you would wear to bed.