We wear silver jewelry - handmade bracelets, sterling silver earrings, silver necklaces - for a wealth of reasons. Of course, we wear it to look and feel gorgeously “dressed up”. We adore sterling silver and gemstones because they catch the light - and so, catch the eye of that special someone whose fancy we fancy.
Handmade sterling silver jewelry has always been, and still is, a status symbol, with the size and cut of the gemstone, quantity of silver in the metal, and “brand name” subtly (or not so subtly) flaunting our wealth and power.
But there’s another, less obvious reason we wear certain types of jewelry, especially some sorts of handmade bracelets: luck and good fortune. Charm bracelets, in particular – or even “regular” handmade bracelets to which we’ve affixed a small pendant or charm serve this function.
Perhaps they’ve been given to us by someone meaningful; or perhaps those handmade bracelets that bear a charm serve the twin purpose of being pretty and giving us a sense of spiritual protection. Since ancient times, people have worn amulets for good luck and protection. These are some modern-day examples of charms that will turn your handmade bracelet into a talisman.
A handmade bracelet with a hamsa: The hamsa or hand pendant is said to ward off evil. The word “hamsa” is Arabic for the number five, as in the five fingers of the hand (hence the hand symbol). These amulets are worn throughout the Middle East, and now in the West, too, as protection no less than adornment. Choose from amongst the plethora of handmade bracelets with a hamsa pendant charm, in plain silver or studded with a gemstone, to give you a sense of protection.
A handmade bracelet with a lucky clover: Ubiquitous in Ireland (and other places blessed with plentiful water and green fields), the clover usually has only three leaves. When it has four – a rarity – it is considered lucky. So it’s no surprise that the lucky four-leaf clover charm is a classic to hang from your handmade bracelet when you want to bring yourself the famed “luck of the Irish”.
A handmade bracelet with a religious symbol: Religious symbols make a perfect charm for handmade bracelets, as they both indicate a person’s faith and act as a reminder of the safe haven provided by that faith. The cross is a sign of Jesus’s sacrifice, but also of his love. The Star of David, known in Hebrew as the Shield of David, is an emblem of the Jewish faith because it harkens back to God’s protection of King David in battle. The crescent or the name “Allah” in Arabic script are, for Muslims, a reminder of God’s presence everywhere as a force for good. Dangling from a handmade bracelet, each of these religious symbols has the ability to give the wearer who believes peace of mind.
A handmade bracelet with a jade gemstone: We can’t stress enough how wonderful gemstones are for their healing and energetic properties, no less than for their loveliness. And who doesn’t love a handmade bracelet with a lovely, meaningful gemstone? Jade – esteemed for centuries throughout the Far East – is perhaps the chief among gemstones in offering protection and luck, good fortune and confidence. Wear it as a part of a handmade bracelet, and jade will bring you, too, its esteemed protective qualities.
