I Need Some Inspiration!

[AGBF]

This is not usually a Hangout subject and if it becomes too involved I will have to move it elsewhere. I am hoping that it will not become a big project like designing earrings or a ring from scratch, though, so that I can just get some feedback here. If not, I guess I can take it to RockyTalky.

Here is the thing: I wanted a cross for a long time. (Yes, there is a thread about crosses.) I eventually decided i wanted a St. Andrew's Cross. At one point Links of London sold one they called a Czar and Czarina cross. I only saw one version of it, in white gold with diamonds and charms. It was very, very expensive and i did not buy it. Then it disappeared. I assume it was sold out; here is what it looked like.



I never bought another cross until yesterday when I bought a very simple one in rose gold (no diamonds), but that inspired me to search on-line for a Links of London cross. I saw that there are some pre-owned ones available, not exactly like the one above, for sale. One is smaller than the above with fewer diamonds and no charms but is white gold. The other has a cross exactly like that but it comes with a larger yellow gold cross as a double cross.

Here is my question. I bought a Links of London necklace years ago. I think I could buy a pre-owned Links of London cross and combine it with my own necklace instead of combining it with the two charms that Links of London combined with the larger cross they featured when they first advertised the large white gold and diamond cross. Those charms did nothing for me. I love my own necklace. But how can I best and most gracefully combine a cross with my gold disc and white crescent? And which cross? I am just starting to think. The crosses for sale may be sold before I make up my mind, but then again, more pre-owned may become available one day if these go!

Here is the necklace I already own.


Here are the two pre-owned crosses available for sale:




I am hoping for some ideas!

Thank you in advance.

Deb

 

[TooPatient]

Beautiful! My initial thoughts are that the yellow gold one is spectacular and would look just perfect with your existing necklace. I'd almost think the disc behind and crescent in front. I think the crescent may get lost with the white gold cross whereas the yellow would compliment each other.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

@TooPatient , I agree as to aesthetics. You have sweet Links pieces.

Deb, when your new cross arrives see how it works/fits/bail.

cheers--Sharon

 

[luv2sparkle]

What interesting pieces. I have never seen a cross like that before. What is the symbolism of the extra cross bars? They are all lovely, I don't know how you would ever choose. If you love the design it may just be one of those things you need to have a few of. I know I have at least 6 or 7 (maybe more) different cross pendants, so I can totally see having a few of this style too.

 

[AGBF]

The cross is a St. Andrew's Cross. I did not know it was called that until I looked it up in recent years. I just knew it was the "Orthodox" cross on my family's churches. Some varieties of Orthodox churches do not use it. Greek Catholic Churches (which are not Greek Orthodox) do, however. I can explain more on that later. In the meantime, while I look, here is some information on how people in my mother's family cross themselves. It is not the way that Roman Catholics do. My great uncle Mike showed me how to do it. (I was not raised in the Greek Catholic Church.) He said one didn't want to cross himself and look as if he was "swatting flies". You neatly placed your three fingers together and crossed yourself as described in the text quoted here (head, lower chest, right chest, left chest, center chest). My mother and her sister both left the Greek Catholic Church, but whenever they went back for funerals and the bells were rung they automatically crossed themselves as is customary, which as a child I used to find funny.

https://www.orthodox.net/articles/about-crossing-oneself.html

AGBF

 

[AGBF]

I have never seen a cross like that before. What is the symbolism of the extra cross bars?

I have seen different crosses associated with Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, and Greek Catholic churches. There are probably many different Eastern rite churches that have different crosses just as the different rites have decided when to celebrate Christmas*. (Easter is pretty much celebrated at the same time by all the eastern rite churches.) The explanation offered by this website looks like one of the best I've seen. That doesn't mean it is 100% correct. In fact I would bet against it being 100% correct. There are just too many churches and they all "vary"!!! It isn't like the Roman Catholic Church with one central authority.

http://www.seiyaku.com/customs/crosses/eastorth.html


*My mother's former church still celebrates Christmas on January 7 although almost all Eastern rite churches in the United States have moved Christmas to December 25 now.

 

[luv2sparkle]

@AGBF, so interesting, thank you so much for the links!

 

[AGBF]

@AGBF, so interesting, thank you so much for the links!

I am still perusing the 'net for any other Links of London crosses, and getting diverted (as I do) by all sorts of things. In case anyone else is as easily distracted by religion and history as I am, here is some history of the Greek Catholic Church in the United States. (Actually it is history of all sorts of things, but it affected some immigrants to the United states from Eastern Europe.) (I was, once a history student and teacher. I realize that what interests me doesn't always interest others!)

http://www.tccweb.org/whoarebyzantine.htm

 

[Gussie]

I love the idea of putting these two together. Your crescent is fantastic! I would move the disc and crescent to the smaller circle on the right and put the yg cross on the left. Can't wait to see what you do!

 

[AGBF]

I love the idea of putting these two together. Your crescent is fantastic! I would move the disc and crescent to the smaller circle on the right and put the yg cross on the left. Can't wait to see what you do!

That's a fabulous idea! I just wonder if the disc and crescent are too big to be a "side charm". But maybe not. The cross is quite large. larger than I would like, actually. The gold part is 1.49 inches since it is 38 cm long. To me that is a long cross. It made me wonder if I wanted to get such a large cross, but on the other hand, maybe it could "handle" the disc and crescent on its side without being overpowered. Great idea. Thank you, ceg.

Deb

 

[arkieb1]

I'm biased towards genuine Antique/vintage crosses, some of the stones and the work you can find in them are beautiful. I much prefer them to most of the modern day ones.

 

[VRBeauty]

I love the yellow gold and diamonds cross! I'd get it and, as you say, see how the additional pieces you already have work with it.

 

[AGBF]

I finally made the decision to buy the cross pictured above. At the same time I bought an Easter egg to wear beside it, which is a traditional way in which the cross is sometimes worn. The egg I bought is pictured below.

Description: A Russian two-color gold miniature pendant Easter egg, Saint Petersburg, 1899-1904. The front of the polished yellow gold egg applied with Cyrillic initials XB (KhV), the abbreviation for Paschal greeting "Christ is Risen" (Khristos voskrese), the suspension ring struck with Cyrillic initials NV of an unidentified goldsmith-jeweler and 56 gold fineness standard.

I may also wear a Links of London crescent moon or other charm with the cross. I will see.

 

[AGBF]

Here is an example of an Orthodox (or Russian) cross worn with an egg. Some of the eggs made in Russia are jeweled and fabulous. I believe some were made by Fabergé*.





*http://www.jasper52.com/blog/a-beginners-guide-to-collecting-faberge-pendant-eggs/

 

[MaisOuiMadame]

Beautiful! Please post lots of pictures when your cross and egg have arrived..

 

[AGBF]

I really appreciate all the help you gave me in this thread, but the Links of London cross did not work out for me. It arrived today and as soon as I saw it I knew it was not right for me. It was far too large and masculine. The chain was very heavy, too. I did try it on, but it was nothing like what I had envisioned, nothing like a cross I felt I could wear. I hurried to return it and it has already been returned to the vendor from whom I bought it on eBay. The smaller cross that was set with diamonds was very unattractive, too, not cute like the pavé diamond crescent charm by Links that I wear with the disc necklace I have from them. I do not know if the large diamond cross is/was any more attractive, but I suspect it would have been far too large for me even if it was nice looking! Now I suspect I will have to try to return the Russian Easter egg I bought to wear with the cross.

I did buy a small rose gold Russian Orthodox cross recently, so I will have one. And a strange thing happened. I suddenly remembered that my maternal grandmother, the grandmother to whom I was closest, had "regular" crucifix over her bed. I think I had this memory after I took a friend to a Catholic hospital last week for hernia surgery and there were crucifixes over the beds and in the hallways. (He had gone to Catholic schools as had one of my good friends who, when hospitalized there, was struck by those crucifixes.) At any rate, I started to wonder why I was so fixated on the Russian orthodox crosses that were on the church, when my grandmother had had an enormous "regular" crucifix right over her bed. And I don't know....

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Sorry it didn't work out, Deb. Glad you got to finally see it IRL--and have no regret. I am interested to see how the egg will fare....I think it might be cute on its own. Keep us updated.

cheers--Sharon

 

[AGBF]

Sorry it didn't work out, Deb. Glad you got to finally see it IRL--and have no regret. I am interested to see how the egg will fare....I think it might be cute on its own. Keep us updated.

Thanks, Sharon.

 

[arkieb1]

I think you should keep trying, but believe you need a not too big not too small just right Antique one that IMHO will the be the "just right" one you were looking for. Perhaps you shouldn't give up, just make sure that any vendor you buy from has a full return policy.

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Deb--I'd love to see your Tiffany mesh necklaces (again). This is the perfect time/season for Tiffany mesh. And those gorgeous pieces of yours. Any chance I might get my fix? (I just saw one on first dibs....and thought of you)

cheers--Sharon

 

[AGBF]

I'd love to see your Tiffany mesh necklaces (again). This is the perfect time/season for Tiffany mesh. And those gorgeous pieces of yours. Any chance I might get my fix? (I just saw one on first dibs....and thought of you)

Hi, Sharon. I do not know how to work my camera, so I can only post Tiffany stock photos and old photos I took of the Tiffany Elsa Peretti sterling silver necklace I recently bought. I also have an 18K gold scarf necklace from about 20 years ago that was made in Italy, but that is not Elsa Peretti. And I have at least two gold mesh bracelets. One may be Elsa Peretti. My best friend asked me for a pair of Elsa Peretti gold mesh earrings a few years ago. She has no money now and thought she remembered I'd bought many pairs. (I had not. I had bought a couple of pairs of gold earrings; maybe she bought all the gold and sterling in all sizes which is what she thought I had bought when she asked if she could have one pair of my earrings! So I am down one pair of the gold Elsa Peretti now.) I do have at least one, large, drapey pair of Elsa Peretti gold mesh earrings and one pair of very small sterling silver ones with pearls, though. (As you know, I love mesh.)

If you want, I can try to post my whole mesh collection here.

The cross and the egg went back. And the egg was gorgeous. I just knew I would not wear it alone. It was big, sized to match the large cross I was buying. I will have to get another, smaller one if I ever get a smaller, diamond, Russian cross.

Deb