Saint Medallions

Saint Medallions are often a large part of Christian jewelry that is offered in modern times. In particular, Catholics seem to favor this medallion necklace along with crucifixes and rosaries to wear to ceremonies, church, or for every day wear. Saint medallions can look somewhat different from one jewelry maker to another, but essentially they all look the same in appearance.



A saint medallion, as they tend to be worn, is typically a necklace but can be other forms of jewelry as well. It is possible to find earrings and bracelets made out of this familiar religious symbol. Sometimes the material from which the medallion is made varies — sterling silver and white gold are the usual materials, but sometimes yellow gold is offered or other materials like titanium and nickel. The appearance of a saint medallion from maker to maker can vary but is essentially the same icon—a saint in the middle, sometimes with a child and sometimes alone.

There is a variety of saints featured in jewelry, but all are religious figures. About any religious saint can be found on a saint medallion piece, but some are more common and easier to find than others. Some more common medallion pieces feature Saint Joseph with a child, others feature Saint Michael, Saint Natalie, Saint Luke, Fatima, or a Madonna. Each of these saints have their own story, and the wearer may prefer one saint over another as they select jewelry. Some prefer to collect saint medallion jewelry because of the various forms out there, and the wide range of saints available. Others may choose to wear one particular saint only.


The tradition behind the saint medallion jewelry in all of its forms is closely tied to Catholic beliefs, but Christians as a whole tend to covet and wear this familiar icon. The icon of a saint has been crafted into a form of wearable jewelry for decades, and it is possible to even find antique pieces, although these can be difficult to find and be quite expensive. The ideology behind the jewelry is that a wearer of a saint medal is protected by the power of that saint. Patron saints are also viewed as the protector or negotiator before God, especially in Catholicism. Wearing a particular saint over another may be favored for this reason, as some patron saints appeal more than others due to a person’s beliefs and circumstances.



Saint medallion jewelry ranges in price, and is often dependent on the materials the piece is designed from, who crafted it, and which saint is pictured. They can be found almost in any jewelry store, and for that reason they are a common jewelry purchase. Prices can range from very cheap and affordable to more elaborate pieces commanding much higher prices. Some saints are harder to find on jewelry than others. For someone wanting a custom saint piece or a creation of a saint that is typically hard to find, it can be wise to seek out a custom jewelry maker to have a piece made specially for themselves.