Talismans may be a primordial concept but you need not look far to find their influence in the modern age. Ancient Greek symbols strut down runways, evil eyes protect businessmen from bad dealings and religious iconography are now staples in luxury brands. Symbolic and talismanic jewellery is the ancient reinvented. Mankind has always dealt in symbols; from currency to the no-smoking sign at a pub. The world runs on symbols. Perhaps it’s humanity’s keen eyes for a higher power or just a way to make sense of the chaotic world. Either way, talismans have always been a companion to the human experience.
Talismanic, symbolic and protective jewellery has recently made a massive comeback in international trends. It’s no wonder why. Man may have seen space and created a handheld world that gets upgraded every year but he will always turn back to symbols of comfort and protection during times of uncertainty. And in a pandemic, uncertainty is the only thing to be certain of.
Talismans have helped humanity explore and express its identity through jewellery. Symbolic pieces have become armour against the outside world and its evils. From bygone times where there was a crude understanding of the world to the modern age, talismans have always helped guide an individual and offered refuge from a complicated reality. A gold necklace today feels just as precious as a necklace of wooden beads felt centuries ago.
But no matter if they are made out of wood or solid gold, talismans are precious because of the meaning ascribed to them. There is a luxury that symbolism has always carried. Not because of its material value but the value it offers the wearer. The symbol doesn’t have to be religious or sacred, it can be significant because the wearer decided it to be. No matter what you need more of in your life — prosperity, luck, protection or simply a handsome piece of luxury jewellery — Tateossian’s talismans will make you a believer.
Talismanic jewellery
Humans have had a rough go of it. Between braving famine, illness, droughts and fires with only opposable thumbs as an attribute, it’s not difficult to understand why there was always a search for divine protection. All religions and cultures have a form of talisman or protective charm. Holding your beliefs in a physical form is a powerful act and became a universal practice. To chronicle the history of symbolic jewellery is to chronicle the history of man. So when you purchase a talisman, you are continuing the long tradition of humans believing in something greater than themselves.
A talisman is any object that is given religious or mystical powers. From wooden carvings to elaborate vessels, humanity has created talismans in every conceivable way. But the most popular has always been the portable version and if they look good, well, you could be both protected and stylish. Jewellery became the preferred manifestation of protection because it was convenient and holding something sentimental close to one’s heart has always felt empowering. The beauty of talisman jewellery is that when shared, its power feels magnified. That is the reason why they make great gifts. A student could always use some more luck around exam time and a traveller would be grateful to receive a pendant of protection. If someone brings meaning into your life, you can pay it back to them with the gift of symbolic jewellery.
Tateossian offers a range of different icons depending on what the wearer may be looking for. Many symbols have religious or divine connections while others gather meaning from different cultural understandings. The Star of David, the crucifix and Hamsa are just as recognisable as a four-leaf clover, horseshoe or evil eye. It proves that you don’t need to be religious to want to feel the protective power of something greater.
Tateossian talismans
Protective yellow gold amulet
If you would like to begin your collection or want a subtle symbolic piece, these protective amulets bare secret motifs. Look beyond the yellow gold brushed stainless steel and you will find three symbols — a Scarab Beetle, evil eye and Hand of Fatima — artfully hidden. On the necklace, these symbols are concealed on the two connecting links while on the ring they are delicately carved on the surface.
This collection meshes together symbols from different cultures to create a conglomerate of protective power. The Scarab Beetle was used in Ancient Egypt and their likeness often decorated small trinkets carved out of precious stone. As symbols of protection, these little creatures were closely associated with immortality and the sun (and its god Ra). The evil eye has fewer specific roots. It’s popular in the Mediterranean and West Africa but it’s also a widely recognised symbol of protection the world over. It is said that whoever looks at the wearer of the evil eye with ill intentions shall have their malice cast back at them. The Hand of Fatima (also referred to as Hamsa) is a palm-shaped symbol with an eye in the centre. It’s a divine symbol that offers protection straight from God.
Lucky Me
Even though symbols have universal and somewhat prescribed meanings, it is the wearer who gives them importance. Symbolic jewellery is a personal expression and what may be meaningful to you, means something different to another person. Don’t feel restricted by your wants because there’s a way to make a piece your own. Personalised jewellery adds another element of meaning to a gift or a piece you wear yourself. The Lucky Me collection allows you to select which charms, up to two, you feel that have the most important representation to you.
Symbolic jewellery doesn’t just offer protection, this collection was created with an array of emblems that are thought to herald luck. Two of the symbols you can choose are the 888 and infinity symbols. These show that a symbol does not need to have religious roots to feel mystical. The infinity sign is perhaps the best symbol for a mathematician as they would be highly familiar with it. It represents the concept of limitlessness or eternity, normally associated with the idea of eternal love. And what is an infinity sign than the number 8 on its side? Therefore, the symbol 888 should be three times more powerful (in theory). Said to be an ‘angel number’ or a sign that a higher power is trying to communicate with you; 888 means that everything is working out for the highest good.
Talisman cord bracelet
Symbolism has always had a luxurious element to it. A symbol doesn’t have to be dipped in gold and laden with diamonds to feel lucky; the talisman cord bracelet is proof of that. It is the 21st-century iteration of symbolic jewellery. The focal point of this piece is a decagon bearing a 3D symbol of infinity on one side and a horseshoe on the other. The pendant has an inlay of carbon fibre, a futuristic material that adds texture and a high-tech element to the piece. This bracelet is simple and understated but imbued with great meaning.
Talismanic necklace
If you don’t feel protected enough with one symbol, why not wear as many as possible? Whereas other pieces are more understated in their talismanic qualities, this necklace bares it all. The stainless steel pendant is engraved with 16 front-facing symbols which are a mix of alchemical and zodiac. Inspired by a nautical compass, the dial spins around the signs and on the reverse is an inward-facing evil eye. This is a piece that ensures that no matter which direction you are travelling, you will always be guided.
St Christopher Protector
To wear St Christopher’s image is to be protected. A prominent figure in the Catholic church, he is the patron saint of travellers and said to bring safe passage to anyone who carries his likeness. This silver pendant in black rhodium is small enough to take on all your adventures but large enough to immortalise the story of St Christopher. Hang it from a chain to guarantee that wherever you are, there is always a guide looking over you.