Jewelry with a Secret!

When we think of jewelry, we usually picture something beautiful—a sparkling ring, a delicate necklace, or a treasured family heirloom. But did you know that for centuries, jewelry has been more than just decoration? In the past, people used jewelry to express love, honor lost loved ones and even send secret messages. Three of the most fascinating types of symbolic jewelry are mourning jewelry, acrostic rings, and Memento Mori pieces—each with its own hidden meaning.

Mourning Jewelry: A Tribute to the Ones We Love

Today, when someone passes away, we might keep a photo of them or wear something that reminds us of them. But in the 18th and 19th centuries, people took remembrance to a whole new level with mourning jewelry. These pieces were designed to honor and remember the dead, often worn by family members or close friends.

Mourning jewelry was usually made with dark materials like jet (a type of fossilized wood), black enamel, or onyx to symbolize grief. Some rings and brooches contained locks of hair from the person who had passed, carefully braided or encased in glass. Others were engraved with the person’s name, birth and death dates, and messages like "In Memory Of."

But mourning jewelry wasn’t just about sadness—it was a way to keep a loved one close, even after they were gone. Many of these pieces were works of art, with delicate gold designs, tiny portraits, and symbols like weeping willows or angels.

Acrostic Rings: A Secret Love Note

Imagine giving someone a ring that secretly spells out how you feel about them—without using words! That’s exactly what people did in the 1800s with acrostic rings. These rings used gemstones to spell out words, with the first letter of each stone representing a letter in a message.

For example, if a ring had a Ruby, Emerald, Garnet, Amethyst, Ruby, and Diamond, it would spell "REGARD", meaning admiration or love. Another popular combination was Diamond, Emerald, Amethyst, Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, and Topaz, spelling "DEAREST."

These rings were popular among lovers and close friends who wanted a meaningful and personal gift. The best part? Only the giver and receiver knew the true meaning behind the sparkling stones!

Memento Mori: A Reminder to Live

The phrase "Memento Mori" is Latin for "Remember you must die." At first, that might sound a little grim, but in the past, it was actually meant to be a reminder to live life fully.

Memento Mori jewelry, popular in the 1600s and 1700s, often featured skulls, hourglasses, and skeletons to symbolize that time is always moving forward. Some pieces had engraved phrases like "Time flies" or "Life is short."

People wore these not to be morbid, but to remind themselves that every day is precious. Kings, queens, and scholars all wore Memento Mori jewelry as a way to stay humble and focused on what really mattered in life.

Jewelry with a Story

Jewelry has always been more than just metal and gemstones—it holds emotions, memories, and meaning. Whether it’s a mourning brooch, a romantic acrostic ring, or a powerful Memento Mori pendant, each piece tells a story.

Even today, we still use jewelry to celebrate love, remember special moments, and honor the past. So next time you look at a ring or necklace, ask yourself—does it have a hidden message?

Patty Gallun Hansen