Amulets and lucky charms, which are often the same thing, have always been used by men. Whatever the civilization concerned and as far back in the history of mankind, people have used lucky charms in many forms: stones or shells, jewellery, sculptures in clay, stones or wood...
Luck is an explanation that we give to good and bad things that happen by chance. Some people believe that luck is the force that allows you to succeed.
Others see it as a consequence of open-mindedness. They see luck and happiness as something fairly predictable: the more you take risks for, the more you get. If you, too, think that sometimes you have to force fate, here is a place to provide yourself with good luck.
Whatever the main reason, this form of superstition is as old as mankind and has given the pretext, even today, for making lucky jewellery in the form of pendants, rings and bracelets. It is this type of lucky jewellery that we are going to detail through this article.
The four-leaf clover
The four-leaf clover is probably the best known European good-luck charm.
Traditionally, it is said that if you come across one on your way, you will be lucky all day long. Here is an article from Le Figaro that will tell you a little more.
Legend has it that when she was thrown out of the Garden of Eden with Adam, Eve managed to carry away a four-leaf clover, making it the last trace of paradise on Earth.
The Vikings placed clovers on their windows to protect their houses from lightning and thunder.
In fact, if the four-leaf clover is such a popular good-luck charm, especially for jewellery making, it is simply because of its rarity. Scientists have estimated that the probability of a plant having the genetic mutation leading to the fourth leaf is about 1 in 10,000.
It is therefore easy to understand how the four-leaf clover has risen so easily to the rank of star of good luck charms.
It will therefore be perfect for anyone who wants to be luckier in everyday life.
The ladybird
The ladybird is considered a messenger, announcing luck and happiness. This insect was therefore naturally used to create lucky jewellery.
The more intense the colour of the ladybird, the more effective its effect will be. Stones such as ruby, rhodite or garnet have therefore been commonly used.
Others also say that the effectiveness of this lucky charm increases with the number of dots on the ladybird.
On the other hand, there is one thing you should pay attention to! Just like going under a ladder or breaking a mirror, killing a ladybird is considered a very bad omen.
Therefore, this lucky charm is best used to create jewellery that doesn't wear out quickly. For example, pendants are to be favoured over rings.
The frog
For many civilizations or cultures, frogs are a highly respected symbol of abundance.
For the ancient Romans, for example, having a representation (statue, painting, jewellery, etc.) of a frog in your home was the assurance that you would never run out of anything.
Another extremely popular good luck charm is the Chinese three-legged frog, called "Jin Chan". It is said to protect the house from poverty.
These two examples show that the frog is associated with the protection of the home. Jewellery created with representations of this animal is therefore very much in demand as a gift for a father or mother.
This is a good thing, as this lucky charm makes it possible to create beautiful necklaces and pendants using (semi-)precious green stones (e.g. malachite, agate, jade or emerald).
The horseshoe
The horseshoe is another lucky charm whose history may surprise us. A legend from the Middle Ages tells us how Saint Dunstan (the patron saint of ironworks) managed to trap the devil by nailing a horseshoe to one of his hooves.
From that day on, the devil will do anything to avoid passing by this lucky charm, whether it is in the form of decoration, rings or bracelets.
This may seem a bit far-fetched to us, but it is the symbolism behind it that will interest us for the creation of jewellery.
A star luck charm, the horseshoe is indeed used to create bracelets and necklaces that are very much appreciated, no matter how much weight we give to the story behind it or not.
The keys
Here is another of the oldest lucky charms: keys.
The Greeks used the key as a symbol of knowledge of hidden things. This tradition quickly spread throughout the ancient world, from Gaul to Mesopotamia.
In Japanese culture, three keys worn together are supposed to form a lucky charm to help us open the heart of our loved one.
Nowadays, it is not uncommon to find a bridge in the great European metropolises where lovers hang a padlock before throwing the key into the water, symbolising eternal love. Indeed, we have all seen them in cities associated with love, such as Paris or Venice.
Most of the time, this lucky charm will therefore be used to create jewellery related to love, couples and feelings.
The tree of life
Contrary to most lucky charms, the tree of life is a fashionable theme these days, closer to the ecological spirituality of harmony with the Earth than a simple amulet. However, its origins are also as old as the history of mankind.
The tree of life symbolises immotality, continuity or regeneration, and more broadly it symbolises the cycle of human life. It is therefore a symbol that can be found in the form of jewellery in the form of necklaces, pendants, rings and bracelets.
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