SF720/5. Art Deco Gold Cross Pendant with Diamond

Art Deco 14 carat gold cross pendant adorned with rose-cut diamonds set in silver

The cross – one of the most ancient symbols

The cross is one of humanity's oldest symbols, which appeared in various cultures even before the emergence of Christianity. In the Christian tradition, however, it acquired a new and defining meaning: it became the symbol of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection, of faith, redemption, and the hope of eternal life.

For centuries, the cross has also been a personally worn symbol. We know of cross pendants worn around the neck from the early Byzantine period, and later pieces designed to hold relics, made of gold or silver and decorated with enamel, pearls, and gemstones, were also crafted.

As jewelry, the cross was not merely ornamentation: it could express the wearer's faith, signify protection, hope, or a personal attachment. Its shape and decoration evolved over the centuries alongside the styles of jewelry art, while its fundamental meaning remained intact.

Perhaps precisely for this reason, it is a timeless piece of jewelry: simultaneously a personal object, a religious symbol, and a motif of goldsmithing reinterpreted across the centuries.