October 2026 Preview: The Ancient Mediterranean
Coming on Saturday, October 24 at 2 pm Eastern (US) time.
Crotalia earrings - $86
Crotalia were the height of fashion in Ancient Rome! The term comes from the Greek word for "rattles" or "castanets" because of the way the pearls jingled. According to Pliny the Elder, women loved the sound and adorned themselves in pearls from their heads down to their sandals.
These earrings are modeled on crotalia found in paintings, as well as real earrings that have survived from the ancient world.
The freshwater pearls are spaced out just enough that you can hear them rattle if you shake them or brush them with your fingers, but they will not rattle during normal wear. This is intentional to protect the pearls from damage over time.
Size: 17mm across, 28mm long
Loop-in-loop chain - $260
This is the oldest style of chain made by humans (that we know of!) The earliest example dates back to Mesopotamia around 2,500 BC.
It's known as a loop-in-loop chain, and it was very popular in Ancient Rome, Greece, and Egypt. It was actually pretty popular in Europe through the Middle Ages, until it was replaced by simpler and more machine-made styles.
It consists of figure-eight shaped links that are folded and looped through each other. The arches make each link very strong, much more so than a basic cable chain.
This chain was made entirely by hand out of fine (99.9% pure) silver, with a sterling silver clasp. The clasp is an elegant hook that you rock in and out of the final ring.
Chain length: 18 inches
Link diameter: 4mm
Cat Ring - $125
This ring is a reproduction of a ring made in Ancient Egypt, around 1390 BC. The original was made out of Egyptian faience, which is a kind of silica-based ceramic.
The cat is likely a depiction of the goddess Bastet, who was the goddess of motherhood and the home.
I've made a broad range of sizes! The cat is the same size on each ring, so please see the pictures for an idea of how this looks on different band sizes.
The band is mostly round, but I have flattened the inside and the outside a little for comfort. I made the cat's upper body lean back a little to avoid getting caught on things, but it still the kind of ring that should be worn with caution during certain activities.
Sizes available: every size between 4.5 and 11
Band thickness: 2.5mm
Band Width: 3mm
Cat size: 11x14mm
Lunula garnet necklace - $130
The lunula is a crescent-moon-shaped talisman that has been worn by women for millennia. The motif originated in Mesopotamia, but over thousands of years it spread throughout Europe and North Africa. It's still commonly found in Eastern Europe, known as a "lunitsa" there.
Its meaning and use varied, but it was always associated with women.
This lunula is made specifically in the style of Ancient Rome, where it was shaped almost like a horseshoe. For the Romans, it was a protective charm designated for girls and unmarried women. They believed it protected against supernatural forces like sorcery and the evil eye.
The Roman lunula comes on a string of faceted garnet beads. This necklace is 16 inches long- please measure yourself if you're not sure of your ideal length! This is a little more than choker length on most adults.
Pendant size: 22mm wide, 25mm tall
Garnet beads: 3mm diameter
Pearl cross necklace - $90
This pendant is based on examples of a motif used in Byzantine Jewelry around the 6th-7th century. For them, this would have been recognizable as a cross. They used a lot of religious imagery in their jewelry. They wore it to display personal devotion, but like other faiths of the ancient world, they also used religious symbols as amulets to protect themselves from harm.
This pendant features four freshwater pearls arranged around a bezel-set tanzanite. It hangs on a sparkly 18" chain.
Cross size: 27mm
Crispina Augusta coin pendant - $158
Bruttia Crispina was a Roman empress, married to emperor Commodus from 178 to 191 AD. Her story came to a sad end when she was exiled and executed by her husband.
This pendant features a replica of an ancient Roman coin, showing a bust of Crispina on one side and the goddess Juno Lucina on the other (Juno Lucina was the goddess of childbirth and fertility). The text around Crispina's face says "Crispina Augusta," which was her title as empress.
I made these replicas myself out of bronze. Bronze is a metal that oxidizes and turns brown over time (picture the color of a bronze statue). You can choose to either polish the coin and keep it yellow, or let the surface age naturally.
The coin is held securely in a handmade sterling silver setting. Both sides are open, so you can choose to turn it around and let Juno face forward.
Pendant size: 28mm across
Chain length: 18 inches
14k gold Heracles knot ring - $455
The Heracles knot was a common jewelry motif in Ancient Greece and Rome.
The story goes that Heracles (or Hercules, for the Romans) killed a monstrous lion and then wore its skin, with the paws tied around his neck using this knot.
So the knot symbolized the strength of Heracles, and it was worn as an amulet to protect the wearer. Some even believed it had the power to heal wounds, and there are accounts of physicians tying bandages this way. It was also often associated with marriage, as a metaphor for a strong bond between two people.
This ring features a simple Heracles knot, tied between two strands of solid 14 karat gold.
Sizes available: 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8.5
Band width: 2.5
Band thickness: 1.3
Knot size: 7mm
Heracles knot bracelet - $118
The Heracles knot was a common jewelry motif in Ancient Greece and Rome.
The story goes that Heracles (or Hercules, for the Romans) killed a monstrous lion and then wore its skin, with the paws tied around his neck using this knot.
So the knot symbolized the strength of Heracles, and it was worn as an amulet to protect the wearer. Some even believed it had the power to heal wounds, and there are accounts of physicians tying bandages this way. It was also often associated with marriage, as a metaphor for a strong bond between two people.
This bracelet features eight Heracles knots linked together. It is based on examples of similar chains made in Ancient Rome. It closes with a hook that fits into the final link.
Bracelet length: 8 inches
Knot width: 9.5mm
Lunula earrings - $88
The lunula is a crescent-moon-shaped talisman that has been worn by women for millennia. The motif originated in Mesopotamia, but over thousands of years it spread throughout Europe and North Africa. It's still commonly found in Eastern Europe, known as a "lunitsa" there.
These earrings feature a lunula with a small decorative motif in the center, on a simple ear wire.
Size: 16mm across