Build A Bride’s Bracelet

By DelaneyJewelry

 

As a child I learned to make beaded jewelry from my mother.  When I was old enough to work in her book store I spent a great deal of time reading and learned a lot about the meanings for crystals and stones. Once I had started selling my jewelry, I felt it would be helpful for the recipient to know the meanings, and I tried to include it whenever possible. This knowledge was very beneficial during a period of time that I worked as a Certified Childbirth Educator for Swedish Hospital in Seattle. I noticed soon-to-be mom’s really connecting with one another by the end of the class series. Occasionally, on the last class, women would even bring gifts for the other expecting mom’s. These gifts were always something that was intended to welcome their baby, give them strength in labor or to use as a focal point during their labors.  I was moved by this gesture time and time again, as were the recipients of the gifts.

This happened often enough that I started using a Birthing Bracelet idea for each of my classes. I asked every couple to bring one bead for each of the other expecting mothers in the class.  I would bring the supplies and we would string the beads into bracelets that they could keep forever.  Each participant handed out their beads and shared the reason for the bead they chose.  Many times it was the color, or the healing properties of the stone, and often it was a charm that held a special meaning.  Over the course of many classes I learned the properties of stones that I hadn’t even heard of.  One day I ran into a woman that had taken my class years prior and she told me that she wore the bracelet on her second pregnancy as well, and that her youngest daughter occasionally wears the bracelet.

You can use this same idea to build a bride’s bracelet. A sweet gesture and a fun moment for a wedding shower. All the attendees could bring a stone or bead to contribute to the bracelet? One with a meaning, or a wish for them to take into their new married life. Whether they wear it, or keep it tucked away in a safe place, your wishes will be with them always. What a fabulous ‘something old’, or ‘something new’ to give a bride. You can add charms to an existing bracelet like these below:

Or suggest a color scheme, or a theme such as Vintage, or Pearls as in these next two.

If it ends up being something that doesn’t fit the bride’s style or color scheme, just make it long enough to be worn as an anklet under her wedding gown.

Here are some of the meanings I have discovered (Alternate stones are listed in parentheses):

 

Zodiac Stones

Capricorn (De c 22 – Jan 20) – Ruby
Aquarius (Jan 21 – Feb 21) – Garnet
Pisces (Feb 22 – March 21) – Amethyst
Aries (March 22 – April 20) – Bloodstone (Jasper)
Taurus (April 21 – May 21) – Sapphire
Gemini (May 22 – June 21) – Agate
Cancer (June 22 – July 22) – Emerald
Leo (July 23 – August 22) – Onyx
Virgo (August 23 – Sept 22) – Carnelian
Libra (Sept 23 – Oct 23) – Chrysolite (Peridot)
Scorpio (Oct 24 – Nov 21) – Aquamarine
Sagittarius (Nov 23 – Dec 21) – Topaz

Stone Meanings

Amazonite  – prosperity
Crystal quartz  – harmony
Jasper  – grounding
Lapis lazuli  – intuition
Onyx  – balance
Pearl  – purity
Peridot  – health and wealth
Rhodochrosite  – love
Serpentine  – clarity
Sodalite  – wisdom
Tourmaline  – strength
Turquoise  – peace

Modern Birthstones

January – Garnet
February – Amethyst
March – Aquamarine
April – Diamond
May – Emerald
June – Pearl
July – Ruby
August – Peridot
September – Sapphire
October – Opal
November – Topaz
December – Turquoise / Blue Zircon / Blue Topaz

Traditional Birthstones

January – Garnet
February – Amethyst
March – Bloodstone
April – Diamond
May – Emerald
June – Alexandrite
July – Ruby
August – Sardonyx
September – Sapphire
October – Tourmaline
November – Citrine
December – Turquoise

Wedding Anniversary Stones:

1^st           Gold (Peridot)
2^nd         Garnet
3^rd       Pearl (Jade)
4^th       Blue Topaz (Blue Zircon)
5^th       Sapphire (Pink Tourmaline)
6^th       Amethyst (Turquoise)
7^th       Onyx (Yellow Sapphire, Golden Beryl)
8^th       Tourmaline (Tanzanite)
9^th          Lapis Lazuli (Amethyst, Green Spinel)
10^th     Diamond (Blue Sapphire)
11^th         Turquoise (Citrine, Yellow Zircon)
12^th      Jade (Opal)
13^th      Citrine (Moonstone, Hawk’s Eye)
14^th        Opal (Agate, Bloodstone)
15^th        Ruby (Rhodolite Garnet, Alexandrite)
16^th        Peridot (Red Spinel)
17^th      Wristwatch (Carnelian)
18^th      Cat’s Eye / Chrysoberyl (Aquamarine)
19^th      Aquamarine (Almandine Garnet)
20^th       Emerald (Yellow or Golden Diamond)
21^st      Iolite
22^nd     Spinel
23^rd        Imperial Topaz
24^th      Tanzanite
25^th      Silver (Tsavorite, Green Garnet)
30^th      Pearl
35^th      Emerald
40^th      Ruby
45^th         Sapphire (Cat’s Eye)
50^th      Golden (Imperial / Golden Topaz)
55^th      Alexandrite
60^th      Diamond (Star Ruby)
65^th      Blue Spinel
70^th        Sapphire (Smoky Quartz)
75^th      Diamond

80^th       Ruby

Ring Shots Out Of The Box

A collection of out of the box ring shots for your

unique and personalized wedding day.

Collection courtesy of Krissy – Make Believe’N