Although personalized jewelry has been around for a long time, initials on jewelry have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. It seems that every other celebrity or fashion influencer is wearing an initial necklace these days. And for good reason: these personalized jewelry pieces come in a variety of styles and are a fashionable way to add personalization to your look.
If you want to add some custom adornments to your wardrobe or you are looking for a thoughtful gift for her, you have come to the right place. Find out all you need to know about initial jewelry styles and types so you can find the right personalized necklace to give her — or yourself.
History of Initial Jewelry
Initial jewelry, also known as monogram jewelry, has been around for centuries and has been worn by royals like Anne Boleyn and her renowned pearl and gold initial necklace of the 1500s. Boleyn was King Henry VIII’s second wife, who he infamously ordered to be beheaded in 1536.
Although the king had all of Boleyn’s portraits destroyed after her death, one survived. It is currently on display in London’s National Portrait Gallery. In the portrait, Boleyn is wearing her famous “B” initial necklace.
Today, supermodel and “it” girl Bella Hadid has worn a replica of Boleyn’s necklace. Another British royal who sported an initial necklace was none other than Princess Dianna herself, who wore a “D” letter necklace after marrying Prince Charles.
How to Choose an Initial for Letter Jewelry
So, if you want to wear a letter necklace, what initial do you choose? Of course, you can choose an initial to represent your first or last name. If you love the traditional look, you can opt for a classic monogram name necklace that represents your first, middle, and last name.
You could also choose to wear the two initials of your and your significant other’s names (by the way, this type of personalized necklace makes a sweet anniversary gift). You can choose multiple letters in your initials on jewelry to represent the names of your children. A personalized necklace is also a special way to carry a memory of a loved one you have lost.
Types of Initial Jewelry
There are so many types of personalized jewelry out there, so what type you choose really depends on your lifestyle and personal preference. However, the most popular type of initial jewelry at the moment is the initial necklace.
Top Types of Personalized Jewelry:
- Letter or name necklaces
- Name or initial bracelets
- Initial rings
- Initial earrings
Initial Jewelry Styles
Of course, there is a wide world of personalized jewelry styles out there. Here, we have compiled a list of some of the popular, fashionable styles of initial jewelry that make excellent gifts for someone you love or for yourself. From the classic monogram to a trendy bar necklace, there is a style out there for everyone’s taste.
Popular Styles of Initial Jewelry:
- Letter necklaces
- Custom bar initial necklaces
- Monogram jewelry
- Name necklaces
Trendy Letter Necklaces
Letter necklaces have boomed in popularity in recent years, most likely due to the fact that many trendsetters wore Celine initial necklaces during the September 2018 fashion week. Though some initial necklaces are large and chunky, like the one mentioned above, another popular style is the tiny letter necklace.
Whether you choose a large gold letter or a small letter with diamonds, these alphabet necklaces are a sweet way to wear your initial or the initial of your loved one. Initial necklaces also make thoughtful, personal gifts for a birthday, anniversary, or Valentine’s Day.
Personalized Bar Initial Necklace
A customized bar initial necklace is a fine jewelry piece and a keepsake. You can choose an engravable bar name necklace that you can customize, or opt for a bar initial necklace with the letters of your and your significant other’s names. These trendy necklaces make perfect anniversary gifts.
Customized Monogram Jewelry
The classic monogram makes a beautiful, personalized jewelry piece. Monogram initial jewelry is highly customizable — you can choose different font styles, as well as your preference for two- or three-letter monogram initial rings, necklaces, earrings, or bracelets. There are even monogram cufflinks so that the men in your life to hop on the personalized jewelry trend.
Personalized Name Necklaces
Another hot jewelry item is the name necklace. Options range from personalized necklaces with flowing scripts or chunky letters to engraved bar necklaces to custom pendants. A personalized name necklace with the name of a new baby and baby’s birth details makes a wonderful push present for a new mother.
Metal Types for Initial Necklaces:
- Gold (yellow, rose, or white)
- Sterling silver
Gold Initial Necklaces
Gold comes in yellow, white, and rose hues. But what you may not understand is what the different karats of gold jewelry mean. The karat amount reflects the purity of the gold (which is alloyed with other metals) and is determined by weight, durability, and color richness.
Though 24K gold is the purest, it is less durable and can lose its shape. The most commonly used gold type for jewelry is 14K gold because of its durability and affordability. Another popular, traditional choice is 18K gold.
For a gold initial necklace, you will most likely be choosing between 14K and 18K gold in either yellow, white, or rose.
Sterling Silver Initial Necklaces
Although gold is definitely the most popular choice for jewelry at the moment, silver jewelry is also coming back into fashion. Sterling silver is a mix of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 of another metal, such as copper, to give it more strength. Silver can be a good alternative to gold as it can be lighter and more affordable.
How to Wear Personalized Necklaces
Besides being trendy and beautiful, something that makes personalized jewelry great is that it is extremely easy to wear. All you have to do is pair initial jewelry with your favorite outfit — dressed up or down — and you are showing off a custom, special letter necklace that represents yourself or someone you love. Add a name necklace or an initial ring to any outfit, and boom: you’ve got instant style.
If you need help in picking out the perfect initial jewelry, find a Fink’s Jewelers location near you or browse our vast online selection.
