Fleur-de-lis as a Jewelry Motif

The fleur-de-lis is an elegant and timeless symbol. The English translation is “flower of the lily.” The fleur-de-lis is representative of the lotus flower and has many meanings attached to it. This symbol has been commonly used to represent royalty in France. Legend states that an angel gave the Merovingian king of the Franks a golden lily when he converted to Christianity, but other legends state that he took up the symbol when the water lilies guided him safely across the river.

Experts are unable to come to an agreement, but in the 12th century, King Louis VI or VII was the very first of the monarchs to use the fleur-de-lis on his shield. Later on, the English kings incorporated the symbol on their coat of arms in order to emphasize the fact that they laid claim on the French throne.

Later, during the 14th century, this symbol began to be incorporated into the family crest on the knights’ surcoats. This was worn over their coat of mail, which led to the term “coat of arms.” The whole purpose of the “coat of arms” was for identification purposes. However, it turned into a system of designating social status once King Edmund IV created the Heralds’ College to oversee the granting of insignia on armor.

Chances are, you’ve seen the fleur-de-lis being used more and more in jewelry. In fact, many celebrities wear beautifully crafted fleur-de-lis jewelry on the red carpet. It is no longer being used as a status symbol though, everyone can have a beautiful piece of fleur-de-lis jewelry. These days, jewelry with this stunning symbol are created from gold, sterling, and even platinum. In most cases, if you find a necklace you like, you’ll be able to get matching earrings, bracelets, and even rings as well.