One particular piece of jewelry is coming back into vogue like never before.
The circlet or half-crown is becoming more popular with brides.
Often fashioned from handcrafted silver and decorated with stunning gemstones, circlets make a romantic statement.
They capture the inner goddess or emerging princess echoing medieval tales of knights and ladies.
They were also popularized in movies such as “The Lord of the Rings”, “Wheel of Time” or “Narnia” in recent years, adding to their emerging admiration.
Circlets can be traced back through history from the Victorian era, the Gothic period, the Renaissance and Medieval times.
They also have a strong tradition in Celtic mythology, which is thousands of years old.
The history of circlets
18th dynasty pharaonic circlet
However, the circlet has its place in history too.
The original coronation crown of the English monarchs was a circlet. It was known as St Edward’s Crown and was reportedly used in the crowning of William the Conqueror way back in 1066.
However it was destroyed by Oliver Cromwell during an uprising against the English royalty.
Since then other English monarchs have worn a circlet including Queen Mary and the current ruler, Queen Elizabeth.
The circlet crown was often worn by the husbands and wives of Kings and Queens after their passing, too.
As you can imagine, these circlets were extraordinary. They were fashioned with diamonds, sapphires and rubies. They were also quite large and bulky, fitting for a monarch and world ruler.
Circlets worn today
Today circlets are dainty and light.
Notwithstanding, they are still beautifully crafted by skilled artisans from silver or gold.
Many take on the motifs and forms more characterised in fairy tales. Many have intricate designs of ivy leaves, vines, butterflies, flowers and even dragonflies.
For bridal use they can either incorporate a veil or sit lightly on the bride’s crown.
If you want to capture the magic of the time of princes, princesses, dragons, castles and knights a circlet certainly adds a touch of romance and glamor to any look.
