Token of Love Bracelet
©2010 by Cynthia Rutledge

A gift to prove his love and to withstand time, a gift promising more than marriage. His gesture symbolized undying love that was stronger and more enduring than any other emotion the man could feel, a love so precious, that its worth is priceless.

A romantic marriage proposal was thought to be more binding, more compelling and more powerful, when the man professed his love and his desire for a union accompanied by a gift. Today, we assume that the engagement gift would be a portion of the wedding band set, but that tradition is relatively new. The first, known, engagement ring was presented to Mary of Burgundy by Archduke Maximillian of Austria in 1477 beginning a long standing tradition that took generations to become popular.

For the wealthy, presenting the engagement gift was a very important part of the process leading to marriage. There was a time when it was illegal for all but royalty to own diamonds so many other stones were used in jewelry with some being heirlooms and others being designed specifically for the purpose of the engagement gift. Richard Burton presented Elizabeth Taylor with the amazing Taylor-Burton pear-shaped diamond as his gift, which later was made into a necklace. H.R.H. Prince Ranier of Monaco presented the lovely Grace Kelly with a diamond and pearl parure (necklace, bracelet and earring set) to profess is love.

Token of Love Bracelet is inspired by the diamond bracelet designs being made by the leaders in fine jewelry at the turn of the 20th century. A central ornament consisting of an oval gemstone or CZ, surrounded by a series of smaller gemstones or CZs, set and arranged in the pave ́ style. Extending from the central beaded ornament are Peyote stitch extensions that terminate in beaded, gem or CZ set end-stone pivots. One pivot leads to another as the bracelet works its way around the wrist to end with a toggle and loop closure.

This is a 1-day workshop.

Skill level: Intermediate to advanced. Students must be familiar with Peyote stitch.