Jewelry exhibits so many styles, from simple and primitive to intricate and elaborate.
However, Gothic jewelry is rightfully considered to be the most refined and charming of all. Besides being intricately made, it oozes mystic and cryptic vibes, and this stirs up interest in gothic rings, necklaces, and bracelets even further. Wouldn’t you want to solve the secret behind all those swirls and floral patterns?
Gothic can’t be described with a single word or illustrated with a single image. As a jewelry trend, it spawned so many offshoots and variations that bring fresh ideas and looks to the table. Oftentimes, various types of Gothic contradict each other and it makes the whole trend even more intricate and multi-faceted. For example, Victorian Gothic puts an emphasis on feminism and sophistication while traditional Gothic takes advantage of androgynous silhouettes, simplified shapes, and outrageous symbols. Nevertheless, they share many things in common whether we talk about Cyber Goths, Romantic Goths, or Vampire Goths.
Emphasis on Symbolism
Yes, Gothic jewelry revolves around symbols. One of the most popular symbols in those rings and necklaces is a skull. Don’t worry, a skull doesn’t always mean death and destruction. In fact, in the Victorian era, people of noble origin and affluent individuals loved wearing memento mori jewelry as a reminder that life is short and you have to live it as a decent person. A central motif of memento mori rings was a skull or skeleton.
Not every person would dare to flaunt a ring with a skull but, luckily, gothic offers so many symbols to satisfy nearly every taste out there. Do you enjoy something cute and nice? Then a heart pendant of rose rings will fit the bill. Do you consider yourself a vampire enthusiast? Then bat wings, coffins, or fangs incorporated into jewelry pieces will surely tickle your fancy. Want your trinket to speak about nobility? Then you ought to put on a ring or pendant with knight symbolism. You’re looking for a talisman? Dragon and animalistic jewelry (spiders, snakes, lizards, koi fish, etc.) will guard your well-being as your saint patrons.
Even pieces that don’t carry a particular symbol have a deep meaning. For example, Gothic takes advantage of floral patterns not because they are beautiful but because they have a certain significance. For instance, a vine is one of the oldest symbols of fertility, abundance, vitality, and peace. It represents the Promised Land as well as Christ and his church. If you have ever been to a Gothic church, you surely noticed vines decorating interiors. From there, floral patterns spread across Gothic jewelry.
White Metals Prevail
There are two explanations as to why Gothic jewelry is crafted from white metals. The first one is practical – since Gothic attire is black or, at least, dark, jewelry in whitish finish stands out and draws the utmost attention to its wearer.
The other explanation aligns with the mystical character of Gothic itself. All the mystery happens at night when the moon casts its dim light on this world. This is the time when spooky creatures living in the shadows dare to get out of their hideouts. The moon is their patron. And white metals represent the earth’s satellite.
The king of Gothic metals is silver. This metal radiates nobility and beauty, but, above all, it possesses some cool magical properties in itself. Only silver can kill a werewolf. Only silver can purify water. Silver has the greatest power as a talisman. For these reasons, a 925 silver gothic ring becomes a mesmerizing and striking gift to a Gothic enthusiast.
Along with silver jewelry, Gothic art can be cast in steel, platinum, or white gold. Yellow or rose gold are rare guests in this jewelry trend as they represent the sun. That being said, gold does make an appearance in Gothic jewelry every now and then but rather than an auxiliary metal to juxtapose silver.
Not Only Black and White
It is not true that Gothic is only black, white, or silvery. In fact, it is bristling with colors but not every color is welcome in Gothic. The pops of vibrant green, blue, and purple bring an eye-catching quality to jewelry while emphasizing silver’s noble pallor. At the same time, Gothic prefers to keep clear of yellow, orange, beige, and other warm colors. Again, due to their association with the sun, these colors are disregarded. The only warm color Gothic accepts is red because its symbolic meaning is angst, blood, and danger. All the colors accepted in Gothic are present in the form of gems, enamel, beads, crystals, wood inserts, dyed leather, and so on.
With that being said, a curious offshoot of traditional Gothic is pastel and white Goth. These trends keep the shapes and symbols of the Goth subculture but embody them in white or beige colors. Or let’s take a look at Cyber Goths, they give preference to bright neon and acidic colors. The bottom line is that not everything black is Gothic, and not everything colorful is an antipode of Gothic.
