Good Luck Jewelry

Symbols of good luck are found in cultures around the world. Costume jewelry designers, taking their cues from these superstitions, feature good luck symbols in many of their designs. Looking through my photo archives, I found examples of many of the more common motifs.

HORSESHOES

To be lucky, a horseshoe can point up or down. An upwards pointing horseshoe collects good luck; a downwards pointing horseshoe showers you with luck. Either way, it's a popular good luck symbol. The symbolism dates to the 10th century and the legend of Saint Dunstan who trapped the devil with a horseshoe. OK, I buy that. 

Coro Pin

Florenza Pin

Silver Pin

Antique Pin

Gold Filled Bar Pin

Gold Pin

Rhinestone and Fire Opal Pin

Angelskin, Coral, Pearls and Gold Pin

   
Rhinestone Pin and Stick Pin

Ring

Silver Charm

Joan Slifka Silver Earrings

Silver Fob

4-LEAF CLOVERS and SHAMROCKS

The four-leaf clover is especially popular in Western cultures as a symbol of good luck, probably due to its association with St. Patrick's Day. The shamrock, or three-leaf clover isn't considered lucky, but both three and four leaf clovers are seen in jewelry design.

Gold Pin

Gold Pin with Hairwork

   
Charms

Loaded Charm Bracelet

Silver and Enamel Puffy Heart Charms

Cuff Links

LADYBUGS

Ladybugs are good luck symbols with a number of virtues. In general, they will free you of everyday worries; and, if a ladybug lands on you, you will be free of disease. There is even a superstition that if a ladybug lands on a bride, she will know how many children she will have based on the number of spots on the insect. 

David Andersen Pin

Silver and Enamel Charm


Earrings

Cuff Links by Swank

ACORNS

According to Norse legend, acorns on the windowsill will protect your house from lightning. This dates back to the legend of Thor who created thunder and lightning with his hammer and anvil.

Kramer Pin

Lisner Pin

Winard Pin

Krementz Pin

Wooden Necklace

Sandor Set

Silver Pin

RAINBOWS

This good luck symbol dates to the Old Testament. God created a rainbow after the flood as a sign that the earth would never be destroyed by flood again. And the rest, as they say, is history - (or is it superstition?)

Cross with Iris or Rainbow Stones

Rainbow Rhinestones Bracelet

SCARABS

Dating to ancient Egypt, the scarab is a symbol of good luck and a protector from evil.

Real  Scarab Stick Pin

Unsigned Necklace and Bracelet Set

Charm Bracelet

DOLPHINS

Good luck symbols for sailors who knew that a dolphin sighting meant land was nearby.

Hattie Carnegie Pin

Boucher Necklace

Unsigned Pin

Georg Jensen Pin and Earrings Set

PIGS

Symbols of good luck in Europe and Asia. A pig in clover symbolizes wealth.

Charm Bracelet

Nettie Rosenstein Bracelet and Fur Clips

TURTLES and TORTOISES

While researching this article, I learned that turtles and tortoises are symbols of good luck in Feng-Shui. Who knew?

Alice Caviness Pin

   
Eisenberg Pins

HAR Pin

Erwin Pearl Pin

   
Japanese Fob

ELEPHANTS

An elephant, especially with its trunk pointing up is another popular symbol of good luck. If it faces the door, good luck will enter the home.

   
Ciner Pins

James Avery Pin

Vintage Bracelet

Cuff Links and Tie Bar

Elizabeth Taylor for Avon Pin

Trifari Pin

Rafaelian Necklace

CHIMNEY SWEEPS

Legend has it that a chimney sweep saved England's King George when the horse he was riding reared. Hence, the chimney sweep is a symbol of good luck.

   
Charms

WISHBONES

The phrase "lucky break" comes from the tradition of breaking a wishbone.

Coro Pin

Vintage Wishbone Pin with Connemara Marble Shamrock

MIXED MOTIFS

Mazer Pin with Four-Leaf Clover and Scarabs

Charms with Horseshoe, 4-Leaf Clover and Chimney Sweep

   
Charms with Horseshoes, Mushroom and Pig

Slider Heart Charm with Mushroom, Ladybug and Pig

German Good Luck Charm Bracelet

      
   
Horseshoes and 4-Leaf Clover Pins

Horseshoe, Shamrock and Ladybug Pin

Wishbone and 4-Leaf Clover Stick Pin

Wishbone, Horseshoe and 4-Leaf Clover Puffy Heart Charm

Vintage Good Luck Bracelet

   

   
Lucky Pennies with Good Luck Symbols

Horseshoe and 4-Leaf Clover Earrings

Paye & Baker Silver Bar Pin

CONTROVERSIAL

The swastika is an equilateral cross with legs bent at 90 degrees. The design is an ancient one and predates Nazi Germany by centuries. Antique jewelry is available with this good luck symbol but due to the transformation of the symbol's meaning in the 20th century, pieces bearing a swastika are often mistaken for or improperly labeled as Nazi jewelry.

Silver Pin

Gold Filled Bangle Bracelet

Navajo Silver Pin

 OTHER

Cameo Pin with Stylized Horseshoe

Gold Pin with Buddha

Be sure to visit World of Eccentricity & Charm to see what Good Luck jewelry is available for sale. Just click here.

For additional photos, visit my Pinterest Good Luck Jewelry Board by clicking here.