Anna Lin

America is a country that from the very moment it declared its independence from Great Britain in 1776 has taken great pride in the fact that it is a free nation; a unified nation, a government created by the people, for the people and of the people.  This sentiment is echoed throughout its songs, its holidays and many of its traditions.

This patriotic feeling is also represented by the physical appearance of its citizens, particularly following any great event at which national pride is drawn into question. Take for example the celebration of America’s Independence Day.  Anyone who has ever attended one of these feasts has had the happy occasion to look up from eating their chili dog or barbecue (depending on which part of the country they’re in) and seeing hundreds of individuals proudly displaying the stars and stripes. Although for many this has become more a matter of rote than an actual expression, there are none who are willing to forget what it took for their country to be able to declare itself fee.

Perhaps nowhere is this patriotic sentiment as evident as in the jewelry worn by the people of the United States. Jewelry is intended to be a measure of personal expression, with the style and colors representing the inner soul of the individual. While in today’s society that personal expression tends to take a more large and flamboyant form, its people were in no way, shape or form the first to use their jewels to display their patriotic pride. For as long as the country has been able to boast its freedom men, women and children have boasted brooches and tie tacks in various patriotic symbols.  Small pins and watches have also been popular for as long as anyone alive today can remember.  Historically, the stars and stripes, the American flag, has been the preferred form for these symbols to take. During and following WWII a new era of patriotic jewelry emerged as women began to allow themselves to step out of the box that dictated how they must look and wear jewelry that displayed newfound freedom.  Lady Liberty and the American flag were still the insignia of choice, with the American Eagle beginning to make an appearance itself.

Following the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center patriotic jewelry again got another boost as Americans were anxious to show that the terrorists had not diminished their national pride.  American again proudly boasted the symbols of their country on their clothing, on their wrists and hanging from silver jeweled pendants from around their neck. Being the era that it is, this patriotism often takes a more spectacular form (is there any part of the human body that cannot be pierced?) and in addition to the classic venues the red, white and blue adorns the noses, eyebrows, chests and belly buttons of America’s citizens.

Few occasions give greater cause for celebration for the citizens of the United States than the declaration of its independence; as long as America is free its citizens will proudly display their patriotism through the accessories they wear, just as they have always done.

It is an inarguable fact that today’s society has happily thrown its former opinions and values to the wind in favor of a more flamboyant lifestyle.  This can be seen by the popular manner of clothing, hairstyle, music, activities and, perhaps most noticeably, its popular jewelry.  Once kept small and sedate jewelry is now making its own debut in the more popular at Eastern and tribal styles found in Africa and Asia.

There are, however, some classics which remain untouched.  The purity and beauty of plain silver jewelry has not lost its appeal in the current craze for the unusual; in fact, with the return to several of the classic styles of dress and mannerisms plain silver jewelry is more popular than ever before.

The trend in plain silver pendants dates back to the dark ages, when men and women wore silver crosses in an attempt to protect themselves from those things that went bump in the night.  While the effectiveness of these dubious charms and pendants was never proven, they remain an integral part of the foundation of jewelry design for the rest of history.  There are very few individuals today who can say that they have never owned or worn a simple cross necklace at some point in their youth.  From the necklace of the cross spraying various other, more complex designs; however, the principle of simplicity and purity remain the same.

Plain silver pendants got their next big boost with the advent of the charm bracelet.  A charm bracelet is a bracelet made of many links put together upon which small charms can be hung.  These charms range from the classic cross (take note of how the Christian religion continues to influence people’s mannerisms and style of dress throughout history) to be more flamboyant red high-heeled shoes and four leaf clovers.  These were incredibly popular in the late 20th century, and remained a popular fashion item among children and young teenagers today. Most of these charms are alike in that they are not incredibly complex; however, it is their simplicity that in many ways makes them more appealing.  Charm bracelets bring to mind hot summer nights and childish wishes upon a star.

The latest trends in silver jewelry are the Italian charm bracelets.  Introduced to Americans by the Italian nation in the 21st century, these innovative versions of an old classic have set the fashion industry on its ear.  Italian charm bracelets consist of links which link together overtop of a core frame; however, unlike the traditional charm bracelet there is nothing dangling off these bracelets.  They present a clean, smooth line that serves to greatly reduce the risk of the charms being broken or damaged due to normal wear and tear.

Regardless of what the fashion industry considers to be hot and in vogue today, plain silver pendants will never go out of style.  These can be found at any local jewelry store or designed by any clever designer