In the 16th and 17th centuries in England, France and throughout Europe, a wedding band would be inscribed with words of love, faith and hope. The popularity of these "poesy" rings (from the latin word for "Poetry") is shown in their frequent mention in Shakespeare's plays. The tradition is much older than Shakespeare's time, but its was during the Renaissance that the custom reached the height of its popularity. It was common to give a sterling silver ring as a gift or engagement ring.

Now we offer these messages engraved on sterling silver bracelets and pendants as a unique romantic gift or token of friendship. Each is gift boxed and includes a card explaining the message of the jewelry. Also can include your personalized message printed on a card.

amor vincit omnia
"love conquers all"

The Latin amor vincit omnia translates as "love conquers all", a motto known to all students of English literature as the one engraved on the brooch worn by the Prioress in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Available as a Sterling Silver Bracelet $74 In Stock Sterling Silver Cuff Ladies size adjustable $69 In Stock or Sterling Silver Pendant and chain $44.50 In Stock

"Be the change you wish to see in the world."
-Gandhi

Sterling Silver Cuff Ladies size adjustable $69 In Stock

"Love is patient, love is kind.."
1 Corinthians

This bracelet is formed like a Möbius strip where the text on the front side twists into becoming text on the backside and then back to the front seamlessly without end.

The engraved message is from the Bible's 1 Corinthians: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." Sterling silver bracelet ladies' size - $79 gift boxed Special Order 2-3 weeks extra

"Teach us... that we may feel the importance of every day, of every hour, as it passes" Jane Austen Prayer Sterling silver cuff ladies size adjustable cuff gift boxed with card explaining the engraved message.$69 Special Order 2-3 weeks extra

"No limits but the sky"

Taken from the novel Don Quijote by Miguel de Cervantes. Back is engraved 'Cervantes 1605'. Sterling Silver and leather bracelet with card explaining the engraved message. $59 gift boxed Special Order 2-3 weeks extra

This bracelet is formed like a Möbius strip where the text on the front side twists into becoming text on the backside and then back to the front seamlessly without end. The engraved message is the Serenity Prayer: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." Sterling silver bracelet ladies' size - gift boxed - $79 In Stock

"God grant me the wisdom.." Serenity Prayer

"A friend may well be reckoned a masterpiece of nature" -Emerson From Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Book of Essays - Sterling Silver Cuff Ladies size adjustable - gift boxed $69 Special Order 2-3 weeks extra

"To thine own self be true" - Shakespeare From the play Hamlet. Sterling Silver Cuff Ladies' size adjustable - gift boxed $69 In Stock

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.
Live the life you have imagined."
-Henry David Thoreau

Silver Keyring - gift boxed $44.50 Not Available
Silver Pendant with 18" Chain - gift boxed $44.50 In Stock

in French bel amie ne me ublie me "Fair friend forget me not" From a French poesy ring of the 15th century, engraved in a Lombardic script. Sterling Silver Bracelet gift boxed $74 In Stock

in Hebrew
"I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine"

The elegant Italian Hebrew script is of the 16th century, the inscription ani l'dodi from Solomon's Song of Songs. Sterling Silver Bracelet $74 In Stock Sterling Silver Cuff Ladies size adjustable $69 In Stock Sterling Silver Pendant and chain In Stock $44.50 Each item gift boxed.

j'aime et j'espere
"I love and I hope"

When Thomas Jefferson traveled to France in 1784 to serve as a trade minister to the Court of Louis XVI, he took his twelve-year-old daughter Martha with him and placed her in a convent school, the Abbaye Royale de Panthemont. According to family tradition, the gold and enamel ring from which this bracelet is derived, bearing the phrase j'aime et j'espere was given to Martha by the British ambassador to France, John Frederick Sackville, Duke of Dorset, uncle to two of Martha's best school friends. Sterling Silver Bracelet $74 In Stock Sterling Silver Pendant and chain $44.50 All gift boxed. In Stock

"The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen..."
Helen Keller

"The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart." - as written by the blind and deaf Helen Keller (1880-1968). Full quote on the outside of the cuff. "Helen Keller" on the inside. Sterling silver cuff gift boxed. Ladies size adjustable $69 Special order 2-3 weeks extra

"The touches of sweet harmony" In Braille. As spoken by Lorenzo from Shakespere's The Merchant of Venice. Sterling Silver Cuff. Ladies size adjustable gift boxed $69 In Stock

De m'amour soiez sure "Of my love be sure" 15th century English poesy in French. Includes 18" [46cm] sterling silver chain. Gift boxed with a card explaining the translation. Sterling Silver - $44.50 Special Order 2-3 weeks extra

a ma vie de coer entier "You have my whole heart for my whole life" 15th century English poesy in French. Includes 18" [46cm] sterling silver chain. Gift boxed with a card explaining the translation. Sterling Silver - $44.50 Special Order 2-3 weeks extra

"Soul Friend" The Irish have special words for a special friend, "anam cara". Engraved in gaelic in an uncial script. Sterling Silver Cuff Ladies size adjustable $69 In Stock Sterling Silver Pendant and chain $44.50 In Stock Each is gift boxed with card explaining message

"Many are the starrs I see, but in my eye no starr like thee" Adapted from the medieval poesy ring in the British Museum, displaying the inconsistent spelling of Old and Middle English, with eight six pointed stars. Sterling Silver Cuff Ladies size adjustable gift boxed with card explaining message $69 In Stock

pencez de moy
"Think of Me"

The original ring is inscribed pencez de moy, meaning "think of me", in Lombardic script with period French spelling, the modern French would be spelt pensez de moi. French was still very much the language of the aristocracy in 15th century England. Poesy rings were tokens of friendship or regard as well as lover's mementos. Sterling Silver Bracelet $74 In Stock Sterling Silver Pendant and chain $44.50 Each gift boxed with card explaining message Special Order 2-3 weeks extra

in Gaelic "Pulse of My Heart" The original ring was probably made in Dublin in the 17th century and is unusual for being engraved in gaelic, most poesy rings being in French, English and Latin reflecting the popularity of poesy rings in England and France. The original ring is now lost or in an uncatalogued private collection, only the beautiful sentiment survives and has been accurately engraved on these elegantly simple designs in the gaelic spelling of the period. Sterling Silver Cuff Ladies size adjustable $69 In Stock Sterling Silver Pendant and chain $44.50 In Stock

Front Back

virtutem forma decorat "virtue shapes beauty" Adapted from the simple Roman incised letter shapes of the inscription from Leonardo da Vinci's Ginevra di Benci portrait in the Nationa Gallery of Art, Washington with a delicate leaf decoration. Sterling silver bracelet gift boxed with card explaining message $74 In Stock

vous et nul autre "you and no other" The original poesy ring was in gold, engraved vous et nul autre, you and no other. The ring was probably English though engraved in French, in a Gothic script with foliate decorations. Sterling Silver Pendant and chain $44.50 In stock Sterling Silver Bracelet $74 In Stock

"We are such stuff as dreams are made on"
Shakespeare's The Tempest

Shakespeare's The Tempest, a play of mystery and magic in sterling silver. Sterling Silver Bracelet $74 In Stock Sterling Silver Pendant and chain $44.50 In Stock Sterling Silver Cuff $69 In Stock All gift boxed with card explaining message

"Believe in yourself and magic will happen"
Silver Keyring - Not Available
Silver Pendant (same style) & 18" Chain- $44.50 In Stock

Also check out our sterling silver pendants engraved with messages, artwork, or symbols. Click Here

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