Sterling Silver Orthodox Cross Pendant – Beatrice
$159.95
Solid 925 sterling silver Orthodox cross, 2.15 in tall with trefoil ends, a pebbled oxidized ground and a slide bail. Stamped 925 and Sterling, worn by men and women alike.
More designs:
- Solid sterling rather than plated steel, so a scratch polishes out instead of exposing base metal.
- A jeweler can solder and resize sterling, which is rarely practical on the steel versions of this cross.
- At 0.20 oz it stays put on a fine chain that a heavier cast cross would drag down.
- The slide bail needs a chain that passes through it, so check your clasp before pairing.
Our Take
The weight is the thing to know first: at 0.20 oz this is a light cross for its 2.15 in, and it moves on the chest more than a cast steel piece does. What it gives back is detail. The oxidation sits in a pebbled ground behind the figure, so the corpus, the angel above and the skull below all separate cleanly under a lamp. Sterling also means a jeweler can fix it.
Learn how to look after your jewelry in our jewelry care guide. Discover more Cross Pendant.
Description
Sterling at 0.20 oz: Why This Cross Wears Lighter Than It Looks
This Sterling Silver Orthodox Cross Pendant measures 2.15 in (54.7 mm) tall and 1.04 in (26.32 mm) across, with trefoil ends, a figure in relief and a pebbled oxidized ground behind it. It weighs 0.20 oz (5.8 g).
Why the stamp matters more than the shine
On the bail sits a hallmark: 925 and Sterling. That mark is the whole difference between this and the plated crosses that photograph identically. Solid silver runs all the way through, so a deep scratch can be polished out rather than opening a window onto brass or steel underneath. It also means a bench jeweler can work on it, soldering a broken bail or fitting a different one, which is rarely worth attempting on stainless. Sterling has a second property that plated pieces do not. It holds value as metal, modest at this weight, but real, and that is part of why sterling is still the default for a piece meant to be kept.
Two kinds of darkening happen on a piece like this and they are not the same thing. The oxidized recesses are deliberate, applied to push the figure forward. Tarnish is what silver does on its own, and it lands everywhere, including the polished relief that is supposed to stay bright. Cleaning is therefore a narrow job: a soft cloth on the raised surfaces only, nothing dipped, nothing abrasive in the pebbled ground. There is a real limit alongside that. Sterling is soft and this casting is thin for its size, so it will take a bend if it goes into a back pocket, and the arms are where it will give first.
What this bail will and will not take
- The slide bail is a flat tube, so a chain threads through it rather than hanging off a jump ring at the top.
- Threading keeps the cross centered on the neck instead of letting it drift toward one shoulder over a day.
- The chain has to pass through the opening, which rules out heavy curb links and most box chains above a few millimeters.
- A rope or a fine cable in silver matches the metal and slides cleanly, but check that your clasp fits through before you commit to it.
FAQ
Will silver polish strip the dark from the recesses?
Yes, and it does not grow back. Polishing compounds and dip cleaners remove applied oxidation along with tarnish, and the pebbled ground behind the figure is exactly where they collect. Work the raised surfaces with a dry cloth and leave the dark alone.
Will sterling darken my skin?
It depends on your skin and your climate. Sterling is 92.5 percent silver with copper making up the rest, and copper is what occasionally leaves a gray mark in humidity or under lotion. It is not nickel, so a nickel allergy is not the issue here.
Is 2.15 in too large for a smaller frame?
It is a statement size on a narrow neckline, roughly the length of a thumb. On a shorter chain it sits high and reads bold. On a longer one it drops toward the sternum and looks more proportionate to a smaller frame.
Why is a solid silver cross this light?
Silver is dense, so 0.20 oz means the casting is thin rather than small. The material went into surface area and detail instead of thickness, which is what keeps a cross this tall comfortable on a fine chain. It also makes it easier to bend.
Specifications
| Product type | Slide pendant |
|---|---|
| Material | 925 sterling silver |
| Metal color | Silver |
| Hallmark | 925, Sterling stamped |
| Plating | None |
| Finish | Oxidized recesses, polished relief |
| Nickel free | Yes |
| Gender | Unisex |
| Pendant height | 2.15 in (54.7 mm) |
| Pendant width | 1.04 in (26.32 mm) |
| Weight | 0.20 oz (5.8 g) |
| Bail type | Slide bail |
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