The Diamond Cross
The definition of the word “cross” in the English Dictionary is a geometric figure with two lines or bars intersecting at a 90º angle thereby diving one of two of the lines in half. These lines are usually vertical or horizontal, but if they are diagonal the design is a saltire. If you asked someone to define a cross they would probably say they it is used by the Christian religion as a symbol of their faith.
A lesser known fact is that it can be a method of illustrating the division of the world into four elements or cardinal points, or as the union of divinity with the vertical line and the world being the horizontal,
After the circle the cross is one of the first known symbols drawn by children. There are many examples of cross shaped carvings in caves dating back to the Stone Age and on the steppes of Central Asia.
One of the earliest religious crosses comes from the ancient region of Altay who used a symbol which resembled a simple plus sign as a token to their god Tengri. If you visit some of the ancient temples in Armenia you should look up to the ceiling to see how the pillars were designed to meet and look like an additional cross.
The cross is an everlasting symbol but you do not need to de a devout religious follower to wear one. Nowadays diamond crosses are very much in vogue. Cartier and Tiffany have designed some very delicate crosses studded with diamonds which can be suitably worn either during the day or evening.
If you are following the current series of “Footballer’s Wives” you will see that the team captain often wears just a waistcoat or shirt open to the waist so that he can display two or three (or more) huge gold or silver crosses encrusted with diamonds and other gemstones.
While his style is a bit extreme, and is a spoof on the way some of our more flamboyant celebrities wear their jewellery, it is still reinforcing the message that diamond crosses are very much in fashion and can be worn in various forms by men and women.