Graduation Jewelry: The Traditional

“Graduation is only a concept.  In real Life every day you graduate.  Graduation is a process that goes on until the last day of your life.  If you can grasp that, you’ll make a difference.”  Arie Pencovici

Graduation, whether it is from middle school to high school, from high school to college, or something like a left or right turn off your original path involves change.  Sometimes, the change is barely noticeable.  Maybe, all of your friends are taking the same journey with you so things are more exciting than scary.  Sometimes, our graduation is more of a life change, one that involves a monumental step, a step so forward you can’t go back, a life you can’t relive.  Throughout our lives, we will all do both – many, many times. 

We often want the jewelry we wear or gift to others to reflect that change.  Some people want their pieces to show the world who they are now and who they’ve been in obvious ways.  While others, choose a less obvious, abstract way to wear their story.  Still, others follow a family tradition that follows not just their own lives, but the parent’s and grandparent’s lives. 

 I decided to do a series of posts, reflecting the different ways my customer’s show the passing of time or place with a selection of jewelry they've chosen.  

The traditional:  A gemstone or birthstone ring or necklace, marking a graduation or special birthday, is very old tradition in many families, including my own.