Last update: 10 April 2025
Armenian jewelry and national costumes are as old as the nation’s culture and traditions. As a dominant and integral part of Armenian identity, Armenian jewelry embodies the nation’s beliefs, artistry, and history. Renowned for intricate designs and profound symbolism, these adornments blend ancient traditions with spiritual and cultural values.
Remarkably, Armenia, the first Christian nation, preserved elements of its pagan heritage within its jewelry. Each piece tells a story of resilience and identity, merging artistry with meaning. In this article, we uncover Armenian jewelry’s hidden meanings and timeless allure.
Jewelry in Armenia has always been more than ornamentation. Since ancient times, it has been a symbol of protection, fertility, and status. Specific gemstones, such as garnets, were believed to represent love and loyalty, and they were often exchanged as tokens of affection.
Armenian artisans excelled in intricate techniques like filigree, repoussé, and engraving, showcasing unmatched craftsmanship. These methods reflected the artisans’ skill and safeguarded cultural narratives through timeless designs.
Armenian jewelry from the Urartian period often included astral symbols, such as rosettes for Venus or eight-point stars linked to Ishtar worship. These designs later evolved into Christian motifs, but they were first used to connect the wearer with cosmic cycles believed to be divine. Jewelry found in Metsamor and Lchashen includes astronomical carvings that likely served calendar or ritual purposes.
Contrary to common perceptions, men in Armenia adorned themselves with jewelry equally as much as women. Specific elements, such as silver belts, symbolized masculinity, while gold was a mark of wealth and social prestige. Animal motifs like frogs signified fertility, while phallic symbols on belts symbolized unity and the perpetuation of life.
Armenian men also wore pendants and amulets for protection, incorporating motifs that resonated with the duality of their roles as warriors and protectors of family traditions.
Women’s jewelry in Armenia epitomized beauty, charm, and social milestones. Silver belts represented fertility, while golden belts were reserved for married women, signifying prosperity and status. Married women often wore elaborate headpieces, bracelets, and necklaces adorned with almond-shaped pendants or seashell motifs symbolizing femininity and creation.
Religious and talismanic motifs are intertwined with these pieces. The Armenian cross (‘khachkar’) frequently appeared in pendants and earrings, reflecting the nation’s enduring Christian faith. Jewelry also played a vital role in ceremonies, with specific talismanic pendants believed to protect mothers and infants during childbirth.
Protection from harm and misfortune was a recurring theme in Armenian jewelry. Women adorned themselves with tinkling pieces believed to ward off evil spirits through their sound. The ‘evil eye’ motif, or ‘achq,’ was a prominent design element, featured in necklaces, bracelets, and amulets to repel negativity.
Artisans often incorporated symbols of nature, such as the sun and moon, which were believed to bring harmony and balance to the wearer. These protective elements blended beauty with purpose, encapsulating spiritual and cultural beliefs.
Armenian historical jewelry is preserved in several esteemed Armenian museums, offering insights into the nation’s artistic and cultural heritage:
Armenian silver jewelry has experienced a renaissance in recent years, with designers skillfully marrying traditional motifs with modern aesthetics. Popular motifs such as pomegranates and khachkars have found a new audience, resonating with consumers seeking meaningful, timeless designs. Sustainability has also emerged as a significant theme. Designers increasingly use recycled materials and ethically sourced gemstones, creating eco-conscious yet elegant collections that appeal to global trends
If you’re looking for something meaningful to bring home, Armenian heritage gifts carry more than just charm. They reflect Armenia’s long history of faith and craftsmanship, and they are part of a culture that has lasted for thousands of years. They also make meaningful gifts for family and friends, letting you share part of Armenia’s story with those you care about.
Several renowned Armenian designers have elevated the nation’s jewelry tradition to international acclaim:
The Vernissage open-air market near Republic Square in central Yerevan is one of the best places to see Armenian craftsmanship and culture all in one spot. It’s best known for its traditional jewelry made with repoussé and filigree techniques, but it also works as a cultural archive. Vendors sell handmade rings, earrings, and necklaces with designs from medieval Armenian manuscripts and religious art, including styles inspired by the 9th-century Tatev Monastery.
The stalls cover several city blocks and feature handwoven carpets, painted woodwork, embroidered fabric, ceramic pomegranates, copper pots, and Soviet-era collectibles. You can watch artists painting, see bookbinders making handmade journals, and find woodworkers carving small wooden churches. Many items feature Armenian symbols like the eternity sign or Mount Ararat, making them meaningful souvenirs. This outdoor market draws locals and tourists and helps keep Armenia’s folk traditions alive.
Address: Aram Street and Buzand Street, Yerevan 0010
Best Time to Visit: Weekends, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Pregomesh was founded in 2012 by Armenian pop star Sirusho and blends music, culture, and fashion. The brand is based on ethnographic research and uses historical details from the Armenian Highlands. Pregomesh is known for bringing back designs from the Vaspurakan and Cilician Armenian periods, like coin-shaped pendants and decorative belts that once showed status and symbolized fertility.
Each collection is created with help from Armenian anthropologists and includes jewelry based on pieces from the History Museum of Armenia. Pregomesh has also been part of ethical fashion shows in Paris, highlighting heritage-inspired design worldwide.
Address: Northern Ave 11/1
Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11:00 AM to 09:00 PM
The Nur Art Gallery, started by Armenian artist Arman Nur, is more than just a showroom. It’s a working studio for experimental jewelry design. Nur’s work has been shown around the world, including at the Venice Biennale. The series was praised for mixing metalwork with personal stories. The gallery uses mixed materials like bronze, sterling silver, and recycled metals to create wearable art.
His collections also include kinetic jewelry, which means the pieces move or change shape when worn. This is rare in Armenian design. Visitors can see sculptures in progress and often talk directly with Nur or his team of artists.
Address: 1 Amiryan Street,
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Robert Tateossian was born in Kuwait to Armenian-Lebanese parents and started his brand in London in 1990 after studying finance at the Wharton School. Known as the Tateossian blends engineering and style in his designs. His collections include cufflinks with moving gears and special pieces that hold meteorite fragments or old watch parts.
The brand is based in Mayfair, London, but Tateossian keeps close ties to his Armenian roots. Some of his limited collections include designs inspired by Urartian art and Armenian cross-stone carvings, called khachkars. His jewelry is worn by world leaders, diplomats, and celebrities, helping Armenian craftsmanship reach a global luxury audience.
Address: 50 Mesrop Mashtots Ave
Hours: Daily, 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
The Yerevan Gold Market sits near the corner of Tigran Mets Avenue and Khorenatsi Street and is known as the center of goldsmithing in Armenia. The indoor market has over 100 booths, each run by a family workshop or a small local designer. The market is known for handcrafted jewelry with religious and historical themes, like rings engraved with text from the 5th-century Armenian Bible.
Some vendors are descendants of jewelers who survived the Armenian Genocide and still use techniques passed down through their families. Custom design is a big part of the market. Visitors can request personalized amulets or church jewelry used in Armenian Apostolic ceremonies.
Address: 16 Khorenatsi Street, Yerevan 0010
Hours: Daily, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Armenia offers diverse jewelry-shopping experiences across its cities:
You’ll often find shops near churches and monasteries that sell religious jewelry and traditional Armenian pieces like crosses, medallions, and handmade items reflecting the country’s spiritual and cultural heritage.
Download & enter email to get exciting info about Caucasus
