What is a medallion?
Medallion — is a piece of jewelry or costume jewelry in the form of a pendant on a chain or cord.
When searching for an answer to the question of what a medallion is, it is important to distinguish between two meanings: a classic opening pendant (loket) with a hidden cavity inside and a flat round pendant with a relief image.
Historically, lockets were used to hold mementos: miniature portraits, locks of hair, or tiny letters. Such jewelry peaked in popularity during the Victorian era.
The key design feature of a classic medallion is its hinge mechanism and latch. These allow the jewelry's doors to be securely opened and closed.
Main types
- Opening lockets — traditional pendants with interior space for photographs. Available in oval, heart, circle, or miniature book shapes.
- Coin medallions — solid, flat, round pendants with engraving, embossing, or enamel. They often imitate ancient coins or astrological symbols.
- Glass lockets (floating lockets) — jewelry with transparent walls made of jewelry glass or rock crystal. Small decorative elements, such as charms or crystals, move freely inside these pendants.
- Cameos — a type of medallion with a raised bas-relief image. Most often, it is a female profile carved into a seashell or ornamental stone.
What to combine with
Multilayered. A medallion on a medium-length chain (45-50 cm) makes a great centerpiece. It's paired with a short choker and a long, thin chain (sautoir).
With cutouts. The jewelry looks harmonious with the V-neck of an unbuttoned shirt, wrap blouse, or dress. This technique visually elongates the neckline.
Over thick fabric. Large gold or silver medallions create a striking contrast when worn over low-key clothing. They complement solid turtlenecks, plain-knit sweaters, or basic dark-toned tees.
Style combinations. Vintage lockets and cameos fit into boho aesthetics and romantic looks with flowing fabrics. Simple coin medallions easily integrate into everyday casual looks: for example, paired with a white T-shirt, a straight-cut jacket, and jeans.
