![The Ancient Cross in antique silver, front view [c:antique-silver]](http://bennettandcross.com/cdn/shop/files/the-ancient-cross-front-antique-silver-2026.jpg?v=1791920673&width=1400)
![The Ancient Cross worn by a man, close-up, true to size [c:antique-silver]](http://bennettandcross.com/cdn/shop/files/the-ancient-cross-worn-hero-2026.jpg?v=1791912123&width=1400)
![Smiling woman wearing the antique silver Ancient Cross [c:antique-silver]](http://bennettandcross.com/cdn/shop/files/the-ancient-cross-worn-smiling-2026.jpg?v=1791912130&width=1400)
![Close-up of The Ancient Cross, three-quarter view [c:antique-silver]](http://bennettandcross.com/cdn/shop/files/00_D_v1-1791800032321.jpg?v=1791924863&width=1400)
![The antique silver Ancient Cross worn, close-up, true to size [c:antique-silver]](http://bennettandcross.com/cdn/shop/files/the-ancient-cross-worn-hero-2-2026.jpg?v=1791912146&width=1400)
Celtic Cross
The Ancient Cross
For the faith your grandmother handed down to you
She told you about the old country and taught you your prayers. Wearing this cross today keeps her faith and her roots together.
Discover what it means- Your faith, worn close to you every day
- Arrives in our gift box, ready to give
Or 3 interest-free payments of £26.66 with Klarnasubject to eligibility
Order processed within 24 hours on business days
- Free shippingTracked to your door
- 30-day returnsEasy & simple
- 1-year warrantyAgainst defects
Size guide
Where it sits
- 40 cm (16")Choker
- 45 cm (18")Collarbone
- 50 cm (20")Just below the collarbone
- 55 cm (22")Upper chest
- 60 cm (24")Mid-chest
- 70 cm (28")Over clothing
Sizes shown on an average build. An extender adds a few centimetres of freedom.
Measure at home in 2 minutes
You need a strip of paper (or a string or shoelace), a pen and a ruler.
- Take a string or a shoelace and mark on it the length you are considering, for example 50 cm (20").
- Hold the two marks together at the back of your neck, wearing the kind of top you usually wear.
- Look in a mirror: the lowest point of the string is where the chain will sit.
- Too high or too low? Try 5 cm (2") more or less: that is one size up or down.
Already own a chain you like? Lay it flat, clasp closed, and measure it end to end. A broad neck or chest makes every length sit a little higher.
No ruler? A bank card is 8.6 cm (3.4") long: count how many fit along your strip.
Still unsure? Ask us, a real person replies within 24 hours.
Product details
A Celtic cross, its arms joined by a ring and covered in knotwork, one of the oldest forms of the cross in the Irish tradition. Polished to catch the light.
- Material
- Stainless steel
- Finish
- Polished
- Symbol
- Celtic Cross
- Packaging
- Signature gift box and polishing cloth
How to wear it
The Celtic cross is a pendant with presence: the ring and the knotwork give it more detail than a plain cross, so it shows well worn on top of a T-shirt, a henley or an open shirt. It also suits a quieter look under a collar, where only the chain shows.
The polished stainless steel can stay on every day, in the shower or at the gym, without rusting. It is a meaningful gift for a confirmation in a family with Irish, Scottish or Welsh roots, for Father's Day, Christmas, or for everyday wear.
Questions
What is a Celtic cross?
A cross with a ring around the point where the arms meet, often decorated with knotwork. This pendant follows that traditional shape.
Is the Celtic cross a Christian symbol?
Yes. It appears on early medieval stone crosses in Ireland and Britain and is still used by Christians today, often by those with Celtic roots.
Do I need Irish roots to wear a Celtic cross?
No. Anyone can wear it as a cross. Many people choose it to honor a Celtic heritage, but it is first a Christian sign.
What does the ring around the Celtic cross stand for?
Many Christians read the ring as a sign of eternity and of God's love without end. On this pendant it joins the four arms, as on the stone high crosses of early medieval Ireland and Britain.
Is it a good gift for my dad?
Yes, especially for a father proud of his Irish, Scottish or Welsh family. It is a classic choice for Father's Day or Christmas.
Can a Protestant wear a Celtic cross?
Yes. It has no figure of Christ and is used across Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian and other churches.
The prayer
Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me.
Saint Patrick's Breastplate, hymn translation by Cecil Frances Alexander (1889)
Shipping & returns
Free standard shipping on every order. Your order is processed within 24 hours on business days, then shipped with tracking.
Every order arrives in our signature gift box, with a microfiber cloth to keep your piece shining.
- OrderToday
- ProcessedWithin 24 hours
- DeliveredTo your door, tracked
Returns. You have 30 days after delivery to return your piece, unworn and in its original packaging.
1-year warranty & care
Covered for 1 year against manufacturing defects: a clasp that fails, a stone that falls out without impact, a structural defect. Send your order number and 3 to 4 photos and we ship a replacement once your claim is approved, with no return needed. Full warranty
- Daily wear: Put your jewelry on last, after lotions, perfume and hairspray.
- Water and activity: Wear it in the shower, at the gym and at the beach: the steel will not rust or turn your skin green.
- Storage: Keep it in its signature gift box so it does not rub against other jewelry.
- Cleaning: Wipe it with the microfiber cloth included, after wearing.
Its meaning
The ring of the Irish high crosses
From around the eighth century, Irish monasteries raised tall stone crosses with a ring around the center. One of the best known, Muiredach's Cross at Monasterboice in County Louth, is carved with scenes from Scripture, and its inscription asks a prayer for the man who had it made. Some see the ring as a halo or the sun, others as a brace for the heavy stone arms; no single answer is certain. What is clear is that the ringed cross became the sign of Celtic Christianity. This necklace keeps that form, with knotwork over the...
Giving it as a gift
Give it at confirmation in a family with Irish roots, or to a father who keeps the old country close. It also makes a fitting Christmas present for anyone proud of a Scottish or Welsh grandmother.
