How to Choose a Celtic Cross Necklace: 6 Pieces for Men and Women Compared

A Celtic cross necklace is easy to recognize and surprisingly hard to choose: the same ringed cross can be a light openwork pendant, a heavy knotwork piece for a man, or a fine knot cross for a woman. This guide is for anyone buying one for themselves or as a gift. We compare six pieces on what actually changes the choice: size, weight, chain, finish and what can go in the shower.

Quick answer: Our pick overall is The Celtic Knot Cross, a ringed openwork cross with a small blue stone that suits men and women alike. For a man who wants a solid, substantial cross, choose The Enduring Knot. For a woman who prefers something fine and close to the collarbone, choose The Knotted Heart Cross.

Below you will find the real measurements of each pendant, the material as it is written on the product page, which chain comes with it (and the one that comes without), and which pieces we can honestly say are made for the shower.

Already know the style you want? Browse all our Celtic cross necklaces.

At a Glance: Compare the Picks

Here are the six pieces side by side, from our overall pick to the finest cross for a woman.

Piece	Material and size	Price
The Celtic Knot Cross Best Overall	Stainless steel, 52 x 30 mm pendant, blue stone, 60 cm box chain	From $99.99
The Enduring Knot Best for Men	Stainless steel, 45.5 x 34 mm cross, 60 cm box chain, 21.3 g	From $99.99
The Ancient Cross Best Traditional Design	Polished stainless steel Celtic cross necklace	From $89.99
The Boundless Knot Best Statement Pendant	Stainless steel pendant, 49.5 x 54.5 mm, 28.5 g, chain not included	From $89.99
The Knotwork Cross Best Choice of Chain Length	Stainless steel, 33 x 49 mm, 3 mm box chain in 50, 55 or 60 cm	From $79.99
The Knotted Heart Cross Best Dainty Cross for Women	Silver-tone metal, gold-tone heart, 31 x 16 mm, 45 cm chain	From $79.99

A gift with every piece: Every order that includes a piece of jewelry comes with The Mustard Seed Bracelet as a gift: it is added to your cart automatically and costs nothing (it normally sells for $49.99).

The 6 Picks in Detail

1. The Celtic Knot Cross: Best Overall

Best for: Men and women who want the classic ringed cross in a light, everyday piece.

The Celtic Knot Cross has everything people picture when they search for a Celtic cross: the ring around the center, arms drawn in open interlaced knots, and a small blue cat's-eye style stone where the arms meet. The pendant measures 52 x 30 mm and is cut flat and open, so it looks generous without feeling heavy.

Both the pendant and the 60 cm box chain are stainless steel, and the product page states that it can be worn in the shower and does not turn the skin green. That makes it the easiest piece in this guide to wear every day and forget about. The blue stone adds a touch of color that reads well on a man and on a woman, which is why it is our first recommendation when you are not sure who it suits.

• Stainless steel pendant and chain, polished silver-tone
• 52 x 30 mm openwork pendant, 60 cm box chain included
• Shower-safe according to the product page

See The Celtic Knot Cross, from $99.99.

2. The Enduring Knot: Best for Men

Best for: A man who wants a solid, substantial Celtic cross.

The Enduring Knot is the most masculine piece here. The cross is filled with knotwork, measures 45.5 x 34 mm, and is polished on the front and matte on the back, so the side that touches the skin stays discreet. With its chain, it weighs 21.3 g: enough to feel present, not enough to pull.

It comes on a 60 cm (23.6 in) box chain, a length that sits on the chest for most men and works over a T-shirt or under an open collar. If you are buying a Celtic cross necklace for a husband, a father or a brother who does not usually wear jewelry, this is the one that looks most at home on him.

• Stainless steel, polished front and matte back
• 45.5 x 34 mm, 21.3 g with chain
• 60 cm (23.6 in) box chain included

See The Enduring Knot, from $99.99.

3. The Ancient Cross: Best Traditional Design

Best for: Anyone who wants the old Irish ringed cross covered in knotwork.

The Ancient Cross is the most traditional design in this guide: arms joined by a ring and covered in knotwork, one of the oldest forms of the cross in the Irish tradition. The stainless steel is polished to catch the light, and it is made to be worn every day by a man or a woman.

One honest note: the product page does not list the pendant size or the chain length, so look at the photos to judge its proportions on the neck. Choose it if the classic Irish look matters more to you than exact numbers, and if you want a piece that feels rooted in heritage.

• Stainless steel with a polished finish
• Ringed cross covered in knotwork
• Sold as a necklace, for men and women

See The Ancient Cross, from $89.99.

4. The Boundless Knot: Best Statement Pendant

Best for: Someone who already owns a chain they love and wants a large cross.

The Boundless Knot is the biggest and heaviest piece here: 49.5 x 54.5 mm and 28.5 g of stainless steel. The cross and its ring are filled with knotwork that has no beginning and no end, an old image of eternity.

Important before you buy: it is a pendant only, chain not included. It is meant to hang on the chain of your choice, so it suits someone who already has a sturdy chain, or a buyer who wants to pick the chain separately. Because of its weight, pair it with a solid chain rather than a fine one.

• Pendant only, chain not included
• 49.5 x 54.5 mm, 28.5 g
• Knotwork in the arms and in the ring

See The Boundless Knot, from $89.99.

5. The Knotwork Cross: Best Choice of Chain Length

Best for: Buyers who want to choose the exact chain length.

The Knotwork Cross is a Celtic knot cross rather than a ringed Celtic cross: four open loops tied in a knot at the center, drawn as one unbroken line. The antiqued finish darkens the recesses and shows the depth of each loop, which gives it a quieter, older look than polished steel.

It is the only piece in this guide offered in three chain lengths: 50, 55 or 60 cm, on a 3 mm box chain. The pendant is 33 x 49 mm, and the product page states that the stainless steel can be worn in the shower and does not turn the skin green.

• Stainless steel, silver-tone with an antiqued finish
• 33 x 49 mm openwork knot cross, no ring
• 3 mm box chain in 50, 55 or 60 cm, shower-safe

See The Knotwork Cross, from $79.99. 50, 55 or 60 cm chain.

6. The Knotted Heart Cross: Best Dainty Cross for Women

Best for: A woman who prefers a fine cross close to the collarbone.

The Knotted Heart Cross is a slender knot cross drawn in one looping line, with a gold-tone heart woven through its center. At 31.1 x 15.6 mm on a fine 0.8 mm box chain of about 45 cm (18 in), it sits close to the collarbone and layers easily with other fine chains.

It is not a ringed Celtic cross, and it is not listed as stainless steel: the page says silver-tone metal with a gold-tone heart, so we would not promise it for the shower. What it offers is meaning in a small size, faith and love held in the same knot. It is a natural gift for a mother, a wife on an anniversary or a goddaughter at her confirmation.

• Silver-tone metal with a gold-tone heart, two-tone
• 31.1 x 15.6 mm pendant
• 0.8 mm box chain, about 45 cm (18 in)

See The Knotted Heart Cross, from $79.99.

Ringed Celtic Cross or Celtic Knot Cross: Which Do You Want?

Two different shapes are sold under the same name. The ringed Celtic cross has a circle joining the four arms: that ring is the mark of the Celtic cross, the Christian cross of Ireland. The Celtic knot cross is a cross drawn as interlaced loops, in the spirit of Celtic knotwork, with or without a ring. If you want the cross people recognize at once, choose a ringed one. If the knot itself, a line with no beginning and no end, is what speaks to you, a knot cross is the more personal choice.

If you are curious about where the ring comes from and what it has meant over the centuries, our article on the meaning of the Celtic cross covers the history. And if you are looking for a Celtic cross with the figure of Christ on it, that is a Celtic crucifix: our guide to the Celtic crucifix explains the difference.

• Ringed cross: The Celtic Knot Cross, The Enduring Knot, The Ancient Cross, The Boundless Knot
• Knot cross without a ring: The Knotwork Cross, The Knotted Heart Cross

Steel or Silver-Tone Metal: What Goes in the Shower

Five of the six pieces are stainless steel, and each of their product pages says they can be worn in the shower and do not turn the skin green: The Celtic Knot Cross, The Knotwork Cross, The Enduring Knot, The Ancient Cross and The Boundless Knot. If you hang The Boundless Knot on a chain of your own, the chain decides what can go in the water.

The Knotted Heart Cross is silver-tone metal with a gold-tone heart. Treat it like fine fashion jewelry: take it off before swimming, showering or sports, and store it dry.

How to Choose a Celtic Cross Necklace

Start with who will wear it. Most men are comfortable with a pendant of 45 mm or more on a 60 cm chain; most women who wear a cross every day prefer something lighter, or a fine chain that sits higher. Then check three things on the product page: the pendant size in millimeters, whether a chain is included and how long it is, and the material.

Chain length changes the look as much as the cross does. As a rough guide, 45 cm (18 in) sits at the collarbone, 50 cm (19.7 in) just below it, 55 cm (21.7 in) on the upper chest and 60 cm (23.6 in) on the chest. A heavy pendant needs a sturdy chain: a 3 mm box chain carries weight better than a 0.8 mm fine chain.

What to check	Why it matters	Our advice
Shape	Ringed cross or knot cross	Ringed for the classic look, knot cross for something quieter
Pendant size	Decides how visible it is	45 to 55 mm for a man, around 30 mm for a fine look
Chain	One of our picks is a pendant only	The Boundless Knot needs your own sturdy chain
Chain length	Where the cross sits	45 cm at the collarbone, 60 cm on the chest
Material	Steel is the everyday choice	For daily showers, pick a piece the page says is shower-safe
Finish	Changes the character	Polished catches light, antiqued shows the depth of the knots

• For him: The Enduring Knot or The Boundless Knot on a strong chain
• For her: The Knotted Heart Cross, or The Celtic Knot Cross for a bolder look
• Unsure of the neck size: The Knotwork Cross with its three chain lengths

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Recommendation

If you want one Celtic cross necklace that suits almost anyone, choose The Celtic Knot Cross: the classic ringed shape, light openwork steel, a blue stone at the heart, a 60 cm chain included, and a product page that says it can go in the shower. For a man who wants weight and presence, The Enduring Knot is the stronger choice; for a woman who wants something fine, The Knotted Heart Cross.

Every order comes with free tracked shipping, 30-day returns and a 1-year warranty, and you can also receive our gift bracelet with your necklace.

To compare every piece side by side, see all our Celtic cross necklaces.

Every order that includes a piece of jewelry comes with The Mustard Seed Bracelet as a gift: it is added to your cart automatically and costs nothing (it normally sells for $49.99).