Masonic Jewelry

The title of Past Master is one of the most prestigious in the Mason community. Past Master is the fifth degree and is bestowed upon those who have completed a term as Worshipful Master of a Lodge. It is an indication that an individual is prepared to preside over a Lodge of Master Masons.

As can be imagined, the title of Past Master is a source of honor for any Mason. To that end, symbols, such as the color purple, are used to distinguish these individuals. They may also don other identifying garments or accessories, including Past Master rings and other jewelry.

Although he is rarely at liberty to discuss it, my brother has been involved with the Freemasons for numerous years. Most of the people in our family only have a vague understanding of the ideology and practices of the organization, but it is evident that Masonry is an integral part of my brother’s life. As such, we all make a point to treat the topic with tact and respect.

For his birthday this year, I wanted to get him something that portrayed his devotion to the group. Since my knowledge of his particular sect and involvement is minimal, I wanted the gift to be somewhat generic while still being personal. I finally settled on a Masonic watch, and judging by his reaction when he opened, I know that he’ll cherish it for years to come.

When many people think of the term mason, they conjure up images of bricklayers and rock workers. While this is certainly one of the connotations of the word, Freemasonry is just as prevalent. There are several different forms of the Freemason group, and there are members throughout the world.

The Freemasons use the tools of traditional stonemasons in the symbols that are engraved on their Masonic rings and crests. Although the fraternity is broken down into smaller groups known as Grand Lodges, which have their own jurisdiction, all of the groups maintain the basic Freemason religious beliefs—that there is a Supreme Being or “Great Architect.” Although Freemasonry is well-known today than in previous generations, the group is still shrouded in mystery.

Without prevarication my favorite novel is War and Peace. While many people assume that I like the book simply because it is in the canon of great literature and is a bullet-stopping tome, I appreciate the in-depth characters development and historical context of Tolstoy’s magnum opus. There are dozens of memorable characters, but Pierre stands out among the rest.

Many have suggested that Pierre is a personification of Tolstoy himself, as he struggles with religious, ethical and emotional dilemmas throughout the novel. In the middle stages of the book, Pierre joins the Freemasons and piously adopts their ideology. This serves to be just one stop on his journey of personal growth, and Pierre quickly abandons his Masonic jewelry in favor of other pursuits.

Originally founded by Henri Moissan at the turn of the 20th century, moissanite is a rare mineral with the chemical formula SiC. The mineral is extremely scarce and is only found in the remnants of meteorites. Once the compound was researched, scientists were able to reconstruct the mineral synthetically, as it is simply silicon carbide. Since the mineral is incredibly rare, virtually all of the moissanite used today is synthesized.

Today the mineral is most commonly utilized in its crystal form for jewelry. Ranking in with a 9.5 on the Mohs scale, moissanite jewelry is extremely hard and resembles diamonds. The mineral is often used as a substitute for diamonds in moissanite rings and pendants.

My mother is what most working women would refer to as a socialite. Her twice weekly bridge group and tennis team keep her weekdays pretty full. She hardly has anytime to squeeze in her shopping. But when she does, watch out; she has impeccable taste when it comes to clothing and accessories. Her ability to find an outfit and matching shoes that’s been reduced in price is phenomenal.

Though considered a space cadet by many people, she found the ultimate steal for her and her bridge group 3 months ago. She was hosting the final tournament of the season, so she let her girly nature run wild and decided to buy each player a small gift. After what seemed like hours of searching, she stumbled across a timeless accessory she knew all of the girls would love – Masonic pendants. As she gathered each colorfully decorated and handcrafted piece, she knew her presentation at the tournament would be flawless, and she smiled.

While the exact hierarchy or order of officer positions may vary for different jurisdictions of Freemasonry, most jurisdictions elect lodge officers in progression from lesser roles to more important roles throughout the years. Usually, an officer spends one or two years in each position before he moves on, and is eventually elected as Worshipful Master. Common offices include Tyler, Steward, Deacon, Secretary, Treasurer, Junior Warden and Senior Warden. It is also common for the Master position to be filled by the Senior Warden of the previous year.

The Master is the senior officer of a Masonic lodge. He directs all the business of his lodge, and has considerable powers. He also presides over rituals and ceremonies. A Past Master is a person who has served as the Master of a lodge in the past. Some lower offices are often filled by Past Masters. Masonic jewelers often sell Past Master rings that are perfect for the Past Master in your life

In tough economic times, there are certain products you can skimp on to save money and still get comparable quality, like the store brand of grocery items. However, there are other items where quality just shouldn’t be sacrificed. These include investment items, like cars, furniture and jewelry. If you purchase high-quality items like these, they will last you a lot longer than cheap versions and you’ll eventually save money because you won’t have to buy replacements or pay for repairs.

For example, good quality Masonic watches will last a lot longer than inexpensive watches. They’re less likely to break, and usually a quality jeweler will help you with any repairs that are needed over time. Watches can even double as jewelry if they feature jewels, like diamonds. They always make great gifts, and the recipient will be much more grateful to receive a high quality watch

When it comes to dressing in a suit, often it’s hard to seem like an individual in standard black or blue. However, how we dress is also interpreted as an expression of who we are, and it’s important to appear as an individual rather than another sheep. Most accessories aren’t suitable for wearing with a suit; a pendant or necklace for example will never be visible outside of a buttoned up shirt. Watches too are often hidden beneath our sleeves. Because of this, Masonic lapel pins are some of the best accessories to don when wearing a suit. Lapel pins can be displayed at all times and are well look great when worn on the collar of a suit jacket. In addition, Masonic lapel pins can help us express our proud Mason heritage.

When wearing a suit, be sure to have a lapel pin. It’s essential to appear as an individual during first impressions.

June is the graduation month for millions of college students around the nation, marking a special time in their lives as they join the work force.  Around graduation time, it’s common for relatives and friends to throw their support behind college students, providing them with gifts for the future as well as those that might help offset student loans.  While cash tends to be the preferred gift amongst graduating college students, for those who want to give a gift with a bit more meaning, there are a number of items to consider.  For example, a high quality watch can serve to commemorate time spent in college, and the future, and for this consider Masonic watches, representing both tradition and style.  Masonic watches celebrate brotherhood, and help college students look towards a bright future and their contributions to society.

You can find Masonic watches at most retailers of fine jewelry, and remember to err on the side of caution when choosing sizes.  If the size of the wristband is too larger, that’s much better than it being too small!