The Excellence of 18 Karats: Why Choose High-Quality Gold for a Christening?
You are looking for a medal that will accompany your godchild through life without tarnishing, without wearing, without ever betraying the promise made on the day of the sacrament. That standard begins with the metal. 18-karat gold, hallmarked 750/1000, contains 75% pure gold: a proportion that offers both the deep glow of the precious metal and the strength needed for a piece worn every day for decades.
In the Christian tradition, gold is never incidental. It is the metal of incorruptibility, of sacred vessels and reliquaries. Choosing 18-karat gold for a christening extends that harmony between the material and the meaning of the rite.
- Durability: a high gold content stands the test of time better and keeps its colour without plating.
- Heirloom value: the medal is passed on, worn again, bequeathed.
Compared with 9-karat gold, whose precious-metal content is much lower, the initial price difference pays for itself within a single generation. You are not buying a piece of jewellery; you are protecting a legacy.
The maker's mark identifies the hand that shaped the piece and commits its responsibility. It is therefore an objective guarantee of origin and of the purity of the alloy used, as customs controls are strict. There is also, of course, the State hallmark. In France, every 18-karat gold piece weighing more than 3 grams receives a legal fineness hallmark, applied after testing. Pieces under 3 grams are exempt, as the maker's mark is a sufficient guarantee of French manufacture subject to the controls of the precious-metals assay office.
Manufacture Mayaud: Artisanal Craftsmanship in the Heart of Paris 7th
The Manufacture Mayaud boutique is at 25 rue Vaneau, 75007 Paris. A discreet address, a few steps from the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, rue du Bac — the very place from which devotion to the medal spread throughout the world. This proximity is not a sales argument: it places the House in the continuity of a Parisian spiritual history and of a heritage, Manufacture Mayaud and the Miraculous Virgin sharing a common history (see our guide to the history of the christening medal).
For those wondering where to find an artisan-made christening medal in Paris, the answer lies in a short, entirely French supply chain. The workshop where Mayaud mother-of-pearl pieces, crosses and rose windows are made is also in Paris. The medals themselves are struck in France, in Saumur, using the traditional striking technique — the historic birthplace of the house, founded in 1770.
The process begins with the sculpting of the model, patiently worked in Paris before being transferred to a punch and then a hardened steel die. Striking then presses the relief into the gold, with a sharpness that industrial casting cannot achieve. Then comes the finishing: sanding, polishing, piece-by-piece inspection by hand, then the hallmark.
Choosing an artisan jeweller in Paris for a christening medal means supporting skills that mass production is making disappear. Every Mayaud medal bears the mark of that standard.
Exclusive Liturgical Design: More Than Jewellery, a Symbol of Faith
The House's signature lies in a rare pairing: 18-karat gold combined with genuine mother-of-pearl. Mother-of-pearl, a living material with shifting reflections, brings a luminous softness that naturally suits the white of the christening. Cut and fitted in Paris, it sits in its gold setting with a precision that allows no play.
Manufacture Mayaud's iconographic motifs are its own creations, drawn and sculpted for it: crosses, rose windows, Marian figures, Christological symbols rendered with a restraint of line that sets them apart from the standardised designs found from one retailer to the next. A christening medal with an exclusive liturgical design is recognisable by this: no one else offers it.
Three points sum up this exclusivity:
- Proprietary striking dies, engraved from models sculpted in-house and registered.
- A liturgical ornamental vocabulary, faithful to Christian iconography rather than decorative trends.
- A timeless design, made to be worn at thirty as at three months.
The engraving on the back — name, date, text — is done by hand in Paris. It is what turns the object from jewellery into testimony, and makes every French-made 18-karat gold christening medal truly unique.
Buying Guide: Choosing the Ideal Medal for Your Godchild
Which size? The diameter is chosen according to the child's age and the intended use.
| Diameter | Recommended use |
|---|---|
| 16 mm | Newborn, discreet everyday wear, light on a fine chain |
| 18 mm | The most versatile size, legible for engraving, worn from childhood to adulthood |
| 20 mm | Communion, confirmation, or a bolder piece with the relief fully visible |
Yellow gold, silver or gold-plated? Yellow gold remains the traditional choice, especially harmonious with mother-of-pearl. An 18-karat yellow gold christening medal suits families attached to an aesthetic that is both classic and contemporary. Silver is a beautiful modern alternative for those who prefer its brightness. Gold plate brings the warmth of yellow gold at a gentler price, best suited to occasions such as a birth gift or a communion.
A simple rule: the chain should be the same colour as the medal. 9-karat gold (375/1000) is also a good compromise for a chain: it is an alloy containing half as much gold (37.5% fine gold) as 18-karat gold, to be preferred for the chain rather than for the medal, which is meant to be kept for life. Depending on your budget, we recommend an 18-karat gold medal, even if it means settling for a 9-karat gold chain.
What budget? An 18-karat gold medal struck in France naturally sits above plated or 9-karat pieces. The price reflects the weight of gold, the fineness of the strike and the time spent on hand finishing.
What lead time? Engraving and polishing require workshop time that cannot be rushed. For a christening planned in 2026, order several weeks ahead (if the medal is not in stock), and longer during the busy spring season.
Where to Buy Your Mayaud Medal in Paris? Visit Our Boutique
A medal is chosen with the eyes and the hand. We invite you to discover the full collection at the boutique, 25 rue Vaneau, 75007 Paris, in the 7th arrondissement, right by rue du Bac. There you can compare diameters, see the reflections of mother-of-pearl in the light, and discuss the engraving with someone who knows every model.
If you prefer to buy from home, ordering online offers the same guarantees: a hallmarked 18-karat gold piece, engraving done in Paris, secure and insured shipping, and presentation in the House's case.
What our customers say
What families remember can be said in a few words: the medal they received keeps the promise of the day it was given, and will go on keeping it when the child passes it on in turn. That is the only commitment that matters to Manufacture Mayaud.
Discover Manufacture Mayaud's 18-karat gold christening medals in Paris, or visit the boutique in the 7th arrondissement to see them with your own eyes.