The Chi-Rho Medal

Le Chrisme is an 18-karat yellow gold christening medal bearing the monogram of Christ, one of the oldest Christian symbols, in a pared-back design on a hammered ground.

The monogram of Christ, like an ancient coin

At the centre, the interlaced Chi (Χ) and Rho (Ρ), the first two letters of Christos; to the left the Alpha, to the right the Omega, the beginning and the end (Revelation 22:13). Our sculptor kept the simplest design, in the manner of fourth-century coins and sarcophagi, and set it on a hammered ground that gives the medal the look of an ancient coin. The Chi-Rho is the sign Constantine had placed on his standards after the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312: a medal with no figure, direct, suited to all ages.

A christening medal struck in the traditional way in 18-karat gold

Like all our gold medals, Le Chrisme is made by stamping: the 750/1000 gold blank is struck under an engraved die, which gives the letters their crispness and the ground its grain, then given a satin finish. The gold weight is 2.30 g in 16 mm and 2.90 g in 18 mm. Made in France, in our workshop.

Diameter, engraving and variations

The 16 mm is the christening size; the 18 mm, the classic size. The smooth reverse takes an engraving, first name and date, carried out in the workshop with the engraving package. Le Chrisme is available in gold and mother-of-pearl, in solid silver, in silver and mother-of-pearl and in gold plate, to be worn on an 18-karat yellow gold trace chain.