Custom rosary with vintage sterling Knights of Columbus enameled center and sterling crucifix

Description

I acquired this unused (new old stock) sterling Knights of Columbus center through a ‘picker’–it was still wrapped in its cellophane wrapper with a gummed-on label with inventory numbers on it and came from a closed jewelers. It probably dates from the 1950s-1960s. I have paired it with a vintage sterling crucifix that is showing just a little wear (1 3/8″ x 7/8″). Because the crucifix is sterling, it could be engraved on the back. (The center could also be engraved, but it is rather small at 5/8″ square.)

This listing is for a customized rosary built to your specifications using this center and crucifix. Four examples of possible Ave and Pater combinations are shown with the drop and two decades for examples only:

–8mm onyx Aves and 12mm grey shell pearl Paters (this combination can be seen in a fully-finished rosary at https://flowerofcarmelrosaries.com/product/onyx-grey-pearl-rosary-1);

–8mm Botswana agates which range in color from light-to-dark grey/almost black and wine-purple from light to dark, showing banding or swaths of colors, with 12mm grey shell pearl Paters;

–8mm real tourmalines which range in color from pale-to-dark grey-green or palest pink through dark wine-red with the occasional black tourmaline, also with 12mm grey shell pearls (tourmaline is the October birthstone usually seen as a bright pink crystal color [of crystal, not true tourmaline] with 12mm grey shell pearl Paters;

–8mm dark blue lapis lazuli with 8mm white shell pearl Paters.

This rosary can be made in any stone or crystal offered on the website; prices are given for the exemplar rosaries fully finished or for a deposit on a different combination of Aves and Paters. The final measurements will depend on the size of Ave and Pater beads chosen.

Other recommended masculine beads would include labradorites; agates, of which there are several colors available including:

Indian agates (olive and blue greens and rust-red darkening to black, e.g. https://flowerofcarmelrosaries.com/product/st-michael-protect-us-rosary-in-mixed-natural-color-indian-agates/);

fire agates (orange-to-red, e.g. https://flowerofcarmelrosaries.com/product/bronze-scapular-rosary-with-fire-agate-aves-and-ocean-blue-agate-paters/ );

agates such as tree agates (green on white), sea blue, teal, and emerald green banded agates;

amethysts (https://flowerofcarmelrosaries.com/product/amethyst-rosary-with-marian-crown-center-mother-of-pearl-crucifix-our-lady-of-lourdes-february/);

garnets;

red tiger-eye;

carnelian;

red jade;

red net jasper (see https://flowerofcarmelrosaries.com/product/st-joseph-rosary-of-red-net-jasper-and-carnelian-with-sterling-crucifix/ ).

Birthstone-colored crystals are also available.

Rosaries for the Knights usually had a very plain crucifix until the reign of Pope St. John Paul II, when his log-armed crucifix generally became the one seen on the Knights’ rosaries, which were mainly of plastic beads heat-sealed onto a specific unbreakable chain (not individually mounted on eye pins) with pewter/silver-plated parts.