Royal Arch Jewels/Medal Masonic Collectables
The Royal Arch is a body of the York (or American) Rite of Freemasonry, which also includes the Council of Royal and Select Masters and the Commandery of Knights Templar. Royal Arch jewels and medal masonic collectables are ideal for masons who are companions of Royal Arch chapters.
Different types of jewels, collectable and other regalia
The two main types of masonic or Royal Arch jewels are collar jewels and breast jewels.
Collar jewels are metal adornments that hang from a ribbon-like piece of material around your neck and down below the V of a regular suit jacket. This piece of material is known as a collar and is generally made from silk or velvet.
Breast jewels are medal-like metal pendants that hang from a short ribbon above the left breast or on your jacket pocket. The ribbon usually has a pin at the back to attach the jewel to your clothing. Each coloured ribbon represents a rank. Grand Officers and Provincial Grand Officers wear dark blue, crimson and light blue striped ribbons, Principals or Past Principal of a Chapter wear plain crimson ribbons and all other Companions wear plain white ribbons.
Symbols used on Royal Arch jewels
The designs of Royal Arch and masonic jewels are highly symbolic. Many jewels include designs with two concentric circles. The inner circle represents deity and the outer circle eternity. Inside the circles there may be two interlaced triangles, these look a little like the Star of David. These two triangles symbolise how man is both spiritual and material.
Often Royal Arch and masonic jewels include a 'triple tau' shape, which looks like a capital T linked at its base with two other T's on their sides. There are a number of explanations of what this means, including that it symbolises the holy trinity - the father, son and holy ghost.