The cross is one of the earliest and most widely recognized Christian symbols. The use of the cross as a Christian symbol starts with Christ Himself. Since, through His death, Christ sanctified the very implement of His torture, the cross has come to signify His victory over death and sin.

Though the cross has always been an important symbol of Christianity, religious cross jewelry was not widely used by early Christians. Since early Christians were often persecuted for their faith, it was not safe to openly display religious cross jewelry. Early Christians instead wore other forms of Christian jewelry, such as the Ichthys and the anchor. The Ichthys, two intersecting arcs resembling the profile of a fish, was probably used in Christian jewelry as a reference to Christ as “the fisher of men”. The anchor, or mariners cross, was used in early Christian jewelry as a symbol of hope based in the faith in Christ. By using these forms of Christian jewelry early Christians were able to avoid persecution.