Alex & Ani Compass Necklace

I love when pieces of jewelry carry some significance. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to pass up a piece that’s pretty, but I love when things have some meaning. Not just meaningful in that it reminds me of something or was given to me by someone, but also when it’s crafted with something symbolic in mind. That’s why I’m so happy I picked up the Alex & Ani Compass Necklace.

Alex & Ani are mostly known for their bracelets and although I have a few of their bracelets myself and I do love them I wanted to try out one of their other jewelry offerings. When browsing for a gift back in the fall I decided to also treat myself to this expandable necklace. The Alex & Ani Compass Necklace is a sliding pendant of a compass on an expandable chain. You can either wear the necklace at it’s longest length which is how I wore it in these picture or you can slide the adjusting beads away from each other thereby shortening the chain. Honestly, it’s all a bit confusing to me – knowing which way to slide and pull and I don’t really see myself wearing this necklace as a short pendant so I’ll probably keep it long.

Now that I’ve got that information out of the way, let me explain the significance of the compass and why I chose it. Not only is the compass design really cute, I love what it stands for. Alex & Ani describes it as,

“An instrumental aid, a compass provides guidance and navigation through life’s unexpected twists and turns. Each cardinal direction has a significant meaning. North represents home and infinite possibility. South embodies passion and the present. East signifies new beginnings and the future. West symbolizes emotion and the past. Wear the Compass Charm to guide you in the right direction.”