Some of the Cheapest Jewelry on Amazon (Under One Dollar) Can Make Cool Christmas Gifts

Amazon has made a list of "Cheap Stuff Under $1 on Amazon.com." Now, prices vary all the time, so the products on the original list are not all under one dollar anymore. Some are even above $5. But there are some great ideas in there.

NB: I have updated this article in January 2021.

The symbolism of dragonflies is rather interesting. While it's been mainly negative in Western cultures, it's positive in Eastern and Native American ones. Dragonflies are a good luck charm in China, and a sign of happiness in Native American cultures. Various cultures, including the latter, also connect dragonflies with speed and agility. What impresses me most is the dragonfly's elegance, and the way it's comfortable on both land and water, and in the air. There's also the fact that as it lives most of its life as a nymph, it gets to fly only for a few months in its life. But then it does so beautifully, and it's able to see around in 360 degrees. So lots to think about. Not to mention the staggering beauty of this creature, with its filigree-like wings and iridescent body.

If you're into owls, there are nice necklaces on Amazon that you may like. Owls have a powerful symbolism too, as they are considered both a harbinger of death and revered as a companion of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, thus becoming associated with wisdom themselves. And not only because of Athena but also because most of them are nocturnal creatures and can thus see into the night. (Maybe that's how it became associated with Athena in the first place.) Owls are also associated with intelligence, intuition, mystery, and so on. This dual symbolism of owls, both negative and positive, is quite intriguing.

In recent years, owls have become quite popular after the massive success of the Harry Potter series. Harry Potter may have had something to do, I imagine, with the widespread adoption of owls in popular culture and fashion. As a parallel development, from falconry, owls have made their way to weddings as ring bearers. I wrote about it here.

So if you love owls, or know someone who does, you could get him/her an owl pendant and necklace, such as the silver-plated one with abalone shell I'm showing below.

But maybe you prefer octopus necklaces. They're marketed as goth punk or steampunk necklaces. (For a quick introduction to the steampunk subculture and its looks, see here about steampunk jewelry and here about steampunk costumes). I'm learning the octopus is actually a classic symbol of the steampunk subculture. Apparently it has to do with Jules Verne's books. Jules Verne, with his interest in Victorian technology, fits well with the spirit of steampunk. As you may know, he described lots of voyages at sea.

The octopus as a symbol is intriguing. This sea creature, with its four pairs of arms, is quite agile and a fast learner. It is venomous (I'm reading though that only one group is deadly to humans) and good at survival. When it can't hide (it's good at camouflaging/pretending it's not an octopus) or fight otherwise, it ejects a black ink and gets lost. But the symbolism of the octopus is also related to that of the spiral. Just notice the spiral motion of its limbs. Among other things, the spiral has been connected to how the universe unfolds. Spirals are connected to the natural world, to life cycles, changes, and evolution. It also symbolizes spiritual growth and expansion. It is, in fact, one symbol of the life force. Spirals are also associated with water, and obviously octopuses are too.

An octopus necklace might be a cool gift for a teenager in your life who derides other pendants as being too cute.

Another cool gift you can find on Amazon is a retro camera pendant that comes with a nice-looking chain necklace. It has a cool finish, too. I certainly want one of these. Haven't seen one around, in stores or at Christmas stalls, but there are several intriguing models on Amazon.

There used to be some cute one-dollar rings on Amazon, in stainless steel with cubic zirconia, which would have made nice Christmas gifts. Some of them I really liked. Unfortunately, they're all gone, so I'm showing instead a ring with a Celtic knot.

Going back to the realm of nature, there's a peacock hair clip that used to sell for under $1. Unlike another peacock piece I found for under $1, this one seems to be made well. Reviewers say they're happy with it, both in terms of looks and sturdiness, and that it serves well its functional purpose of clipping the hair firmly in place.

This gift will also be in tune with Christmas, since peacocks are often associated with renewal, immortality, and Jesus Christ, and, as such, represented in Nativity scenes. The peacock sheds its beautiful feathers every year, and gets brighter ones each time. There are also lots of eyes on his long tail, which have had people think of the eye of God.

Butterflies are symbols of change and transformation. As they're also so light of matter, they are also associated with the human soul and the spirit world, and often seen as indicative of the spirit of someone deceased passing by.

In still lives of the Dutch Golden Age (approx. the 17th century), filled with references to the transience of life, wealth, and earthly pleasures, alongside with many Christian symbols which are now harder to perceive as such (e.g., bread for the body of Christ, or snails for the Immaculate Conception), butterflies are used as symbols of the soul as well as of the Resurrection of Christ.

But regardless of these more heavyweight spiritual interpretations, butterflies are also a symbol of joy, playfulness, spontaneity, lightness of affect, color, and beauty -- and for this reason(s) butterfly necklaces make great gifts for girls of all ages, as well as for many older people who appreciate nature, lightness of spirit, beauty, and innocence.

Have a Beautiful Holiday Season!