Choosing a christening gift means looking for an object that lasts through the years without going out of style or wearing out. Since 2014, Atelier Paulin has handcrafted jewelry in Paris from gold or silver wire, designed to mark a birth or a christening with a name, an initial, or a date. In this article, we guide you toward the models best suited to this occasion, for the child as well as for the mom, with the shipping times, materials, and personalization rules actually used at the atelier.
Why handcrafted jewelry for a christening?
A christening calls for a gift that goes beyond a toy or an item of clothing: an object the child can wear, keep, or pass down later. At Atelier Paulin, each piece is born from a single strand of precious metal wire, handcrafted into a unique shape, never cast in a mold. The name or initial is shaped directly into the wire, where a motif would elsewhere be cut into a flat surface: the difference can be felt to the touch, in continuous relief rather than in a groove.
This technique calls for a precise gesture: the artisan bends the gold or silver wire letter by letter, then the entire piece is work-hardened, meaning worked cold to give it its shape memory and resilience. The handcrafted wire is then reinforced by laser micro-welding at points of tension, never welded in the air.
For a birth or christening gift, this sturdiness matters: the piece is meant to last, not to be replaced in two years. Our christening jewelry is gathered in a dedicated collection, designed for this particular moment in the life of the child and their family.
If you're looking for other ideas around a birth, our selection of handcrafted birth gifts features complementary pieces, for the child as well as for the parents.
What jewelry to give the child for their christening?
For the child, two families of models are particularly well suited to a christening: initial models and handcrafted-word models.
The "Initial" models carry one or more letters, referring to one or more names: a discreet way to inscribe the child's identity on a delicate piece of jewelry, without displaying the full name. The "Capital" and "Initial Capital" models, meanwhile, offer lettering in capital letters, visually bolder.
For a full name, the handcrafted word appears in cursive, entirely in lowercase, except for the "J," which is capitalized when it opens the word. Accents and apostrophes cannot be handcrafted; spaces, however, can be added on request, and simple symbols can be included depending on the request made to the atelier.
As for material, 925 sterling silver (an alloy of 92.5% pure silver) is particularly well suited to a child's skin: it is hypoallergenic and antibacterial. 14k gold-filled, also known as Gold Filled, is a warmer alternative in yellow or rose tone, which does not mind bath or pool water.
To widen the choice beyond the christening, the kids' gift collection brings together other handcrafted pieces suited to younger ones.
Birth gift for mom: marking motherhood at the same time
A christening is also an occasion to give a birth gift for mom, honoring the mother as much as the child. This is in fact often what guests attending the ceremony are looking for: a piece of jewelry that speaks of motherhood, not just the newborn.
The Mantra Original Necklace is particularly well suited to this purpose: it accommodates a short phrase or up to five names, handcrafted from a single, continuous strand of gold or silver wire. A mother of several children can thus bring all the names together on a single piece. The Richelieu Duo Necklace, more understated, allows two names to be personalized, a frequent choice for a birth that adds to an older sibling already present.
For this search for a birth gift for mom, the Original Personalized Bracelet remains the most requested piece: it is the creation the atelier started with, handcrafted letter by letter. Many mothers wear it on their wrist in addition to the necklace, as a discreet, everyday reminder.
For a wider choice of jewelry designed specifically for her, the gift collection for her brings together all of the atelier's women's models, personalized or not.
And dad? A gift that includes fathers too
A christening also brings the father together, and more and more families choose to give handcrafted jewelry for the occasion, on the father's side as well as the mother's. A chain bracelet in 925 sterling silver or 14k gold-filled, bearing the child's initial or name, can be worn every day without drawing attention.
The models offered for fathers favor discreet lettering, in a single initial or a short word, handcrafted in the same way as the pieces designed for mothers: a single precious wire, work-hardened after handcrafting to hold its shape over time.
We have devoted an entire article to this question, detailing the models suited to a young father and the materials recommended for everyday wear.
To widen the search to other occasions throughout the year, the gift collection for him brings together all of our men's pieces, handcrafted in Paris.
Materials, shipping times, and personalization: what to know before ordering
Three materials are offered at the atelier: 925 sterling silver, 14k gold-filled (available only in yellow and rose), and 18k gold, available in yellow, rose, and white, hallmarked and certified.
As for shipping times, pieces in 925 sterling silver and 14k gold-filled are shipped within 24 to 48 working hours, those in 18k gold within 1 to 3 working days. Home delivery is added on top of that: your piece is delivered in France in 1 to 3 working days after shipping; for abroad, the delivery time for each zone is shown at checkout. For a christening planned on a fixed date, it is best to order with both the shipping time and delivery time in mind.
In Paris, two options exist for those in a hurry: personalization directly at the atelier in about thirty minutes, or same-day courier delivery.
Each piece is presented in a gift box, with no pouch or separate certificate. A piece personalized with the chosen name or initial cannot be exchanged or refunded, unlike a non-personalized piece.
For loved ones unsure of the exact model, the Atelier Paulin gift card lets the parents or godmother make the final choice, without committing to the personalization on their behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions
What jewelry to give for a christening when the final name isn't known yet?
It is possible to choose a model even before the name is announced, then enter the personalization once it is known: the piece is then shipped within 24 to 48 working hours in 925 sterling silver and 14k gold-filled, within 1 to 3 working days in 18k gold. An Atelier Paulin gift card also remains a simple option: it leaves the parents or godmother free to choose the model and the exact name to be handcrafted themselves, with no deadline pressure for the giver.
Can a christening piece carry several names on it?
Yes, certain models allow this. The Mantra Original Necklace accommodates up to five names on a single piece, useful for siblings or to pair the child with older brothers and sisters. The Richelieu Duo Necklace, more understated, is limited to two names. Initial models can also carry several letters, each referring to a different name, for a more discreet version of the same idea.
Can the child's name be handcrafted with an accent?
No, the atelier does not handcraft accents or apostrophes into the precious wire, whatever material is chosen. For a name that includes one, it is possible to handcraft it without the accent, or to choose an initial rather than a full word. Spaces, on the other hand, can be added on request between several elements, for example between two initials.
Can a silver christening piece withstand bathing and everyday water?
925 sterling silver is a living metal: on contact with air or moisture, a fine, natural, and reversible oxidation may appear, without affecting the quality of the piece. It is best to remove it before swimming, showering, or sports. 14k gold-filled, on the other hand, does not mind water and can be worn every day, with one exception: remove it during intense physical activity to preserve the delicacy of the handcrafting.
Can a christening piece be exchanged after the ceremony?
A piece handcrafted with the name or initial chosen by the family cannot be exchanged or refunded, since it was made to order. A non-personalized piece, however, remains eligible for an exchange or refund under the conditions in effect at the time of purchase.
Discover Atelier Paulin's collection of handcrafted christening jewelry, in Paris since 2014.
Article written by Emma Van Baal, Editorial, Atelier Paulin.
