Top Three Most Popular Symbols in Biker Pendants

Biker pendants are valuable assets for every jewelry enthusiast. Not because they cost a pretty penny but because of the things they represent. These wearable symbols stand for such things as friendship, fraternity, toughness, masculinity, life, death, and everything in between. The biker subculture has adopted a one-of-a-kind system of symbols, and every one of them has a certain meaning. Below, we listed the top-three the most common images found in biker jewelry in general and pendants in particular.

Iron Cross

If you consider skulls a controversial symbol, what would you say about the Iron Cross, the infamous award of the Nazi army? But don’t jump to a conclusion; bikers are not followers of the ultra-right ideology, quite the opposite. And the Iron Cross itself is not exactly the invention of the Third Reich.

According to historians, the Teutonic cross served as the prototype of the Iron Cross. King Frederick William III of Prussia, proud of his historical links to the Teutonic Order and inspired by its main symbol, proposed making the Cross a military award. The Iron Cross received its official status in 1813. In the subsequent war of 1871, Prussia defeated the French troops, merged with Germany, and became part of the German Empire. In its turn, the Empire adopted many of the highest Prussian military awards, including the Iron Cross.

When Hitler took the reins of power into his hands, he modified the Iron Cross by slapping a swastika to the center as well as changing the color of the sash from black and white to black, white, and red.

Since the Iron Cross was a military award, getting one as a trophy was a sort of proof of courage and military skill for the soldiers of Allied powers. Upon returning home from the battlefield, former soldiers proudly put their trophy Iron Crosses on display. The defenders of the ‘American dream’ were the heroes in the eyes of the younger generation. These kids wanted to be like them, ride motorcycles like them, and wear Iron Crosses like them. Soon enough, the Iron Cross became a symbol of those who ride two-wheelers. However, motorcyclists didn’t want to wear a swastika with their crosses. They removed the odious symbol and covered the scratches on the Iron Cross with something better. This something was the skull.

Skull

But why the skull exactly?

The skull has a much longer history than the Iron Cross. People have venerated skulls since Paleolithic times. Our ancestors endowed skulls with protective functions, believing that they can safeguard against adversity and misfortune. When going hunting, men put on amulets made of claws, skulls, and bones of the animals they killed. Over time, the meaning of the skull evolved from protection to an indicator of masculinity, because the bravest and most dexterous wore more skulls than their less successful peers. Along with this, skulls became a way to intimidate the enemy.

Considering the role of the skull as a deterrent and a manifestation of masculinity, it came as no surprise that it soon found itself on military insignia. Here we should mention the Prussian army once again. It had a legendary squadron of Black Hussars who flaunted silver skulls and crossbones on their headdresses. Just like the Iron Cross, this skull was later inherited by the German Army. However, the skull was not a symbol of a certain army; rather, it represented militarism as a phenomenon. Therefore, the Allied army did not shun skull images either.

Particularly indicative in this regard are the American pilots of the Hells Angels squadron. Their go-to symbol was a winged skull engulfed in flames, which they applied to their aircraft and helmets. After returning home from war, the members of the Hells Angels established the very first biker club. They kept the name and the skull as their symbol. Soon enough, skullomania spread across the entire motorcycle riding community. Besides Hells Angels, a solid contribution to the recognition of the symbol was made by Mexican rings. These are the very first body ornaments, besides war trophies, that motorcyclists adopted as body ornaments. Just as their name suggests, they were made in Mexico, and Mexico reveres skulls as a sacred symbol.

To make skulls even more special, bikers came up with a curious legend saying that the skull is able to protect against death. When death comes after a person, it leaves a skull mark on their body. Hence, sterling silver skull pendants or rings tell death that its work is already done making it go away.

Eagles

This symbol gained traction with the biker subculture thanks to the Mexican rings as well. An eagle is a national symbol of Mexico known since the heyday of the Aztecs representing the sun and the god Huitzilopochtli. When crafting rings and other pieces of jewelry, Mexican proudly put their beloved symbol on display.

Bikers didn’t share the sentiments of the Aztec culture but they appreciated the beauty of the mighty bird. Besides, it was easy to attach new meaning to the image of an eagle. Freedom, speed, motion, and brutality – all these things bikers and eagles have in common. Besides, since the very first bikers were pilots in their military life, they have great respect for the creatures that can fly. Eagles became an integral element of the colors (emblems) of many motorcycle clubs. Even those clubs that prefer different symbols frequently complete them with wings to express the same meaning eagles stand for.

SHARE ON FACEBOOK SHARE ON TWITTER

About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.