The main significance of this piece of jewelry is the belief that wearing it will bring special graces from the Virgin Mary, also known as Madonna. It is often worn to help strengthen the faith of a person in the Catholic tradition but can be worn by anyone with a Christian affiliation and respect for the Blessed Mother.

The origins of the miraculous medal date back to 1830 when Catherine Labouré, a young nun in Paris, saw a vision of Mary repeatedly. In each vision, she saw the Blessed Mother presented to her as standing inside an oval frame with an inscription around the frame that said, "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." The Virgin Mary could be seen in the vision as standing on a globe with rays of light coming from her hands in the direction of the globe. The nun's repeated visions also showed her that some of the rays of light were not touching the globe like the rest. When she asked Mary about these rays, she reportedly answered the nun by saying, "Those are the graces for which people forget to ask." Catherine Laboué also reported that Mary asked her to bring these visions and words to others in the form of a protective medallion so that, "All who wear them will receive great graces," according to Mary.

This special example has two depictions of Mary, one on each side, and its details are prominent throughout, making this an exceptional piece for any collection - historical and/or religious. 

Condition: Excellent condition.

Please view and inspect any photos closely. We endeavor to fully disclose all condition information clearly and concisely, however, please note that what qualifies as excellent condition for historical jewelry differs from modern and contemporary pieces; please take the age of the piece into account when examining the piece. Minor age wear is typical and to be expected for antique and vintage jewelry. Unless otherwise stated, gemstones have not been officially graded for color, clarity, or treatment by GIA; any information provided is our own educated, professional assessment.