At 67, I Finally Found a Cross I Actually Want to Wear Every Day
A LETTER FROM A READER
AT 67, I FINALLY FOUND A CROSS I ACTUALLY WANT TO WEAR EVERY DAY
Margaret PembertonBoston · August 9, 2026
I almost didn't write this, because faith is a private thing and it felt odd to write about a necklace. But a woman at church asked about it after the service, and then my daughter did, and I've explained it enough times now that it seemed easier to put it down properly.
My old cross had seen better days. It was a thin little thing that had gone dull years ago, the chain forever tangling, and truthfully I'd stopped wearing it. I wanted something I could keep close every day — a reminder I could reach up and feel — without it looking tarnished or feeling cheap. It seemed a small thing to ask, and yet nothing I found was quite right.
"I wanted my faith close to me — something to hold on a hard morning — in a piece that actually felt like it meant something."
HOW IT HAPPENS
Nobody means to stop wearing something that matters to them. The chain tangles, the shine goes, the clasp is fiddly — so it stays in the drawer. And a little thing that used to be a daily comfort quietly slips out of your day without you deciding it should.
WHAT I HAD WRONG
I'd assumed something meaningful and something well-made were two different price brackets. The Joshua is both. It's from Bennett Boston, an American label that's been quietly dressing women our age for a good twenty years.
It's a proper crucifix pendant on a solid curb chain — substantial enough to feel like it means something, with a lovely warm shine that hasn't dulled a bit. It sits comfortably and isn't heavy, the clasp is easy for my hands, and it holds its shine day after day rather than going dark the way my old one did. You can have it as a chunky chain or a finer one; I chose the finer. It's become the first thing I put on in the morning.
WHAT HAPPENED AT CHURCH
A woman I've sat near for years leaned over after the service and asked where it was from — she'd been looking for one for her own daughter. My granddaughter, who notices everything, said it was "pretty." Mostly, though, it's a quiet thing: on a hard morning I can hold it for a moment and feel steadier. That's the whole thing at 67 — the small comforts matter more, not less.
THREE THINGS I'VE LEARNED SINCE
Weight makes it feel real. A little substance to it means it feels like it matters, not like a trinket.
The shine lasts. It hasn't dulled or darkened — it still catches the light the way it did on day one.
Easy to wear gets worn. The simple clasp and comfortable weight mean it actually stays on me, all day.
ABOUT THE PRICE
I'll be honest about why I'm writing this rather than just telling the ladies at church. The Joshua is currently $29.95, down from $60 — half off for their season sale — and when I checked this week they were going quickly. You can choose the chunky chain or the finer one, whichever you prefer.
Joshua | Cross Pendant Necklace
- A proper crucifix pendant with a warm, lasting shine — no dulling
- Comfortable to wear all day · easy clasp, not heavy
- Solid curb chain — choose chunky or finer
- A meaningful daily piece or a thoughtful gift · free delivery via USPS
Due to high demand for our season sale, these are selling quickly.
I keep my faith close again — something to hold on a hard morning, and it hasn't lost its shine.
Margaret Pemberton lives in Boston with her dog, Biscuit. Bennett Boston has over 20 years of experience delivering timeless fashion rooted in American heritage.
This page is a paid advertisement for Bennett Boston.