Turkish Jewelry Traditions: Wedding Gold, Nazar, Maşallah and Şahmeran

In Turkey, gold jewelry is part of life's big moments: guests pin gold onto a bride and groom at their wedding, newborns receive gold coins and small charms, and blue nazar beads are worn to turn away envy. Gold here is a gift, a blessing and a family's savings all at once, which is why it is bought and given so often.

Our family has worked as goldsmiths inside Istanbul's Grand Bazaar for three generations. These are the customs we see at our counter every week, described as they are practiced, with the understanding that traditions vary from region to region and family to family.

Gold at weddings: the takı ceremony

At many Turkish weddings there is a moment called the takı, from the verb takmak, to attach or put on. The couple stand together while relatives and guests come up one by one to pin gold onto them, usually onto a red sash or ribbon, or to put bracelets and necklaces on the bride.

• Gold coins are the most common gift. The quarter coin, çeyrek altın, is the everyday choice, with half and full coins from closer family.
• Bracelets, often heavy bangles, are traditionally given to the bride by the closest family, especially the groom's side.
• Necklaces and sets may be given by parents and grandparents.

In many weddings the gifts are announced aloud as they are given. The gold is the couple's to keep, and for many young couples it forms a starting fund for their new home. Turkish gold coins are 22 karat, higher than the 14K used for most jewelry; our guide to the gold karat chart explains the difference.

Engagement rings and the red ribbon

At a traditional engagement (nişan), the couple's rings are often joined by a red ribbon. A respected elder of the family cuts the ribbon, and the couple are then engaged. Plain gold bands remain the most common choice, worn on the right hand during engagement and moved to the left at the wedding in many families.

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The nazar: blue against the evil eye

The nazar boncuğu, a blue glass bead with an eye at its center, is the most familiar Turkish symbol. It reflects the widespread belief that admiring or envious looks can bring bad luck, and the bead is thought to absorb that look. You will see it on doors, in cars, on baby clothes and in jewelry. When a nazar bead cracks, the traditional explanation is that it has done its job, and it is replaced.

In gold jewelry, the nazar appears as enamel, glass or blue stones set in pendants, bracelets and rings. We cover its history in depth in the Turkish evil eye (nazar) meaning.

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Maşallah: words of admiration

Maşallah is an Arabic expression used widely in Turkish, roughly meaning "what God has willed". People say it when praising a child, a new home or good news, as a way of expressing admiration without inviting envy. It is also made into small gold charms and pins, often in flowing script, and is a common gift for babies, frequently alongside a nazar bead. Many families who give it see it as a cultural blessing as much as a religious phrase.

The crescent and star

The crescent and star form the Turkish flag, and a crescent and star pendant is worn by many Turks, at home and abroad, as a sign of national pride and connection to the country. It is a popular gift for students leaving to study abroad, for national holidays and for Turks living far from home.

14K Solid Gold Crescent Moon Star Necklace View Crescent Moon Star Necklace on Etsy 14K Solid Gold Turquoise Star Pendant Necklace View Turquoise Star Pendant Necklace on Etsy

Şahmeran: the queen of the serpents

Şahmeran is a figure from Anatolian and Mesopotamian folklore: a wise queen with the head of a woman and the body of a snake, who ruled the serpents in an underground realm. Her story is especially associated with Mardin and with Tarsus in southern Turkey, and is told in several versions.

In the best-known telling, a young man named Camsap falls into her cave and lives among the serpents. Şahmeran teaches him their wisdom and lets him go only after he promises never to reveal where she lives. Years later, a sick king is told that only Şahmeran's flesh can cure him, and Camsap's secret is discovered. Şahmeran is captured, but before her death she arranges for her wisdom and healing to pass on. In some regions she is still considered a protector of homes and of women.

Her image is traditional in Mardin's silverwork and painted glass, and in the jewelry trade her name became linked with hand chains: bracelets joined by a chain across the back of the hand to a ring, which many Turkish jewelers call Şahmeran pieces. Our hand chain bracelet guide explains how they are worn.

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Gold for newborns

When a baby is born, family and friends who visit often bring gold. A quarter gold coin pinned to the baby's clothes or pillow with a nazar bead is the classic gift. Small gold bracelets, maşallah pins and name bracelets are also common. The coins are usually kept by the parents as savings for the child.

If you are choosing gold for a baby, size and safety matter: a secure clasp, smooth edges and no small charms that could come loose. Our baby gold bracelet guide covers what to look for, and our kids collection has engravable pieces.

Gold as savings: the altın günü

Gold is also a way to save. In an altın günü ("gold day"), a group of women meets regularly at a different member's home, and each guest brings an agreed amount of gold for the host. Over a full cycle, everyone receives a turn. It is a social gathering and a savings plan in one.

The Grand Bazaar and the gold trade

Istanbul's Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) dates back to the fifteenth century, soon after the Ottoman conquest of the city, and is one of the oldest covered markets in the world. Gold and jewelry have been central to it for centuries. Its main jewelers' street, Kalpakçılar Caddesi, is lined with gold shops, and workshops in the surrounding inns and lanes still make pieces by hand. Buying gold here is often a conversation over tea, with time to look, compare and ask questions.

That is the spirit we try to keep in our Etsy shop. Read more in our Istanbul Grand Bazaar jewelry guide, or browse our hand chains.

Frequently asked questions

What is the gold pinning tradition at Turkish weddings?

It is called the takı ceremony. Guests and relatives pin gold coins onto the couple or give the bride bracelets and necklaces, and the gold becomes the couple's savings.

What does maşallah mean on jewelry?

Maşallah roughly means "what God has willed" and is said to express admiration without inviting envy. On jewelry it is a blessing, often given to babies with a nazar bead.

Why is gold given to newborns in Turkey?

Gold is a blessing and a practical gift. Visitors often pin a gold coin to the baby's clothes, and the parents keep it as savings for the child.

Who is Şahmeran?

Şahmeran is a half-woman, half-serpent queen from Anatolian and Mesopotamian folklore, linked especially with Mardin and Tarsus. Her name is used in the Turkish jewelry trade for hand chain bracelets.

What karat are Turkish gold coins?

Turkish gold coins such as the çeyrek are 22 karat. Most jewelry, including ours, is made in 14K for durability.