Bespoke · Armenian alphabet
Armenian initial pendant
Your initial, or that of someone you love, in one of the letters Mesrop Mashtots created around the year 405. Drawn by hand, modelled in 3D and cast in the family workshop in Yerevan.
A letter with 1,600 years of history
The Armenian alphabet has 38 letters today: the 36 of Mesrop Mashtots and two added in the Middle Ages, Օ and Ֆ. Their shapes have barely changed in sixteen centuries, and many Armenian families wear them on rings, pendants and baptism crosses.
For someone who does not read Armenian, the letter works as a symbol: a beautiful form whose meaning only the wearer knows.
How to choose your letter
We start from the sound of the name, not its spelling: Anna begins with Ա, Sophie with Ս, Mark with Մ, Gabriel with Գ. If a name starts with a sound Armenian does not have, we find the closest letter together, or use the person’s Armenian name.
Choose a single initial, two interlaced, or an initial framed by an Armenian ornament such as the eternity sign.
Who it is for
It is a frequent gift for baptisms, birthdays and anniversaries, for godparents, and for anyone who wants to carry something of their Armenian family. And for anyone who simply falls for the shape of a letter.
Metal and finish
The current line is cast in brass and finished by hand: high polish, satin, or with the relief darkened. Size, thickness and chain are decided with you.
An approximate preview. Momik draws every letter by hand for your piece; some sounds have more than one option in Armenian.
Кулон с армянской буквой: ваш инициал, отлитый и отполированный вручную.
The 38 letters of the Armenian alphabet
| Letter | Name | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Ա ա | ayb | a |
| Բ բ | ben | b |
| Գ գ | gim | g |
| Դ դ | da | d |
| Ե ե | yech | e / ye |
| Զ զ | za | z |
| Է է | e | e |
| Ը ը | ët | ë |
| Թ թ | tʼo | tʼ |
| Ժ ժ | zhe | zh |
| Ի ի | ini | i |
| Լ լ | lyun | l |
| Խ խ | khe | kh |
| Ծ ծ | tsa | ts |
| Կ կ | ken | k |
| Հ հ | ho | h |
| Ձ ձ | dza | dz |
| Ղ ղ | ghat | gh |
| Ճ ճ | che | ch |
| Մ մ | men | m |
| Յ յ | hi | y |
| Ն ն | nu | n |
| Շ շ | sha | sh |
| Ո ո | vo | o / vo |
| Չ չ | chʼa | chʼ |
| Պ պ | pe | p |
| Ջ ջ | je | j |
| Ռ ռ | ra | rr |
| Ս ս | se | s |
| Վ վ | vev | v |
| Տ տ | tyun | t |
| Ր ր | re | r |
| Ց ց | tsʼo | tsʼ |
| Ւ ւ | hyun | w |
| Փ փ | pʼyur | pʼ |
| Ք ք | kʼe | kʼ |
| Օ օ | o | o |
| Ֆ ֆ | fe | f |
From letter to pendant
- 1.
Choose the letter
Use the preview below or send us the name.
- 2.
Sketch
Momik draws the letter and the pendant frame.
- 3.
3D render
You approve the model before it is cast.
- 4.
Cast and finished
Cast in Yerevan and finished by hand.
Frequently asked questions
How many letters are in the Armenian alphabet?
38 in everyday use: the 36 created by Mesrop Mashtots around 405 AD plus Օ and Ֆ, added in the Middle Ages. Reformed spelling also counts the ligature և.
Which Armenian letter matches my name?
It depends on the first sound. For example Anna → Ա, Sophie → Ս, Mark → Մ, Elena → Ե. Send us the name and we will suggest the letter.
Can I have two initials?
Yes, interlaced or side by side, in Armenian or Latin letters.
Is it a good baptism gift?
Yes, it is one of our most frequent commissions. Write to us early so we can meet the date.
What metal is it?
The current line is cast in brass and finished by hand. Ask us about other options.