Aug

2010

Style At Large

By Michael Macko

Menswear veteran and Valet's Editor at Large, Michael Macko, presents an insider's take on what's new and noteworthy in the world of style.

Just the Facts:
Jewelry with a Past

Who:

Get Back Designs

What:

The Original St. Christopher Surf Medal

Where:

Getbackdesigns.com

When:

Available now

FYI

The medal's popularity increased after it was reported that James Dean had left his medal behind on the bedside table before taking a last fateful drive in his Porsche 550 Spyder.

Why:

Saint Christopher is widely known as the patron saint of travelers, but he also oversees bachelors, fruit dealers, epileptics and surfers as well.

Apparently, he started watching over surfers back in the 1960s when their girlfriends gave them the enameled medals to guarantee a safe return from a day on the waves. The vintage medals now go for hundreds on eBay, vintage stores and places like RRL. But you can still get the original for as little as $16 (other options can go as high as $50).

I first heard about them a few years ago when I was on vacation in Hawaii with my ex. We stumbled across them in a little surf shop on Maui and bought one for each other. When we returned home, my ex surprised me by having my medal engraved on the back. It reads "always return," and I still wear it to this day.