Rock Your Religion Jewelry

Rock Your Religion was founded by the mother-daughter team of Maria and Barbara Serbes in 2006. This restored version of the original site was created with the invaluable assistance of Bob Sakayama, who optimized it to perform at the top of the search rankings. The original launch party was held in downtown New York on April 28, 2007, at Kevin Heaphy Fitness (a vast first floor warehouse space featuring a juice bar, couches, and art) in Soho. Their unique jewelry designs combined ancient religious symbols with a rock star infusion aesthetic. In addition to selling their jewelry, Rock Your Religion was a partner of the VH1 Save the Music Foundation. A percentage of sales from Rock Your Religion helps the VH1 Save The Music Foundation ensure that public school students have access to a complete, quality education that includes music.

I really liked their artistic hip looks. This passion for aesthetics led me to wish for a fashionable accessory to keep my valuables safe. Bob Sakayama often talked about the importance of safeguarding our cherished items, just as he safeguarded the online presence of Rock Your Religion. I've been known to absentmindedly place my valuables in the most inappropriate places, leading to unnecessary wear and tear. Having a trendy holder would not only be a statement piece but also a practical solution to my all-too-frequent mishaps.

Anyway, I was sadden to see that the Rock Your Religion had disappeared from the web. The website's domain must have expired. I wish the mother / daughter duo were still selling their line of jewelry. I've searched for it online. Then much to my surprise I recently discovered that the Rock Your Religion domain was available to buy. I bought the domain with the goal of recreating as much of its original content as possible from archived pages. I did not want someone else to purchase the domain and re-purpose the site for something that had nothing in common with the original website. Please be indulgent, if it is not exactly as you remember it.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS PAGE CONTAINS SELECTED ARCHIVED CONTENT FROM THE ORIGINAL SITE.

 

re-li-gion (ri-lij-uhn) noun.
A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe.
rock (rok) verb.

Wear with conviction your Rock Your Religion;jewelry.
Unisex. Heavy Metals and Italian Leathers. Proudly crafted in the USA.

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GENESIS


1965. Fort Bliss. Plano, Texas.

Jimmy and Maria poolside during one of her visits to the army base where Jimmy was stationed. Jimmy’s rockin’ his Chi Rho.

This photo of my parents has been the source of many smiles and countless comical stories, entertaining our family for years. For this reason, it seems only natural for this picture to appear on the website of this company, for my parents’ are the inspiration for its creation.

They met at a Greek Church dance in Brooklyn in the summer of 1964. They are both amazing dancers and were immediately impressed by each other’s moves. You’ve never seen anybody do the Lindy like Jimmy and Maria and they quickly became the envy of the dance floor. When the dance was over, they agreed to see each other again VERY SOON.

Their first official date was to the World’s Fair in New York City. With not a cent between them, Jimmy asked Maria if she wouldn’t mind “jumping the fence.” Surprisingly, Maria agreed and the date was underway. While exploring the exhibits, people, and vendors, Maria spotted a very interesting looking pendant that, at first glance, resembled a peace sign. It seemed familiar. Jimmy agreed it looked familiar but couldn’t place it. One thing they were sure of, they LOVED it, and would have bought one, if only they had cash. An ATM would have been ideal, but this story takes place in 1964, and therefore they left the World’s Fair that night pendant-less, though extremely smitten with each other.

Throughout that fall, Jimmy and Maria continued dating and eventually began ‘going steady.’ Maria wanted to get something special for her boyfriend for Christmas and began researching the pendant they had seen on their first date.

It turned out to be the Chi Rho, a symbol of Christ made up by the Greek letters Chi (X) and Rho (P).  Maria realized why it seemed familiar…she had seen it in church! She read more about this important ancient symbol and learned that it's a good luck charm with an ancient history. The story goes like this...

In 312 AD, emperor Constantine had a vision of the chi rho symbol in the sky, accompanied by the Greek words, 'en touto nika,' which means ‘in this sign you will conquer.’

Constantine had this symbol emblazoned on the shields of his troops, and although outmanned, defeated the enemy and became sole emperor of the roman empire.

In the meantime, Jimmy had joined the US Army and would be leaving Brooklyn to be stationed in Plano, Texas after the holidays. Maria quickly realized that there couldn’t be a better gift than a Chi Rho pendant for her ‘Greek Soldier Boy,’ especially after reading the story of Constantine’s army. And so on Christmas Day, 1964, she presented him with what would be the first of many handmade, 14 karat gold Chi Rho pendants in our family.

Jimmy loved his new pendant and while he was away, wore it every day as a reminder of his beautiful Brooklyn girl waiting for him back home.

That is the story of how the Chi Rho brought my mother and father together. Jimmy and Maria got married in 1968 and had my older brother and I. Luckily, the jeweler that created Jimmy’s original piece let Maria keep the mold, which enabled her to re-create my dad’s pendant for my brother and me years later. Forty-two years later, my dad still rocks his Chi Rho every day!

The Chi Rho symbol is how we rock our religion. ; To us, it’s not just a beautiful piece of jewelry, but an extension of who we are and where our place is in the world…it’s part of our family experience.

With the launch of our company, we invite you and your family to have your own religious jewelry experience… to Rock Your Religion…your own way.

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Products

The Howie Pendant by Rock Your Religion

Howie Dorough (Howie D. of the Backstreet Boys) and Rock Your Religion team up to conquer Lupus! We designed this pendant to be worn with courage, strength, hope and love: the cornerstones of Rock Your Religion and the principles of the Dorough Lupus Foundation.

One side of the pendant is Rock Your Religion’s signature Chi Rho Symbol, which represents the empowering Greek phrase En Touto Nika, ‘In This Sign, You Will Conquer.’ Howie’s signature is etched into the other side, symbolizing his belief in this powerful phrase.

The Howie Pendant is a zinc alloy disc that is 1” in diameter. Wear two pendants layered, one short and one long to show both sides like Howie does! The 24” nickel plated chain is adjustable…just cut it where you want it! Totally rockable by guys AND girls!

Rock This Pendant With Pride!! Proceeds from your purchase of the Howie Pendant by Rock Your Religion go to the Dorough Lupus Foundation. The Foundation was established in memory of Caroline Dorough-Cochran, Howie’s sister who lost her life to the devastating disease, Lupus. It is the objective of Howie and his family through the Dorough Lupus Foundation to be the most prominent and compassionate Lupus Advocacy group around the world, aiding and supporting individuals and families affected by Lupus.

For more info on the Dorough Lupus Foundation, go to www.doroughlupusfoundation.org

International Orders:

Rock Your Religion strictly follows all international regulations regarding export to other countries. A variety of customs fees, taxes, and duties may be charged on orders sent outside of the United States, which are out of our control. Customer agrees that they are responsible for any charges incurred to obtain possession of package. Customer is fully responsible for such fees and taxes. If a customer fails to claim a package due to refusal to pay customs fees, we will not issue a refund even if the goods are returned to us.

We WILL NOT accept returns or issue credits for products shipped outside of the United States for any reason. Those reasons include: Package unclaimed by customer, Delivery refused by customer, Customer unable or unwilling to pay Customs fees and taxes, Package is rejected by Customs and returned to us, or any other reason.

Baby Got Black

Studded Jet black Italian leather studded cuff rockin’ the chi rho of your choice.
Unisex.
1.25” wide.

from $125.00

  • Sterling Sliver Chi Rho Classic for $125.00
  • Sterling Silver Chi Rho Mania for $125.00
  • 14 Karat Gold Chi Rho Classic for $300.00
  • 14 Karat Gold Chi Rho Mania for $300.00

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Chi Rho Classic Pendant

 

Sterling Silver or 14k gold.
1” diameter.

A 32” brass or nickel plated bead chain is complimentary with your purchase for instant wearability. You can wear it long or cut it to your preferred shorter length. Feel free to rock your own chain! This piece is made by hand just for you…please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.Bottom of Form

  • Sterling Silver for $100.00
  • 14 Karat Gold for $250.00

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Beat It!: Studded

Beat up and distressed Italian leather studded cuff rockin’ the chi rho of your choice.
Unisex.
1.25” wide.

  • Sterling Sliver Chi Rho Classic for $75.00
  • Sterling Silver Chi Rho Mania for $75.00
  • 14 Karat Gold Chi Rho Classic for $300.00
  • 14 Karat Gold Chi Rho Mania for $300.00

 

Collections

 

Cross Collection

Our Crosses Rock!

The most common and widely used emblem to represent Christianity. A representation of the structure on which Jesus was crucified.

A 32” brass or nickel plated bead chain is complimentary with your purchase for instant wear-ability. You can wear it long or cut it to your preferred shorter length. Feel free to rock your own chain.

Pendants: $100.00

Koukla Cross


1 5/8 ”high x 1 1/8” wide. Choose from 4 rockin’ metals. This piece is made by hand just for you…please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.

  • Sterling Silver for $100.00
  • 14 Karat Gold for $350.00
  • White Gold for $400.00
  • Platinum for $1,500.00

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STAR OF DAVID Collection


Star of David Cuffs

The Star of David is a generally recognized symbol of the Jewish community and Judaism. It is named after King David of ancient Israel.
All of our cuffs are hand crafted from genuine Italian leather and our precious metal symbols are removable for easy cleaning.
The more you wear them, the better they look! Family Heirloom Worthy.

Our pieces are made by hand just for you…please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.

Star of David Pendants

The Star of David is a generally recognized symbol of the Jewish community and Judaism. It is named after King David of ancient Israel.
A 32” brass or nickel plated bead chain is complimentary with your purchase for instant wear-ability. You can wear it long or cut it to your preferred shorter length. Feel free to rock your own chain.

Our pieces are made by hand just for you…please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.

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PEACE Collection

Peace Cuffs

The peace symbol was designed on February 21, 1958 by Gerald Holtom, a commercial designer and artist in Britian. It’s a combination of the signals for the letters N and D, standing for Nuclear Disarmament. In semaphore the letter “N” is formed by a person holding two flags in an upside-down “V,” and the letter “D” is formed by holding one flag pointed straight up and the other pointed straight down. These two signals imposed over each other form the shape of the peace symbol. It was later generalized to become an icon of the 1960s anti-war movement.

Peace Pendants

The peace symbol was designed on February 21, 1958 by Gerald Holtom, a commercial designer and artist in Britain. It’s a combination of the signals for the letters N and D, standing for Nuclear Disarmament. In semaphore the letter “N” is formed by a person holding two flags in an upside-down “V,” and the letter “D” is formed by holding one flag pointed straight up and the other pointed straight down. These two signals imposed over each other form the shape of the peace symbol. It was later generalized to become an icon of the 1960's anti-war movement.

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