Cornicello Amulet in 18K Gold, Coral and Silver

Italian Handmade Cornicello Charms

The cornicello (hornlet, Neapolitan horn, curniciello or cornetto) is a traditional Italian good luck charm, a symbol of prosperity, protection from the evil eye and fertility. Usually red and horn-shaped, it has ancient origins, linked to popular superstitions and pagan rituals, especially prevalent in southern Italy and rooted in Italian history for millennia.

History and Cultural roots of the Cornicello

The origins of the Italian Horn Necklace can be found in Neolithic times where among primitive peoples the horn, obviously of animal origin, was associated with:

• Virile Strength - it is a fact that the cornet resembles an erect male member

• Fertility - The phallus represents masculine energy, complementary to the feminine principle.

• Protection - nature gives horn to animals as a weapon and symbol of power (think of deer, think of the tusks of other animals) why not also use it as a shield against evil?

The Italian Horn Charm: Naples and Venetian Tradition

For Naples, the cornicello amulet is an identity, folkloric, almost sacred symbol: it is given as a gift to protect, worn to defend against envy, and passed from generation to generation as a family ritual.

For the Neapolitans the Horn Necklace is the greatest protector against the “evil eye”, it is a trouble-shooter, is the so called “panacea” to any kind of problem. As I mentioned in one of my posts, some people thought it could even cure COVID instead of the vaccine.

For Venetian craftsmanship and for Eredi Jovon, the lucky horn charm is a challenge to beauty, to attention to detail in the search for the most precious materials such as gold, stones and (red) enamels; it is a quest to add beauty to the heart, and style to protection!

Eredi Jovon, our Good luck Cornicello Collection

Our workshop offers the largest cornicellos collection available in the market. In fact, we have put together both our souls (the Neapolitan and the Venetian) to offer you this powerful and protective amulet in all its materials, shades and colors.

Let’s check the most popular materials for this good luck Italian talisman

• Italian Horn Amulet  in Coral

The most iconic cornicello is definitely the one made of red Italian coral, which together with the lucky charm shape presents the apotropaic material par excellence. It has always been known in Italy that red is the color of love, passion, wine, blood and ultimately life.

• Protective Cornicello Charm in Gold

Gold is not just a precious metal: it has always been considered a sacred metal, beneficial (because its color and reflections resemble the sun's rays) and charged with positive energy. Wearing an Italian good luck horn made of gold means combining the apotropaic power of the amulet with the power of one of the noblest metals. Obviously, the higher the gold content is, the greater the energetic and spiritual power of the talisman.

• Sterling Silver Horn shaped lucky charm

silver is the most reflective metal in nature (so much so that in antiquity it was often used to create mirrors), and of course its abilities are to keep evil influences away, indeed to send them back to the malevolent sender. Here this precious metal protects the wearer with the understated elegance of the moon, whose reflections it resembles, linking itself to femininity and intuition.

Why Choose an Eredi Jovon Italian Horn

Eredi Jovon offers you the cornicello talismanic charm in coral, gold and silver, with enamels or diamonds, smooth or worked with the fantastic techniques of the Venetian jewelry maker always famous for high quality and attention to detail.

Product materials and details for Cornicellos

As for coral, only Italian red coral is used that is certified in quality and origin because its eco-sustainability is guaranteed.

Speaking instead of gold, our Neapolitan good luck horns are made of 18 kt yellow gold to maintain a high level of quality and a Made in Italy guarantee is provided.

Finally, the sparkling “little horn of fortune” is created using only 925% silver (the kind you could kill werewolves with, by the way :)) which is often treated, when possible, with a rhodium finish.

Eredi Jovon: A family Affair since 1934

Tradition today is the real answer to the search for uniqueness and luxury. It is a value that only a few companies have and offers the guarantee of a quality product associated with the skill of those who have been doing this work for almost 100 years. In the world of jewelry, one cannot invent himself, but at the same time one must be projected into the future to create everyday new jewelry pieces.

The perfect Gift: a Cornicello charm

At Eredi Jovon you will find the perfect gift when it comes to lucky Italian horns. In fact, we are totally respectful of the Italian tradition that wants this Italian good luck charm to respect the basic canons and the most important of the rules, they must be Made in Italy.

The cornetto will look like this: pointed, twisted, red (in the case of coral or enamels) and possibly given as a gift (in case you want to give it to yourself no problem, it will still work) All our charms really work and can be further strengthened and their strength increased by reciting the activation formula. We’ll go in deep with it.

In this post of our blog you can discover the horn meaning in Italian tradition

Here the cornetto will be the ideal and traditional gift for 

- A person with Italian roots

- A person who needs himself a protective talisman

- A person who wants to give some good luck to a loved friend

So the protective horn amulet is perfect for the birthday of a boy with Italian roots who is turning 18, ideal for someone who wants to give some good luck to a friend who is going through a difficult time, it is a good omen for a couple who would like to have a baby soon, it is foolproof (at least psychologically) and a playful motive among friends for someone who thinks he is a "beast in the bed".

Italian good luck charms, whether it's a cornetto, figa hand, hand of Fatima, Nazar Eye, Manocorno, or any other apotropaic symbol, should be worn with intention and respect for its meaning and cultural roots.

How to take care of your Cornicello

How to take care of this amulet?

First of all, it is useful to focus on the material of which our lucky charm is made. In general:

1- for gold and silver, occasional use of a soft cloth (even jeweler's cloths soaked in polishing substances) will suffice.

Please note that white gold, silver and gold-plated silver require extra care and that use in the shower and at sea is not recommended but tolerable if occasional.

Strongly discouraged is use in spas and spa facilities.

2 - For coral the matter is very different: this precious material must be preserved from all agents that can alter its luster- Absolutely forbidden is use in the shower or sea, poorly tolerated are the chemicals that may be contained within perfumes, hairspray and creams.

When wearing coral, compare it to your favorite shirt and always ask yourself this question: would I wear it on this occasion?

3- Is there a way I should activate my Italian Cornicello?

Yes there is a traditional way Italians believe the Cornetto should be activated.

It's called The Activation Ritual of The Lucky Horn

You should keep it in your right placing the tip of the horn on the palm of your left hand and recite the famous phrase “What you want for me, twice as much I wish for you!” (this is the activation formula)